Moodle 4.2 changes

In late November 2023, Moodle will be upgraded from its current version to 4.2. Here are the main changes for you to consider. 

Appearance changes

Moodle 4.2 is a relatively large update, requiring a visual update (i.e. the ‘look & feel’). The new default theme is called “LearnR.” Some of the older theme options will still be available with an updated look, including Carleton Boost and Moove.

Navigation changes

Navigation:  In Moodle 4.2, the collapsible left-hand sidebar and topbar navigation within a course have changed in style and functionality.

• The left-hand sidebar is now used as a course index with all sections within a course (e.g. Week 1, Week 2, etc.) with quicker access to activities and resources. Users will no longer have to scroll endlessly to access activities in Week 8!
  
• The top-bar section of a course is now a set of tabs used to navigate between pages of a Moodle course: Course, Setting, Participants, Grades, and More.

Edit Mode Switch:  The way to turn editing off and on in Moodle has become more streamlined with an Edit Mode rocker switch that always resides on the top-right corner of the screen (no matter which theme or page is selected within a course!).  

New Activity/Resource:   In addition to the usual “+ add activity or resource” button at the end of a section, a big + button appears when hovering your mouse between activities. No more needing to add an activity then moving it to the desired location; just add it right where you want it. (Screenshots below.)

Gradebook Settings:  The settings within the Gradebook will now be in a dropdown menu format with hierarchical indentation to demonstrate which options belong to the view, set up, or additional functionalities of the Gradebook.

Limitations of an old feature: Indentation

Speaking of indentation, some small changes will be made to the indentation function in Moodle 4.2. Users will no longer be able to indent items indefinitely. Instead, Moodle activities and resources can only be indented once, to improve overall accessibility for all users.

Action changes

Changing in Bulk:  In Moodle 4.2, activities within a course can now be moved, shown/hidden, deleted, and duplicated in bulk. This highly requested feature in Moodle will finally become reality.

Unfinished Quizzes:  Additionally, instructors will also be able to submit unfinished quizzes for students. In the past, if a student took a quiz and couldn’t submit it before the deadline, the quiz was closed completely, and neither the student nor the faculty member were able to access the answers. In Moodle 4.2, faculty can re-open the quiz for that specific student, at which point the quiz will be automatically submitted.

Timed Assignments: When setting up assignments in Moodle, instructors can now set a specific amount of time for students to complete their work. Students will see a notification before they start the assignment, which lets them know how long they have to complete it once they begin. As they work on the assignment, a timer is also displayed on screen so they always know how much time they have left. If time runs out, learners can still submit the assignment and it will show up as ‘late’.

Messaging from Assignments:  Instructors can also message students directly when viewing all submissions. Submissions can be filtered to those who have yet to complete the assignment, then a “bcc” style message can be sent to each individual. Students would not know who else got the message. 

Training and Support

The upgrade to Moodle 4.2 will occur on November 30, 2023, after final grades are due. Academic Technologists will offer various workshops and resources throughout Winter Break so that faculty can familiarize themselves with the new Moodle.

Information about Moodle-specific training during Winter Break can be found in the LTC 2023 Winter Break Conference, the ITS Calendar (including AT Drop-in hours), and other resources available via Moodle User Tours (within Moodle).

The Academic Technologists will also be hosting virtual AT drop-in sessions and just-in-time learning Skillshops in December.

If you have any questions about this update or if you need tools added to Moodle, please reach out to Academic Technology at AT@carleton.edu.