Expanding the Horizon: Major Updates in Moodle 3.10
The Moodle 3.10 release solidifies the platform’s position as a flexible, high-performing solution by focusing on commercial readiness, content portability, and enhancing the already robust H5P integration. Arriving after the recent Moodle 3.9 LTS, this version brings crucial features that appeal directly to corporate trainers and educational institutions needing to integrate Moodle with their broader financial and security systems. It is an exciting step forward in providing a truly enterprise-grade digital learning experience.
Major Advancements for Teachers and Managers
The most strategic updates in Moodle 3.10 revolve around enabling new commercial models and facilitating easier content management:
1. Introduction of the Payment Subsystem
For the first time, Moodle introduces a core Payment Subsystem. This is a major structural addition designed to support various payment gateways, laying the foundational groundwork for sites that need to charge for course enrollment or membership. This architectural change makes Moodle a viable platform for commercial training organizations and institutions looking to monetize specialized content.
2. Simplified Course Content Portability
Managing course content across multiple platforms or for archival purposes is now significantly easier with a new export feature:
- Download Course Content: Users can now download a ZIP file of all course content with a single click. This feature includes site and course-level settings to manage access and is an immense quality-of-life improvement for instructors who need offline copies of their materials or are preparing for course archiving.
3. Enhanced LTI Advantage and Dynamic Registration
Integration with external tools and learning platforms is streamlined through updates to the Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) standard:
- LTI Advantage Content Item Flow: This enhancement now supports creating multiple LTI links (External Tool activities) simultaneously from a single content item selection, dramatically speeding up course setup when relying on LTI-based resources.
- Dynamic Registration: Moodle 3.10 implements LTI 1.3 Dynamic Registration, allowing external tool providers to automatically register themselves with a Moodle site, simplifying the often-complex setup process for administrators.
4. Deeper H5P and Quiz Functionality
Building on Moodle 3.9's H5P foundation, this release adds refinement and utility to key teaching activities:
- H5P Styling: Users can now personalize H5P styles, offering greater creative control over the look and feel of interactive content. The system also includes a method for saving embedded H5P content grades directly to the Gradebook.
- Quiz Completion and Timing: A new quiz completion option is available: "At least one (or N) attempt completed." The Quiz module also introduces a highly requested scrolling quiz timer, which remains visible to the student even as they navigate long quizzes.
Other Noteworthy Improvements and Fixes
Moodle 3.10 includes numerous smaller, impactful enhancements that improve usability and administration:
- Folder Resource: The Folder resource now allows files to be opened directly in the browser rather than being forced to download, depending on the file type.
- Content Bank: Users can now download content from the Content Bank and replace content files with ease.
- Administration: New command-line interface (CLI) scripts are included for restoring a course from a backup file and for running user uploads via CLI. New admin options control virus handling and email header policies.
- Usability: The Assignment grading page "Changes saved" notification is no longer a modal dialog, reducing workflow interruptions.
Essential System Requirements for Moodle 3.10
Moodle 3.10 maintains stability while incrementally raising the bar for supporting technologies to ensure optimal security and speed.
| Component | Minimum Required Version | Key Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| PHP | 7.2.0 | PHP 7.3.x and 7.4.x are also supported. The mbstring extension remains a requirement. |
| PostgreSQL | 9.6 | The minimum version has been increased since Moodle 3.9. |
| MySQL | 5.7 | The minimum version has been increased since Moodle 3.9. |
| MariaDB | 10.2.29 | |
| Web Browser | Standards Compliant | Internet Explorer 11 is no longer supported. |
Partnering for Success: Comprehensive LMS Service Provision
Deploying a major Moodle release like 3.10, especially when integrating commercial features or complex LTI components, demands specialized expertise. We offer comprehensive LMS services, specializing in the strategic implementation, customization, and seamless hosting of leading platforms, including Moodle, Tutor, and Canvas. Whether you require system migration, bespoke feature development to take advantage of these new capabilities, or robust integration services, our team ensures your platform is optimized for peak performance, security, and exceptional learner engagement, turning your digital learning strategy into a distinct competitive advantage.
