Brandeis University has been using Moodle as an LMS product since 2012 (the initial implementation was called LATTE). Moodle is an acronym for "Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment." It is an online educational platform that provides custom learning environments for staff and students.
The default language for Moodle is called English (en), but it is Australian English. The default language in Brandeis Moodle is set as English (United States) (en_us). If Australian spellings for English words are encountered in the command buttons in Moodle, then the language pack has changed from the default Brandeis language pack to the default Moodle language pack. It is possible to select English (United States) (en_us) within the user profile section.
In Brandeis Moodle instances, the language can be changed by clicking in the Languages submenu of the Profile drop down, in the top right hand corner of the Moodle interface.
There are currently 14 language packs available in Brandeis Moodle instances:
Moodle is proudly Australian. Initially developed by Martin Dougiamis, the first version of the Moodle software was released in August, 2002. Moodle headquarters is based in Perth Australia though the software is available globally in more than a hundred languages and more than 200 million registered users.
While most of the Australian spelling localizations are visible in the code and administrative configuration panels of the application, a few can be seen by Brandeis end-users (such as the button for self enrol). As is recognizable even in the Moodle documentation, this non-American-English-focused spelling is not in error, but representative of a global product.
For users to access Moodle, the primary system requirements are a modern web browser like Chrome or Firefox, a reliable internet connection, and a computer capable of running a standard web browser; essentially, most modern devices should be able to access Moodle without significant issues.
Key points about Moodle system requirements:
A hard refresh, or force refresh, is essential for troubleshooting browser issues. Unlike a regular refresh that reloads the page from cached files, a hard refresh clears the cache for the current page, ensuring the most up-to-date content is loaded. This can fix problems such as missing images, incorrect formatting, or outdated content, making it a vital tool for maintaining a smooth browsing experience.
Quick hard refresh can be done by using the following shortcut keys:
Quick hard refresh can be done by using the following shortcut keys:
Academic Coordinators, Dept Heads, Deans (etc) may request Academic Administrator access in Moodle at the Category level. This facilitates continuity of service and other departmental support-based tasks.
Here's a link to the form for requests:
Course-level enrollments are not a service action that ITS provides, but this Category-level enrollment offers many benefits. The category level enrollment allows an Academic Administrator the capacity to support a faculty member with a backup/restore of course content, or it gives them the privileges to assign Teaching Assistants to a specific course shell.
The Academic Administrator is not enrolled at the course level- so there's no worry about them showing up in reports or being confused as an instructor. This Category-level role does not possess the capacity to enroll another instructor or Academic Administrator - but they can enroll another Brandeis Community member as a course editor, grader, or guest participant.
Requestors are required to return a signed Confidentiality Statement in order to be awarded this Category-level role: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1N7_0zMEoJVz3A-99ZzQmqtc2_edXfCIB/view
Each request for a Category-level role must contain the Category level URL for confirmation. The URL can be found on the site index page:
For example, the Course Category URL for the Course Templates & Demo Courses category is: https://moodle.brandeis.edu/course/index.php?categoryid=1