Overview
Background
This project will deliver the annual upgrade of Moodle, which will move from V 4.3.6 to the latest version (4.5.x (LTS)). This version was released in October 2024.
Moodle is the University’s centrally supported virtual learning environment (VLE) for online distance learning programmes. It brings together tools for presenting course content and facilitating communication between staff and students. This includes integrations with other centrally provided services, such as Turnitin and Collaborate, as well as third party plugins to extend the functionality of Moodle itself. This is the final upgrade project for Moodle and new courses will be hosted on the Learn VLE in the future.
Delivering this project will ensure the University’s instance of the software is secure until Moodle is closed. It is a limited upgrade to ensure the service is secure during the period of time we are moving courses onto the Learn VLE.
Support and Releases
- Moodle release dates are published at https://docs.moodle.org/dev/Releases#General_release_calendar
- A full list of fixed issues in v4.5.1 is published at Moodle 4.5/4.5.1 | Moodle Developer Resources
- Release notes are published at Moodle 4.5/4.5.1 | Moodle Developer Resources
Scope
The aim of this project is to upgrade Moodle to a version which will be supported until the time that Moodle has been decommissioned and closed. This project will:
- Upgrade Moodle from v4.3.6 to 4.5.1 (DEV, TEST and LIVE environments)
- Review the University bespoke theme, returning to the included, basic Moodle theme if there are theme problems with the upgrade.
- Checking compatibility of existing UoE infrastructure/hosting environment
- Checking compatibility of non-standard modules (plugins) and extensions. Any issues with non-standard plugins and extensions will result in them being switched off.
- Checking current version of PHP (web development language) and updating to v8.3. V8.3 is supported to 31st December 2027.
- Planning for any impact to Moodle support teams
- High-level user acceptance testing of the core features and plugins covering existing functionality
Objectives and Deliverables
|
Ref |
Objective (O) / Deliverable (D) |
Priority |
Owner |
|
O1 |
To ensure that the UoE instance of Moodle is kept up to date with community supported software releases and GDPR requirements |
||
|
D1 |
A fully tested and working upgrade of Moodle to the latest version of the 4.5.1 build. Plugins will be switched off if they don’t work with the new version of Moodle. |
Must Have |
Project Team |
| D2 | Upgrade PHP to version 8.3 across all environments. | Must Have | Development Technology |
|
D3 |
An updated Technical Architecture Document (TAD) |
Must Have |
Development Technology |
|
D4 |
If required an updated Business Requirements Document (BRD) |
Must Have |
Digital Learning Applications and Media |
|
D5 |
Updated all other system documentation. |
Must Have |
Software Development |
| D6 | Taking backups of some Live courses and restore to TEST for testing purposes, | Must Have | Development Technology and Digital Learning Applications and Media |
|
O2 |
To deliver an enhanced user experience to learners and teachers through improved functionality |
||
|
D7 |
Communication plan for Moodle users to inform them about the upgrade. More detailed comms about the closure of Moodle will happen in a separate project [VLE011]. |
Should Have |
Digital Learning Applications and Media |
|
D8 |
Updated user help and guidance materials |
Should Have |
Educational Design and Engagement |
|
O3 |
To update the web design theme as appropriate |
||
|
D9 |
A high-level theme check. If the bespoke Edinburgh theme breaks with the upgrade, we will revert to the basic Moodle theme. |
Must Have |
Digital Learning Applications and Media |
|
O4 |
Testing of performance, including performance accessibility and capacity tests |
||
|
D10 |
High-level UAT to be undertaken. |
Must Have |
Digital Learning Applications and Media |
| O5 | Disaster Recovery | ||
| D15 | Disaster Recovery Test | Should Have | Project Team |
Benefits
Time to move courses to Learn VLE
This project will give us more time to move current and historic courses from Moodle onto Learn. Please see VLE011 for more details about migration work.
Success Criteria
- Current functionality (including plugins) work or are switched off if they no longer work.
- There are no issues with maintaining current data quality.
- There are no negative changes to the current data quality.
Project Milestones
| Stage | Milestone | Due Date | Previous Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan | Planning Review | 31-Jan-2025 | No date available |
| Execute | Build Review | 24-Mar-2025 | No date available |
| Execute | Integration Review | 22-Apr-2025 | No date available |
| Execute | Acceptance Review | 26-May-2025 | No date available |
| Deliver | Deployment to LIVE | 16-Jul-2025 | No date available |
| Deliver | Deployment Review | 22-Jul-2025 | No date available |
| Close | Closure Review | 29-Jul-2025 | No date available |