Moodle plugin download analysis

I thought I would look at the statistics surrounding Moodle plugin downloads…

You can view the statistics for Moodle downloads at this page:

https://moodle.org/plugins/stats.php

As you can see from the feature image on this post, it’s quite revealing! Taking look at these we can see:

• Many of the downloads (almost a their of the tope twenty!) are Themes, including
  • Adaptable
  • Moove
  • Eguru
  • Academic
  • Klass
  • Fordson
  • Essential
• Interactive Content – H5P is hugely popular – although this will likely decrease once Moodle 3.9 with native H5P integration is released (so only older sites may require the plugin).
• The remaining top twenty plugins make complete sense when thinking about how an online learning environment is used:
  • Custom certificate (although there are perhaps better certificate plugins now available)
  • Attendance – great for blended learning on in-class management
  • Questionnaire – has consistently been one of the most download ed plugins for 10+ years … which kind o0f begs the question “Why on earth have Moodle HQ not integrated this into the core code?” Although exactly the same question could apply to a Certificate module.
  • Big Blue Button – a great video-conference system now standard in MoodleCloud installations
  • Configurable Reports – Moodle has always been seen as a little weak in this area
  • Completion Progress (Block) – again, continually in the top ten of downloads for many years – and Moodle HQ have a blind spot about this being in core – it SHOULD be – simple as that!
  • Hot Pot – very popular with schools – although this could decrease with more H5P use in the future
  • Moodle eMail test – interesting – and so many admins seem to struggle with this (although it’s not just Moodle, it’s about understanding email servers too)
  • Grid course format … I wonder if this should be wondered for inclusion in core? Now Boost has ‘settled down’ it should be possible.
  • Game – nice fun plugin
  • Level Up – popular gamification option

My conclusion is:

Moodle HQ should add to Moodle core:

• A certificate module
• An attendance module
• Questionnaire
• Completion Progress block
• And maybe a Grid course format

What do you think?

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Stuart Mealor

Managing Director at HRDNZ

Stuart is interested in all things e-learning, with specific interests in Moodle, e-learning strategy, and business development.His experience in education over 30 years, MBA in International Business, and knowledge of e-learning systems implementation, together with graphic design background, give him a unique skill set for e-learning projects.

Latest posts by Stuart Mealor (see all)

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