As MoodleMoot Global 2024 approaches, we’re excited to look back at the insightful talks from last year’s event. As platinum sponsors for this year’s conference, Catalyst IT is proud to reflect on the impactful sessions we presented at MoodleMoot Global 2023. In this blog series, we’ll revisit the key innovations and insights shared by our team, celebrating the milestones we’ve reached with our valued partners along the way.
From discussions on upgrading Moodle at scale to enhancing digital learning experiences, our presentations highlighted Catalyst’s commitment to driving excellence in the open-source learning community. This year, we’re excited to return to the stage with new talks, fresh perspectives, and the same dedication to empowering educators and institutions worldwide.
Maintaining Mission-Critical Moodle Systems at Scale
At MoodleMoot Global 2023, Joey Murison, Managing Director of Catalyst IT Europe, shared how we ensure Moodle systems thrive at scale, even under the most demanding conditions. With over 25 years of experience supporting institutions worldwide, we’ve developed a deep understanding of the complexities that come with managing high-performance, mission-critical Moodle environments.
Open Source: More Than Just Free Software
For many, open source conjures images of free software and accessible code, but its true value extends far beyond just not having to pay for software licenses. Open source technology like Moodle offers flexibility and control, but it requires care and expertise to succeed. As Joey said, open source is “free like a puppy”—while the software is free to download, keeping it secure, scalable, and high-performing requires ongoing effort.
“Open source is free like a puppy, while the software itself may be free, it requires care, attention, and expertise to truly thrive.“
At Catalyst, we don’t just provide a service we partner with you to ensure your Moodle platform is secure, scalable, and optimised for performance, no matter the challenge. We’ve developed a service wrapper that ensures your Moodle system is maintained, secure, and ready to handle any challenge.
Managing Complexity at Scale
Moodle’s dominance in higher education is well known but this popularity comes with challenges, particularly around managing complexity at scale. Performance can quickly become an issue for institutions with thousands of users accessing the platform simultaneously, especially during high-stakes moments like exams.
Plugins are essential for expanding Moodle’s functionality, but they can also strain your system if not optimised for scalability. We’ve built robust processes to test, verify, and optimise plugins to guarantee smooth performance, no matter how heavy the load.
Safeguarding Data Security
Data security is non-negotiable, particularly in higher education, where Moodle systems house large volumes of sensitive personal data. Joey highlighted the importance of regular code reviews and peer assessments to protect both the software and the data it holds.
We ensure every line of code is rigorously tested and reviewed. From infrastructure security to industry-standard practices like Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), we prioritise safeguarding your Moodle environment.
24/7 Support for High-Stakes Moments
When it comes to mission-critical systems, there’s no room for downtime. What happens when your Moodle system faces an issue during exam week at 2 am? With Catalyst IT, that’s not a concern. We provide 24/7 incident response, ensuring there’s always someone available to resolve any problem as soon as it arises.
This level of support is crucial for institutions running large-scale exams or handling high volumes of student submissions. Our team is always on standby, ensuring your Moodle platform remains operational during critical periods.
Scaling Moodle for Global Institutions
One example Joey shared was our work with the National Open University of Nigeria, where we support up to 10,000 students taking exams simultaneously. This scale of performance is possible thanks to our deep technical expertise and cloud-native architecture, allowing us to build Moodle platforms that handle surges in traffic seamlessly.
No matter how high the stakes, we ensure your Moodle system performs reliably, supporting institutions globally with solutions tailored to their specific needs.
Customisation with Responsibility: The 5S Test
Customisation is one of Moodle’s greatest strengths, but it comes with responsibility. At Catalyst IT, we use our 5 S Test – Simplified, Standardised, Scalable, Secure, and Sustainable to ensure the long-term viability of your Moodle customisations. This test helps identify whether custom solutions can stand the test of time and be easily maintained and scaled.
Simplified and Standardised
The first step in the 5S Test is to simplify and standardise your Moodle customisations. By broadening requirements and making them applicable to a wider audience, you can create solutions that are easier to maintain and share. This approach ensures that your customisations remain relevant and valuable over time.
Scalable
Ensuring that your Moodle customisations are scalable is crucial. What works for 100 users might not work for 10,000. We focus on creating solutions that can handle large-scale operations, ensuring that your Moodle platform performs well under heavy loads.
Secure and Sustainable
Security should always be a top priority. At Catalyst, we employ best practices to ensure that your Moodle platform is secure from potential threats. Sustainability is equally important, ensuring that your customisations can be easily upgraded and maintained in the future.
This framework helps us avoid technical debt. By balancing innovation with long-term sustainability, we create Moodle environments that grow and adapt with your institution.
Looking Ahead to MoodleMoot Global 2024
As we look toward MoodleMoot Global 2024, we’re excited to continue sharing our expertise and supporting institutions in making the most of their Moodle platforms. We’re especially looking forward to the talk Joey will be giving alongside our client partner UCL, Moodle Collaboration for the benefit of the Project and Community. This Partnership has been thriving since 2020, allowing us to build an intensely close and productive partnership that extends beyond traditional models.
During the session, we’ll discuss the enhancements we’ve delivered, the lessons learned, and the valuable experiences gained from our partnership. Our collaboration encompasses fully managed Moodle hosting, training, integrations, and significant investments in Moodle tracker items to drive the Moodle product roadmap forward for the benefit of all.
Join us at MoodleMoot Global 2024 to learn more about how we can support your institution. In the meantime, connect with us to explore how our services can help your Moodle system thrive, no matter the scale.
Whether you’re managing high-stakes exams, scaling up for thousands of users, or focusing on security and performance, Catalyst IT Europe is here to help.
We look forward to seeing you there!
