July 21, 2025, by Ben Atkinson

Moodle 4.5 and AI

Introduction

On July 30th, our installation of Moodle will be upgraded to version 4.5, the first to include AI capability. We have investigated this AI functionality, which takes the form of three separate functions, in some depth. In particular, we invited a range of colleagues to test the new functions from their own points of view. Thus, teaching staff have given us their thoughts on the pedagogical aspects, students on aspects connected to study, technical colleagues on installation and governance colleagues on the privacy and related implications.

AI Facilities for Teaching

Each of the functions is offered at module level. Two are for teaching staff: one of these is to generate text and the other to generate images. We soon discovered that the AI is not aware of the content of the module in which it sits. The text and images generated are therefore not relevant to the context of the module unless module content is explicitly included in the prompt itself. Further, the images generated are cartoon-like and unsuitable for illustrating academic content other than for decorative purposes.

AI Facilities for Studying

For students, there is one AI function only: a “Summarise” button. This generates a summary of the text on the Moodle page. Presumably there is an AI prompt behind the button; however, it is not possible for students to customise this prompt. Further, the AI has access only to the Moodle page itself and not to the text in any imported files (e.g. in Word or PowerPoint). Importing files, of course, is a popular way for academics to put content into Moodle. In addition, the quality of the summaries we have seen has been variable at best. Our ambition for our students with respect to AI is that they learn to use it in a mature and sophisticated manner suitable both for scholarship and their future employment. A simple button is not in accord with this aim.

Decision and Longer-Term Aims

With the above limitations (some severe) in mind, we have decided not to implement the new functionality as it stands. Since Moodle plays an important role in student courses and wishing to see students highly adept with AI, we certainly wish to see AI facilities available within Moodle in the future. As indicated, though, we regard this first implementation as too rudimentary for us. Naturally, we shall watch future AI developments in Moodle closely. However, we are also monitoring the other developments in the world of AI and teaching.

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