Moodle vs Watermark Insights

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Our analysts compared Moodle vs Watermark Insights based on data from our 400+ point analysis of LMS Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Watermark Insights Software Tool

Product Basics

Moodle is a customizable, open-source training solution used by corporate organizations, K-12 schools and higher educational institutions. From interactive lessons for K-12 to complex courses at large campuses, it lets you create tailored learning experiences to suit your students’ unique needs.

You can track student progress using analytics and reports, and integrate with third-party video conferencing tools like BigBlueButton. Out-of-the-box capabilities include course creation, calendars, dashboards, text editing, SCORM compatibility, reporting, learning paths and group management.

Moodle is an excellent choice for small businesses with technical expertise or access to IT resources. Its open-source nature allows for significant customization, making it a cost-effective solution for those who can manage their hosting and support.

User reviews praise its flexibility, user-friendly interface, interactive features and cost-friendliness. However, its sharp learning curve and lack of certain capabilities, like video conferencing, could be improved.

Moodle’s starter plan with up to 50 users costs $130 per year, while more advanced plans range from $400 to $1,730 per year.t

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Watermark Insights offers comprehensive software designed to streamline tasks such as Learning Management System (LMS) administration, assessment management, and accreditation processes. This robust platform is particularly well-suited for educational institutions and organizations seeking to enhance their data-driven decision-making capabilities. By integrating various academic and administrative functions, Watermark Insights helps institutions improve efficiency and maintain compliance with accreditation standards. Key benefits include enhanced data collection, improved reporting capabilities, and seamless integration with existing systems. Popular features encompass curriculum mapping, outcomes assessment, and faculty activity reporting, all of which contribute to a more cohesive and transparent educational environment. Compared to similar products, users often highlight Watermark Insights' user-friendly interface and comprehensive support services. Pricing details are typically customized based on the institution's specific needs, so it is advisable to contact SelectHub for a tailored quote. This ensures that the solution aligns perfectly with the unique requirements and budget constraints of the user.
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Product Insights

  • Simplifies Data Exchange: Moodle uses open industry standards to support integration and content usage from third-party sources. It allows authentication via protocols like LDAP, direct database lookup, Shibboleth, IMAP and FirstClass. It also supports content import using SCORM, AICC and IMS Content Packaging standards.
  • Offers Key LMS Features: For those seeking an all-in-one LMS solution, Moodle is an excellent choice. Our analysis indicates that it delivers 82% of essential LMS functionalities straight out of the box, with only 5% of key features missing. Supported features include collaboration, mobile capabilities, reporting and dashboard, user management and gamification, and compliance.
  • Award-Winner: In the 2024 SelectHub Awards, our research analysts awarded Moodle best-in-class honors for assessments, collaboration, compliance, learning delivery, mobile capabilities, user management, gamification, and integrations and extensibility. it also achieved an 'excellent' rating as a user favorite.
  • Easily Accessible: Moodle offers features like text-to-speech tools and accessibility checkers to support learners with disabilities.
  • Provides Greater Customization: You can customize to fit a varied range of learning needs, no matter how specific or unique. Modify the source code or add functionality from a library of over 1,600 plugins.
  • User-Friendly: In our testing, we found that Moodle's interface is modern, intuitive and user-friendly, making navigation effortless. For organizations with learners unfamiliar with LMS platforms and limited training budgets, Moodle offers an accessible solution. The layout is designed to display all key features prominently, and all team members can effortlessly locate and access courses, resources and tools without the need for additional support.
  • Top-Performer: With an analyst rating of 85, Moodle stands out as our top LMS product, comparable to top-tier systems like D2L Brightspace and LearnUpon. It offers a comprehensive set of features, including collaboration, compliance, reporting and dashboard, and user management and gamification, all of which are fully supported.
  • Supports Collaborative Learning: Moodle supports social constructionist pedagogy, a teaching method that focuses on collaboration and active learning. It encourages students to interact with the course material and each other to create a more engaging and participative learning environment. Students can work together on projects, share ideas and engage in discussions and more.
  • Facilitates Community-Building: Attend online conferences broadcast worldwide to gain and share knowledge amongst Moodle users. MoodleMoot Global is an annual event where Moodle enthusiasts from around the world gather to share ideas, collaborate and learn from one another. This event is perfect for both newcomers and experienced Moodle users, and offers a chance to connect with like-minded individuals and contribute to the future of education and lifelong learning.
  • Provides Insights into Key Training Activities: Our testing revealed that Moodle offers extensive reporting features, allowing you to generate custom reports on nearly every aspect of your training. It offers insights into comments, backups, configuration changes, event lists, antivirus failures, logs, live logs, performance overviews, question instances, security checks, system status and theme usage.
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  • Enhanced Efficiency: Streamlines administrative tasks, reducing the time spent on manual data entry and allowing staff to focus on more strategic activities.
  • Data-Driven Decisions: Provides robust analytics and reporting tools that help institutions make informed decisions based on real-time data.
  • Improved Compliance: Ensures adherence to accreditation standards and regulatory requirements through automated tracking and documentation.
  • Centralized Information: Consolidates data from various sources into a single platform, making it easier to access and manage information.
  • Enhanced Collaboration: Facilitates better communication and collaboration among faculty, staff, and students through integrated tools and shared resources.
  • Customizable Workflows: Allows institutions to tailor workflows to their specific needs, improving process efficiency and user satisfaction.
  • Scalability: Adapts to the growing needs of institutions, whether they are expanding their programs or increasing their student population.
  • Student Success: Supports student achievement by providing tools for tracking progress, identifying at-risk students, and implementing targeted interventions.
  • Resource Optimization: Helps institutions allocate resources more effectively by providing insights into usage patterns and needs.
  • Enhanced Security: Protects sensitive data with robust security measures, ensuring compliance with data protection regulations.
  • Seamless Integration: Integrates with existing systems such as LMS, SIS, and ERP, reducing the need for duplicate data entry and ensuring consistency across platforms.
  • Continuous Improvement: Offers tools for ongoing assessment and improvement of programs and processes, fostering a culture of excellence.
  • Cost Savings: Reduces operational costs by automating routine tasks and improving resource management.
  • User-Friendly Interface: Features an intuitive design that simplifies navigation and reduces the learning curve for new users.
  • Real-Time Updates: Provides instant access to the latest data and reports, enabling timely decision-making and action.
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  • Course Development: Create courses from scratch or upload existing ones to the system. The course builder tool allows you to:
    • Add name, category, start and end date, ID number, summary, number of sections, cover image, participants, tags, groups and other specific details.
    • Insert resources like checklists, files, forums, quizzes, wikis and more into sections. You can also set up virtual classroom sessions via BigBlueButton.
    • Add questions, files, competencies, course completion conditions, add-on apps and badges.
    • Generate reports to analyze competencies, log actions, live logs, training activities and course participation rates.
    • Import, back up, restore, copy and reset courses to reuse them.
    • Enable learners to request new courses and download course content.
  • Assignments: Use the assignment activity module to communicate tasks, collect tests and quizzes, and provide grades.
    • Allow students to submit any type of digital content, such as documents, spreadsheets, images or audio and video clips, or type text directly into the text editor.
    • Use assignments to remind students of offline tasks without having to make digital submissions.
    • Let students submit work individually or as a group. When reviewing, leave feedback comments and upload files like marked-up submissions, commented documents or audio feedback.
    • Grade assignments using numerical scales, custom scales or advanced methods like rubrics. Record final grades in the gradebook.
  • Forums: Use forums to encourage students to socialize, make course announcements, discuss learning content, host face-to-face sessions online and more.
  • Checklists: Allow teachers to create checklists and help students track tasks and to-do lists.
  • HTML5 Packages: Upload and add HTML5 Packages (H5P) to the platform. H5P allows you to integrate interactive content like presentations, videos, quizzes, games and more into course materials. Automatically grade questions attempted in H5P activities and record them in the gradebook.
  • Calendar: Log important events like assignment deadlines, upcoming meetings, and course start and end dates and more on the company calendar.
  • BigBlueButton Integration: Integrate with BigBlueButton and conduct live online classes, virtual office hours or group collaborations. Use features like audio, video, chat, slides, screen sharing, a multi-user whiteboard, breakout rooms, polling and emojis in real time. Record sessions for playback later.
  • Feedback: Design surveys with multiple-choice, yes/no or text-input questions to gather participant input. Keep responses anonymous if needed, and decide whether to share results with participants or restrict them to teachers only.
  • Notifications: Track updates and alert users when a new event occurs. Enable triggers for new course additions, upcoming deadlines, published grades, schedule changes and more.
  • Course Tracking: Monitor course progress and the number of activities completed by each learner. View their completed assignments, course start and end times, achievements and other details for each course.
  • Quizzes: Create assessments with various question types, such as multiple-choice, matching, short-answer and numerical questions, and include them in course exams, topic tests, practice sessions and more.
    • Configure options for multiple attempts, randomize question order from the question bank and set time limits.
    • Automatically grade each attempt, excluding essay questions and record results in the gradebook.
    • Customize when to display hints and feedback and correct answers to students.
  • Multi-Device Support: Access the site from any device via the free mobile app for Windows, iOS and Android. It's compatible with mobile layouts and can be used in any browser for a consistent experience.
  • Plugin Management: Manage all plugins from one interface for quick access. Provides plugins for different types of educational needs (e.g., universities). Connect with MS Office 365 and Google Apps.
  • Personalized Dashboards: Organize and access training information like checklists, badges, latest announcements, timelines and course overviews on a customizable dashboard.
  • User Management: Add new users, set user preferences, define user profile fields, upload user pictures and more.
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  • Data Integration: Seamlessly integrates with various data sources, including SIS, LMS, and HR systems, to provide a comprehensive view of institutional data.
  • Customizable Dashboards: Offers user-friendly, customizable dashboards that allow stakeholders to visualize and interact with data in real-time.
  • Assessment Management: Facilitates the creation, distribution, and analysis of assessments to ensure alignment with institutional goals and accreditation standards.
  • Reporting and Analytics: Provides robust reporting tools and advanced analytics to support data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement.
  • Survey Administration: Enables the design and deployment of surveys to gather feedback from students, faculty, and staff, with built-in tools for analysis and reporting.
  • Curriculum Mapping: Allows institutions to map curriculum to learning outcomes, ensuring that educational programs meet desired competencies and standards.
  • Accreditation Support: Streamlines the accreditation process by organizing and managing documentation, evidence, and reports required for accreditation reviews.
  • Faculty Activity Reporting: Tracks and reports on faculty activities, including teaching, research, and service, to support performance evaluations and professional development.
  • Student Learning Outcomes: Monitors and assesses student learning outcomes to ensure educational effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.
  • Role-Based Access: Provides secure, role-based access to data and tools, ensuring that users have appropriate permissions based on their responsibilities.
  • Mobile Accessibility: Offers mobile-friendly interfaces, allowing users to access and interact with the platform from various devices, including smartphones and tablets.
  • Collaboration Tools: Includes features that facilitate collaboration among faculty, staff, and administrators, such as shared workspaces and communication tools.
  • Data Security: Employs advanced security measures to protect sensitive data, including encryption, user authentication, and regular security audits.
  • API Support: Provides robust API support for custom integrations and extensions, allowing institutions to tailor the platform to their specific needs.
  • Training and Support: Offers comprehensive training resources and dedicated support to ensure users can effectively utilize the platform's features.
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Product Ranking

#4

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#148

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Analyst Rating Summary

85
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Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

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AI-based Capabilities Assessments Collaboration Compliance Content And Course Management ECommerce Learning Delivery Mobile Capabilities Platform Capabilities Reporting And Dashboard User Management And Gamification 21 93 100 100 92 50 80 100 100 100 100 0 25 50 75 100
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User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 4011 reviews
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86%
of users recommend this product

Moodle has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 86% when considering 4011 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

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4.8 (12)
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4.1 (398)
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Awards

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Moodle and concluded it deserves the award for the Best Overall LMS Software available today and earns best-in-class honors for Assessments, Compliance, Mobile Capabilities, Platform Capabilities and Integrations and Extensibility.

Analysts' Pick Award
Assessments Award
Compliance Award
Mobile Capabilities Award
Platform Capabilities Award
Integrations and Extensibility Award

No awards.

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Customizability: According to 80% of users who reviewed this, Moodle lets users add custom HTML and CSS, integrate with third-party applications, and select modules related to rubrics and outcomes.
Ease of Use: 90% of users praise its intuitive interface which is easy to navigate, especially for students. Its simple and intuitive features make it suitable for beginners.
Advanced Feature Set: 75% of reviewers highlighted Moodle’s wide range of features, such as course creation, third-party integrations, notifications and feedback, and grading rubrics.
Mobile Compatibility: According to 60% of users who discussed this aspect, Moodle's mobile app is very user-friendly and offers all necessary tools to support on-the-go learning. It lets users access course content, connect with team members, download learning materials and more.
Affordability: 80% of reviewers who discussed costs appreciated that Moodle is free to download and use and offers flexible pricing models for various needs.
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Canvas Integration: Allows instructors to conveniently access and view course evaluations directly within their Canvas LMS environment.
Streamlined Evaluations and Surveys: Simplifies the process of creating, distributing, and collecting feedback through course evaluations and surveys.
Data-Driven Insights: Provides tools for analyzing evaluation and survey data to gain insights into student learning, teaching effectiveness, and program improvement.
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Steep Learning Curve: Regarding this, 45% of users said Moodle has a steep learning curve for administrators. They feel its interface can be confusing to explore since it has a lot of features, and users need to know what they’re looking for to use the platform effectively.
Lack of Video Conferencing: 45% of users who discussed this con point out Moodle's lack of built-in video conferencing capabilities, which are increasingly important for online learning.
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Limited Formatting Options: Users have reported limitations in formatting options within the accreditation management features, particularly when creating documents, which may require workarounds for institutions with specific formatting needs.
System Complexity: Watermark offers a suite of products, which while comprehensive, could lead to a steeper learning curve for users who may only need specific features or those accustomed to simpler systems.
Potential for Integration Issues: While Watermark integrates with various Learning Management Systems (LMS), some users have reported challenges requiring customized roles within their LMS to manage course evaluations effectively, highlighting potential compatibility hurdles depending on the LMS used.
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Moodle is an open-source LMS that's really popular among educational institutions like K12 schools and colleges. Its workplace version is designed to address various corporate training needs such as onboarding, compliance training and skill development.Moodle is packed with features – you can create courses, collaborate with learners, grade assignments and more. Plus, it works quickly on mobile devices so that learning can happen anywhere. We love how flexible it is, and it can be customized to your heart's content with HTML, CSS and third-party integrations.Its user-friendly interface is another highlight, and it is known for its intuitive navigation and ease of use, particularly for students. This makes Moodle a suitable choice even for those new to LMS platforms. A strong focus on social constructionist pedagogy emphasizes collaboration and active learning. And with Moodle’s large and active global community, you can get active support and contribute to its ongoing development.While its interface is great for instructors and students, we found that it may be complex for admins, and an extensive feature set can require time and effort to master. The lack of built-in video conferencing capabilities is another drawback, though the solution does integrate with virtual classroom tools like BigBlueButton.Being open-source, Moodle eliminates licensing fees, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious institutions. The availability of free plugins and themes further adds to its cost-effectiveness.Moodle is a fantastic choice if you're looking for a powerful and adaptable LMS, especially for education. Its multi-tenancy architecture supports various business structures and types, making it adaptable to different corporate environments. Its open-source nature, emphasis on collaborative learning, and scalability make it a viable option in the LMS market.

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Is Watermark Insights the high watermark for managing academic tasks, or does it leave users up a creek without a paddle? User reviews from the last year suggest Watermark Insights is a breath of fresh air for higher education institutions looking to streamline their processes and gain valuable insights from their data. Users rave about its intuitive interface and robust integration with popular LMS platforms like Canvas. For instance, instructors can view and analyze course evaluations directly within Canvas, making it a breeze to collect and act on student feedback. This seamless integration is a major differentiating factor, saving educators time and effort compared to juggling multiple platforms. However, some users point out that while Watermark Insights excels in LMS integration and data analysis, its support for creating visually appealing, self-contained websites for accreditation reviews could be improved. While this is a "nice-to-have" feature, it highlights that Watermark Insights, like any software, has areas for potential growth. Overall, Watermark Insights is best suited for higher education institutions seeking a comprehensive solution to manage academic tasks, particularly those already invested in LMS platforms like Canvas. Its intuitive design, seamless integration, and powerful analytics make it a valuable tool for institutions looking to enhance their administrative efficiency and leverage data for continuous improvement.

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