On Sept. 3, University Librarian Matthew Sheehy and Director of Data and Systems Integration Ian Rifkin sent an email to University students announcing that the University will be changing its Learning Management System from Moodle 3 software to Moodle 4. The University has referred to the Moodle 3 platform as LATTE — Learning and Teaching Technology Environment — for its 17 years of use. 

Moodle 3 “[required] a significant upgrade on the same scale as a new product implementation,” according to the University. After surveying the needs of faculty, staff and students through interviews, surveys and listening sessions, the Academic Technology Advisory Committee recommended that the University implement the updated platform. The Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Carol Fierke, and the Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration, Stewart Uretsky, informed University faculty and staff of the change in an announcement on July 21, 2023 and provided several updates in spring 2024.

The University highlighted Moodle 4’s “mobile-friendly responsive design, simplified navigation that is contextually relevant, ongoing focus on accessibility, robust teaching and learning capabilities, innovative communication and chat features and improved security and Learning Tools Interoperability capabilities.” The new platform has a modernized design, tabbed navigation and is compatible with most mobile devices. Since these changes make Moodle 4 an entirely different interface from Moodle 3, Moodle 4 will not continue to be referred to as LATTE. 

In order to make this transition as smooth as it can be, the University created Moodle Guides for faculty and students to use to gain a better understanding of the platform. The library will also be offering workshops and open office hours with instructional technologists throughout September.