Are there any free moodle hosting options? My school doesn’t really want to pay before they are ensured that it will be worth it.
Hi Ponas,
Free is just a relative term, in all honesty. Moodle is open source, so you're more than welcome to download the latest build from here: https://download.moodle.org/releases/latest/
You'd need a working web server that meets the minimum requirements, and at least someone who knows how to manage and install this. Even if this doesn't directly cost your school any money, there will be hidden costs in terms of hours spent getting the test environment ready and making sure your students have access to the platform. Then, there's all the time you'll probably need to create learning materials for your students, which is also something that would cost time (and money) to realise.
MoodleCloud offers affordable startup hosting, but that starts at $120 a year for a minimum setup: you wouldn't be able to fit your entire school in this starter plan, but at least get a pilot project running. Another idea would be to contact a Moodle Partner in your country or region through https://moodle.com/partners and ask them if they can help you set up a cost effective pilot programme.
Expertise and hosting may come at a price, but the software itself is free to use.
Free is just a relative term, in all honesty. Moodle is open source, so you're more than welcome to download the latest build from here: https://download.moodle.org/releases/latest/
You'd need a working web server that meets the minimum requirements, and at least someone who knows how to manage and install this. Even if this doesn't directly cost your school any money, there will be hidden costs in terms of hours spent getting the test environment ready and making sure your students have access to the platform. Then, there's all the time you'll probably need to create learning materials for your students, which is also something that would cost time (and money) to realise.
MoodleCloud offers affordable startup hosting, but that starts at $120 a year for a minimum setup: you wouldn't be able to fit your entire school in this starter plan, but at least get a pilot project running. Another idea would be to contact a Moodle Partner in your country or region through https://moodle.com/partners and ask them if they can help you set up a cost effective pilot programme.
Expertise and hosting may come at a price, but the software itself is free to use.
Well, I guess that's it.
Ponas, it appears that you want to test Moodle, for free, before implementing it.
1) MoodleCloud, as I recall, is free for one month, with limitations.
2) You can install Moodle for free on a local computer. This will allow you to explore, but it is not on the Internet and will not "serve" your school's real production needs. It's a great way to explore Moodle features.
3) Moodlebox is another "low-cost" approach. Typically, Moodlebox isn't used for large school implementations.
I am unaware of any free hosting options for schools. (Your question makes me wonder if you work for free, or if your administrators work for free? And is your school free for students?)
1) MoodleCloud, as I recall, is free for one month, with limitations.
2) You can install Moodle for free on a local computer. This will allow you to explore, but it is not on the Internet and will not "serve" your school's real production needs. It's a great way to explore Moodle features.
3) Moodlebox is another "low-cost" approach. Typically, Moodlebox isn't used for large school implementations.
I am unaware of any free hosting options for schools. (Your question makes me wonder if you work for free, or if your administrators work for free? And is your school free for students?)
No, I work there kinda as a side-job and it's a pretty small school, and the administrators don't want to spend money on things that they aren't sure will pay off.
Okay. Since it appears that you want to explore, consider one of my three suggestions.
seconding to Rick's 2nd suggestion, install on local computer, and it will work on internet as well depending upon someone able to setup IP's correctly, and will as well serve a good number of users to test for viability as I have seen cases where teachers installed on local computers and taught full semesters with quizzes in a US school.
Alternatively you can try signing up with a free moodle hosting solution (www.gnomio.com), it will only allow core moodle features, you wont be able to install plug-ins or themes.