Integrating Moodle with Microsoft 365 for a Seamless Learning Experience (part 1)

For nonprofits using Moodle on Azure, integrating it with Microsoft 365 can enhance collaboration, file management, and reporting. By connecting Moodle with Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, and Power BI, educators and administrators can streamline the learning experience, making it more interactive and data-driven.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of integrating Moodle with Microsoft’s powerful tools.

I. Why Integrate Moodle with Microsoft 365?

✅ Single Sign-On (SSO) – Enable Microsoft Entra ID [renamed from Azure Active Directory (Azure AD)] for authentication so users can log in to Moodle using their Microsoft 365 credentials.
✅ Collaboration with Microsoft Teams – Allow students to access Moodle courses directly within Teams and join live video sessions.
✅ Seamless File Management with OneDrive – Let teachers and students upload, store, and share files through OneDrive, eliminating the need for manual downloads.
✅ Advanced Reporting with Power BI – Use Moodle’s learning analytics in Power BI to track student progress and course performance.

II. Setting Up Microsoft 365 Integration in Moodle

(This is specific to the integration offered, and not the built in features with M365)

Step 1: Enable Microsoft Entra ID for Single Sign-On

Microsoft Entra ID integration allows users to log into Moodle using their Microsoft 365 accounts, making authentication seamless.

🔹 Go to Moodle Admin Panel → Navigate to Site Administration > Plugins > Authentication
🔹 Enable OAuth 2 Authentication → Click OAuth 2 Services and select Microsoft
🔹 You may need to enable OAuth2 first before it appears in the Plugin menu:
Go to Plugins > Authentication > Manage Authentication

🔹Register Moodle as an App in Microsoft Entra ID:

1️⃣ Sign in to the Azure Portal
2️⃣ Navigate to Microsoft Entra ID > App registrations > New Registration
3️⃣ Add Moodle’s URL as the Redirect URI
4️⃣ Generate an Application (client) ID and paste it into Moodle’s OAuth settings
🔹 Save changes and test login with a Microsoft 365 account. 

Step 2: Setting Up OpenID Connect in Moodle

OpenID Connect is a standard authentication protocol that provides single-sign-on (SSO) functionality using configurable identity providers. The OpenID Connect plugin for Moodle is part of the Microsoft 365 suite of plugins and is used to connect Moodle to Microsoft Entra ID for seamless authentication.

How to Set Up OpenID Connect in Moodle:

1️⃣ Ensure Moodle is registered as an App in Microsoft Entra ID (Step 1 above).

2️⃣ Enable OpenID Connect in Moodle:
🔹 Log in to Moodle as an Admin
🔹 Navigate to Site Administration > Plugins > Authentication > Manage Authentication
🔹 Enable OAuth 2 Authentication and select Microsoft as the service
🔹 Go to Site Administration > Plugins > Authentication > OpenID Connect
🔹 Paste the Application ID and Key generated in the Azure Portal into Moodle’s OAuth settings
🔹 Save changes and test login with a Microsoft 365 account.

By setting up OpenID Connect, nonprofits ensure a secure, user-friendly login experience for their educators and learners.

III. Benefits of Microsoft 365 Integration for Nonprofits

By integrating Moodle with Microsoft 365, nonprofits can:

✅ Improve Security – Utilize Azure AD authentication to enforce role-based access control.
✅ Leverage Microsoft’s Nonprofit Benefits – Use Azure credits and Microsoft 365 grants to keep LMS costs low.

IV. Conclusion: Take Moodle to the Next Level with Microsoft 365

Integrating Moodle with Microsoft 365 offers nonprofits the tools to create a more engaging and collaborative learning environment.

Beyond the technical setup, these integrations also enable nonprofits to unlock Microsoft’s nonprofit benefits, reducing costs and ensuring long-term sustainability for their learning management system. Ready to transform your nonprofit’s e-learning experience? Start integrating today and take your Moodle platform to the next level with the full power of Microsoft 365.

Now, lets delve into Connecting Moodle with Microsoft Teams, and the Teams bot. Integrating Moodle with Microsoft 365 for a Seamless Learning Experience (part 2) | Microsoft Community Hub