Connect BigBlueButton Server to Moodle LMS for Integrated eLearning

This article provides a guide to connect BigBlueButton server to Moodle LMS for integrated eLearning solution.

What is BigBlueButton?

BigBlueButton is an open-source web conferencing system designed specifically for online learning.

🔍 Key Features:

• ✅ Live video and audio conferencing
• ✅ Whiteboard and screen sharing
• ✅ Presentation support (PDF, PPT, etc.)
• ✅ Breakout rooms for group work
• ✅ Public and private chat
• ✅ Polls and raise hand feature
• ✅ Session recording and playback
• ✅ LMS integration (e.g., Moodle)

🎯 Purpose:

BigBlueButton is built to serve the needs of teachers and students, offering a virtual classroom environment where instructors can:

• Conduct live lectures
• Collaborate with students
• Host office hours or tutorials
• Record and share sessions

🛠️ Technology Stack:

• Developed using Java, Scala, and Node.js
• Uses WebRTC for real-time communication
• Runs on Linux servers (typically Ubuntu)

💡 Who Uses It?

• Schools
• Universities
• Online training platforms
• Corporate learning environments

🔗 Common Integrations:

• Moodle
• Canvas
• Sakai
• Nextcloud

🆓 Licensing:

• Open-source under GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL)
• No licensing fees for self-hosted installations

SEE ALSO: How to Install BigBlueButton on Ubuntu VPS

What is Moodle LMS?

Moodle LMS (Learning Management System) is a free, open-source platform designed to help educators create and manage online courses.

🎯 Purpose:

Moodle is used by:

• Schools and universities for e-learning and blended learning
• Businesses for training and development
• Organizations for delivering educational content online

🔧 Key Features:

• 📚 Course creation & management
• ✅ Quizzes, assignments, and grading
• 👨‍🏫 User roles (e.g., admin, teacher, student)
• 🗂️ Content management (files, videos, links, SCORM, etc.)
• 💬 Messaging, forums, and collaboration tools
• 📱 Mobile app support for Android and iOS
• 🔌 Plugin ecosystem for added functionality
• 📊 Reports and analytics

SEE ALSO: Easily Install Moodle with Softaculous (in Under 5 Minutes)

🌍 Who Uses Moodle?

• Over 300 million users worldwide
• Used in more than 240 countries
• Available in 100+ languages

🛠️ Technical Overview:

• Written in PHP
• Runs on MySQL/PostgreSQL databases
• Compatible with Apache/Nginx web servers
• Can be self-hosted or accessed via MoodleCloud (official hosting)

🆓 Licensing:

• Open source under the GNU General Public License (GPL)
• No licensing costs for the software itself

Integrated eLearning: Connect BigBlueButton Server to Moodle LMS

To connect BigBlueButton server to Moodle LMS, follow the steps provided below:

1. Requirements

   • Moodle Requirements:

     • Moodle Hosting with Moodle installed version 3.0 or later (latest recommended)
     • Admin access

   • BigBlueButton Server:

     • A working BigBlueButton Server
     • Your server’s:
     • BBB server URL (e.g., https://bbb.yourdomain.com/bigbluebutton/)
     • Shared Secret (used to authenticate API requests)

2. Install BigBlueButtonBN Plugin in Moodle (if not already installed)

   1. Log in to your Moodle site as Admin
      
   2. Navigate to:
      Site administration > Plugins > Install plugins
   3. Download the latest plugin:
      • Go to https://moodle.org/plugins/mod_bigbluebuttonbn
      • Download the .zip file
        
   4. Upload the .zip to your Moodle plugin installer
   5. Click Install plugin from ZIP file
      
   6. Complete the installation and upgrade the database when prompted

3. Configure BigBlueButton in Moodle

   1. Go to:
      Site administration > Plugins > Activity modules > BigBlueButtonBN
   2. Fill in:
      • Server URL:
        Example: https://bbb.yourdomain.com/bigbluebutton/
      • Shared Secret:
        Get this from your BBB server’s /var/lib/bigbluebutton/ or your hosting provider
   3. Set optional settings like:
      • Default welcome message
      • Voice bridge (conference dial-in code)
      • Recording options
      • Session timeout
   4. Save changes
      

4. Test the Integration

   1. Go to any Moodle course as a teacher
   2. Click Turn editing on
   3. Click Add an activity or resource
   4. Choose BigBlueButtonBN
   5. Fill in:
      • Session name (e.g., “Live Class – Week 1”)
      • Optional: schedule, wait for moderator, recordings, etc.
   6. Save and return to course
   7. Open the activity as a student or teacher to test BBB session creation and access

5. Enable Recordings (Optional)

   To enable and manage recordings:

   1. In the activity settings:
      • Check Enable recordings
   2. After a session ends and the recording is processed, it will appear inside the activity for playback
   3. Students can replay recordings directly from Moodle

6. Secure and Optimize Integration

   • Ensure your BBB server has HTTPS enabled
   • Regularly update both Moodle and the BBB plugin
   • Monitor server resources (BBB is resource-heavy—4+ cores, 8+ GB RAM recommended)

7. 🧩 Optional Enhancements

   • Use Greenlight as a standalone front-end for BBB
   • Enable breakout rooms for group activities
   • Set access restrictions in Moodle to control who can join meetings

Conclusion

You now know how to connect BigBlueButton server with Moodle LMS to achieve integrated eLearning platform.