Moodle can run on a single standalone computer, on a network server, or can be hosted. A user logging in as an administrator has access to all aspects of the system, while individual users in the manager role may be limited in the permissions they have. Everyone logs into Moodle the same way and does not have any special privileges until the administrator assigns them roles based on their user needs. A system administrator performs tasks such as authentication, creating courses, and assigning instructors, as well as server management tasks such as backups and security settings. . (Powers, 2012) How users join a Moodle depends on the authentication parameters determined by the organization: they can be given credentials; they may be allowed to create accounts themselves, or they may be logged in automatically from another system. Moodle provides activity log reports that show instructors which resources and activities in a course were accessed, when, and by whom. A J. Ridden, a Moodle blogger, says that Moodle's strength is also its weakness. The strength being that the administrator has access to many features such as applications, modules and plugins to build the course. The weakness is that the variety of options can be overwhelming. Options that provide this flexibility can also create confusion. (Ridden, 2014, paragraph 7) As not all users will use every feature available, Ridden suggests the administrator check the following features to ensure ease of use. · Disable/enable plugins depending on what you need to do with Moodle. · Set defaults so instructors don't need to change options every time they create a course. This is useful at the default level...... middle of paper ...... There are many options for hosting Moodle and costs are usually related to the services provided and the number of users to be hosted. Depending on the Moodle host, there may be costs associated with maintenance and training, but royalty fees are never charged. The costs associated with moving to Moodle from another CMS depend on the level of expertise of the manager handling the move. StandardizationPersonalizationMoodle is a highly customizable site. The first page is the first page seen by a user accessing a Moodle site. In the navigation bar it is called "home". The home page has similar features and functions to a specific course. For example, activities, resources and blocks can be added to the home page to personalize it. Installing a new theme changes the appearance of the entire site or can only be applied to certain sections.