On behalf of FH Technikum Wien, think modular developed a custom Moodle activity for the integration of ChatGPT. The AI usage can be configured individually for each course, and API keys can be defined per activity. All interactions—questions and answers—are logged anonymously and made available through a reporting interface. The solution enables a privacy-compliant and pedagogically guided application of AI in higher education.
Cooperation with Verein Fachhochschule Technikum Wien
Project timeline 2024
Project website github.com/TechnikumWienAcademy/moodle_ai_chatbot
Our scope of work
Further development of the Moodle plugin for the OpenAI chat activity
Implementation of flexible control options for AI usage
Custom plugin development for FH Technikum Wien by think modular.
FH Technikum Wien – Austria’s largest university of applied sciences focused exclusively on technology – collaborated with think modular – digital solutions to develop an innovative extension for the Moodle learning platform. The goal was to integrate access to ChatGPT directly into the teaching and learning environment, with full control over data protection, usage, and didactic integration.
The starting point was the open-source project moodle-block_openai_chat, which provided simple access to ChatGPT via a Moodle block. FH Technikum Wien aimed to further develop this concept both functionally and in terms of data protection, and commissioned think modular with the technical and conceptual implementation.
The result is a fully integrated Moodle activity that is flexibly configurable, operates at the course and activity level, and seamlessly integrates into the teaching process.
Configurable, anonymous, and didactically controllable.
Unlike the base version, the new solution allows a dedicated OpenAI API key to be defined for each individual activity. This enables instructors or administrators to precisely control which model is used, what limits apply, and how access is managed — independently of a central key.
Particular emphasis was placed on data protection and transparency: all user interactions — questions and responses — are logged anonymously and can be analysed via an integrated reporting interface at the activity level. This allows teaching patterns to be identified, content to be improved in a targeted manner, and tool usage to be reflected upon — without collecting or storing any personal data.
In addition, all key parameters — such as model selection, response length, or system prompts — can be configured directly within the activity. Admins can define default values that course instructors may adjust as needed. Caps can also be applied, for example, to limit response lengths or frequency in order to manage or restrict usage.
OpenAI in Higher Education.
With this development, FH Technikum Wien is one of the first universities in the German-speaking region to productively implement a Moodle integration of ChatGPT as a fully-fledged learning activity — featuring anonymous logging, granular control, and integrated reporting. The solution is available as an open-source plugin for other educational institutions as well: https://github.com/TechnikumWienAcademy/moodle_ai_chatbot
Through this project, FH Technikum Wien reinforces its role as a driver of digital innovation in the education sector. think modular acts as the development partner, contributing deep Moodle expertise, technical precision, and a focus on practical, sustainable solutions.