SelfProfile Activity Module for Moodle
mod_selfprofile is a Moodle activity module that helps teachers create reusable self-profile questionnaires for reflective learning. A SelfProfile activity is made up of:
- a Likert-type response scale;
- teacher-defined categories;
- teacher-defined items linked to those categories;
- optional reverse scoring;
- student instructions;
- category-based results after submission;
- JSON import and export for sharing instruments between teachers.
SelfProfile is intended for reflective self-assessment, not for clinical, psychometric, diagnostic, selection, or high-stakes assessment. It is a teacher-authored learning activity that helps learners think about their interests, preferences, aptitudes, strengths, learning habits, ministry fit, leadership style, study readiness, or professional development needs.
Why SelfProfile exists
Teachers often want learners to reflect on questions such as:
- What kinds of tasks do I enjoy?
- What strengths do I notice in myself?
- What kinds of learning activities suit me?
- What leadership behaviours do I practise often?
- What ministry or service roles might fit me?
- Where do I need to grow?
A Moodle quiz can ask questions and give marks, but a reflective self-profile is different. It is less about being right or wrong and more about helping the learner recognise patterns in their own responses.
SelfProfile gives teachers a structured way to build these reflective instruments inside Moodle, while still allowing the instrument to be exported, shared, adapted, and imported again.
Typical use cases
SelfProfile can be used for many low-stakes reflective activities, including:
- vocational reflection;
- leadership development;
- spiritual-gifts or ministry-fit reflection;
- study-skills self-assessment;
- team-role reflection;
- professional development;
- course-readiness diagnostics;
- personal learning-profile activities;
- classroom climate reflection;
- learner confidence surveys;
- mentoring and coaching preparation;
- reflective onboarding activities.
The plugin does not claim to create validated psychological tests. Teachers remain responsible for the quality, wording, fairness, and educational appropriateness of the items they create.
Teacher workflow
A teacher creates a SelfProfile activity inside a Moodle course.
The teacher can then:
- Define the activity name and introductory text.
- Add student instructions.
- Define a Likert-type scale.
- Create categories.
- Add items under each category.
- Choose normal or reverse scoring for each item.
- Preview and edit the structure.
- Export the completed activity structure as JSON.
- Import a JSON file created by another teacher or generated from a valid example.
- View submitted student results, where permitted by role and capability.
Example category:
Planning and Organisation
Example item:
I enjoy organising people, projects and events.
Example Likert scale:
| Value | Label |
| ---: | --- |
| 0 | Strongly disagree |
| 1 | Disagree |
| 2 | Agree |
| 3 | Strongly agree |
Student workflow
When a student opens the activity, the student sees:
- the teacher’s instructions;
- one item at a time;
- the Likert-type response scale;
- progress information.
Items are presented in a randomised order drawn from all enabled teacher-created items. The student’s progress is saved as the activity progresses, so the student can leave and return later.
Once all items have been answered, the student submits the completed profile.
After submission, depending on the teacher’s settings, the student can see a category-based results summary. The summary is intended to support reflection and discussion, not to label or diagnose the student.
Results
Results are calculated per category.
Each category score is based on the student’s responses to the items belonging to that category. Reverse-scored items are adjusted before the category score is calculated.
Example result:
| Rank | Category | Average score |
| ---: | --- | ---: |
| 1 | Planning and Organisation | 3.45 |
| 2 | Coaching and Development | 3.20 |
| 3 | Design and Visualisation | 2.80 |
The student report ranks categories from highest to lowest. The plugin can also produce a downloadable PDF report.
JSON sharing
A teacher can export the structure of a SelfProfile activity as a JSON file.
The exported JSON includes:
- schema information;
- version information;
- activity name;
- instructions;
- result preamble;
- Likert scale;
- categories;
- items;
- normal or reverse scoring settings;
- export metadata.
The exported JSON does not include:
- student responses;
- student names;
- grades;
- attempt data;
- personal data.
This makes it possible for teachers to share SelfProfile instruments with colleagues in the same way that teachers often share Moodle quiz questions using formats such as Aiken. A colleague can import the JSON, adapt it, and use it in another Moodle course.
The AI-assisted authoring pro-tip
SelfProfile becomes especially powerful when a teacher uses a valid JSON example as a pattern for AI-assisted authoring.
For example, a teacher can copy the JSON example below and ask ChatGPT to create a new SelfProfile instrument on a different topic, while keeping the same schema, structure, and field names.
A teacher might ask:
Use the SelfProfile JSON example below as the exact structure. Create a 50-item self-profile for first-year university students on study readiness. Use 5 categories with 10 items per category. Use clear, age-appropriate wording. Include a balanced mixture of normal and reverse-scored items, but avoid confusing double negatives. Return only valid JSON that can be imported into mod_selfprofile.
This workflow allows teachers to create, review, edit, and share reflective instruments quickly. The teacher should still check every AI-generated item for clarity, fairness, bias, cultural appropriateness, and educational fit before using it with learners.
JSON schema version 2 example
The following is a valid SelfProfile JSON version 2 example. It can be used as a template for creating new instruments.
{
"schema": "mod_selfprofile",
"schemaVersion": 2,
"name": "Study Readiness SelfProfile",
"instructions": "Read each item carefully and choose the response that best describes you at this point in your learning journey. There are no right or wrong answers. Use your responses to reflect on your current study habits and possible areas for growth.",
"resultpreamble": "Your results show the categories where your responses were strongest. These results are intended for reflection and discussion. They are not a diagnosis or a fixed label.",
"scale": [
{
"value": 0,
"label": "Strongly disagree"
},
{
"value": 1,
"label": "Disagree"
},
{
"value": 2,
"label": "Agree"
},
{
"value": 3,
"label": "Strongly agree"
}
],
"categories": [
{
"id": "planning",
"name": "Planning",
"description": "How well you prepare, organise tasks, and manage your learning time.",
"statements": [
{
"id": "planning_1",
"text": "I plan my study tasks before I start working.",
"scoringdirection": "normal"
},
{
"id": "planning_2",
"text": "I often begin studying without knowing what I need to finish.",
"scoringdirection": "reverse"
},
{
"id": "planning_3",
"text": "I break large assignments into smaller steps.",
"scoringdirection": "normal"
}
]
},
{
"id": "focus",
"name": "Focus",
"description": "How well you manage attention and distractions while learning.",
"statements": [
{
"id": "focus_1",
"text": "I can usually stay focused during a study session.",
"scoringdirection": "normal"
},
{
"id": "focus_2",
"text": "Small distractions often pull me away from my work.",
"scoringdirection": "reverse"
},
{
"id": "focus_3",
"text": "I choose study spaces that help me concentrate.",
"scoringdirection": "normal"
}
]
},
{
"id": "helpseeking",
"name": "Help seeking",
"description": "How willing you are to ask for help, feedback, or clarification.",
"statements": [
{
"id": "helpseeking_1",
"text": "I ask questions when I do not understand something.",
"scoringdirection": "normal"
},
{
"id": "helpseeking_2",
"text": "I avoid asking for help even when I am stuck.",
"scoringdirection": "reverse"
},
{
"id": "helpseeking_3",
"text": "I use feedback to improve my next piece of work.",
"scoringdirection": "normal"
}
]
}
],
"metadata": {
"exportedFrom": "mod_selfprofile",
"exportedAt": "2026-06-02T00:00:00+00:00",
"containsStudentData": false
}
}
Suggested ChatGPT prompt for creating a larger instrument
Teachers can adapt the prompt below.
Use the SelfProfile JSON version 2 example as the exact structure.
Create a SelfProfile instrument on this topic:
[INSERT TOPIC]
Audience:
[INSERT LEARNER GROUP]
Create:
- [NUMBER] categories
- [NUMBER] items per category
- a clear category id for each category
- a clear item id for each item
- concise item wording
- normal and reverse-scored items where appropriate
- no double negatives
- no clinical, diagnostic, or high-stakes claims
Keep:
- "schema": "mod_selfprofile"
- "schemaVersion": 2
- the same JSON field names
- the same scale format
- the same category and item structure
- "containsStudentData": false
Return only valid JSON. Do not include markdown fences, explanation, or commentary.
Good item-writing guidance
When writing SelfProfile items:
- use clear, simple wording;
- write one idea per item;
- avoid double negatives;
- avoid wording that shames or labels learners;
- avoid clinical or diagnostic claims;
- use reverse scoring only when it genuinely improves the instrument;
- prefer positive wording where possible;
- keep items appropriate to the learner group;
- review AI-generated items before use;
- pilot the instrument with a small group before using it widely.
Better:
I organise my study materials before I begin.
Riskier:
I am not the kind of person who does not plan badly.
The second example is confusing because it uses negative wording in a way that may distort responses.
Installation
- Copy the
selfprofile folder into the Moodle mod directory.
- Visit Moodle site administration.
- Complete the plugin installation.
- Add a SelfProfile activity to a course.
- Use the Builder to create categories and items, or import a valid SelfProfile JSON file.
Upgrade and backup support
The plugin includes Moodle database install/upgrade support and activity backup/restore support.
When an activity is backed up and restored, the teacher-authored SelfProfile structure is included. Student data handling follows Moodle backup and privacy rules.
Privacy
SelfProfile stores student attempts and responses so that the activity can save progress and calculate category results.
The plugin implements Moodle’s Privacy API. It supports user data export and deletion through Moodle’s privacy subsystem.
The teacher-exported JSON structure is different from student data export. Teacher JSON export is intended for sharing the activity design only and does not include student responses, student names, grades, or attempts.
Capabilities
Access is controlled through Moodle capabilities. Typical permissions include:
- viewing the activity;
- submitting a SelfProfile attempt;
- managing the SelfProfile structure;
- viewing reports;
- exporting the teacher-authored JSON structure.
Teachers should configure roles and permissions according to their institutional policies.
Educational disclaimer
SelfProfile supports reflection. It does not create a validated psychological test unless the teacher uses a separately validated instrument and has the right to do so.
The plugin should not be used on its own for:
- clinical diagnosis;
- psychological assessment;
- recruitment selection;
- high-stakes grading;
- labelling learners;
- replacing professional judgement.
Requirements
The plugin is designed for modern Moodle versions and follows Moodle plugin development expectations, including:
- Moodle language strings for user-facing text;
- capability checks;
- Moodle database API use;
- Moodle event support;
- Privacy API support;
- backup and restore support;
- CSS in plugin
styles.css;
- Moodle boilerplate headers in source files.
Repository naming
Suggested repository name:
moodle-mod_selfprofile
The repository root should contain the plugin files directly, for example:
amd/
backup/
classes/
db/
lang/
pix/
templates/
attempt.php
builder.php
export.php
lib.php
mod_form.php
pdf.php
report.php
results.php
styles.css
version.php
view.php
The Moodle installation folder should be:
mod/selfprofile
Licence
This plugin is released under the GNU General Public License v3 or later, consistent with Moodle plugin requirements.
Author
Developed by Johan Venter as part of a Moodle activity development workflow for reflective learning and reusable teacher-authored instruments.
