Moodle 4 - BigBlueButton Setup Instructions - BigBlueButtonBN

BigBlueButtonBN is a plugin for the Moodle learning management system. It provides an easy way to make video conferencing and online learning available to any student using Moodle. The idea behind BigBlueButtonBN is simple: give students access to online learning opportunities that would not traditionally available to them. You can use BigBlueButton to offer online classes for your users. As of October 2022, over 15,000 Moodle sites are using BigBlueButton. The BigBlueButtonBN plugin for Moodle currently ranks 3rd in overall downloads among over 1,400 Moodle plugins.

Moodle 4 includes BigBlueButton as a part of the core download, no need to download the plugin just use the easy instructions below to set it up and start your meetings in the next 5 minutes with Big Blue Meeting.

The BigBlueButton plugin for Moodle enables you to:

  • Create multiple activity links to online sessions within any course.

  • Restrict students from joining a session until a teacher (moderator) joins the session Launch BigBlueButton in a separate window.

  • Create a custom welcome message that appears at the top of the chat window when joining the session.

  • Specify join open/close dates for the session that appears in the Moodle’s calendar. Record a session.

  • Access and manage recordings for classrooms.

Use the instructions below to setup your Moodle instance to work with BigBlueButton in a few minutes.

Step 1


Go to your Moodle 4 site and click the login button / link.

Step 2


Login as an administrator into your site.

Step 3


Click the plugins tab from the Site administration menu

Step 4


Under the Site administration tab select/click the Plugins tab.

Step 5


On the "Plugins" tab find the BigBlueButton plugin and click the "Settings" button.

Step 6


Log in to Big Blue Manager in a new tab and go to the Moodle page under BigBlueButton / API / GUI section. You will copy the BBB Endpoint and BBB Shared Secret into Moodle.

Step 7


Go back to Moodle and paste the URL and Salt into the "General settings" page.

Step 8


You can set a "Default welcome message" to show in BigBlueButton chat window. You can also let teachers edit the message by checking the box. After you are happy with the settings click "Save changes".

Step 9


The BigBlueButton settings are now save.

Step 10


Go back to the "Plugins" tab by clicking on it and then click "Plugins overview".

Step 11


Notice the BigBlueButton plugin is disabled. To enable it first turn on Edit mode by clicking on "Edit mode" button on the top right.

Step 12


Once "Edit mode" is turned on you can see a gear icon next to "Activity modules". Click on the gear icon.

Step 13


Notice the eye icon next to BigBlueButton is not blue and is crossed out. Click on it to make it blue.

Step 14


The eye icon should be now blue which means BigBlueButton activity is enabled.

Step 15


Disable edit mode by clicking the "Edit mode" slider button

Step 16


Go back to the "Plugins" tab and click "Plugins overview".

Step 17


The BigBlueButton activity should be enabled.

Step 18


Go to the "Home" tab and enable "Edit mode".

Step 19


You can add BigBlueButton to the site as a site activity by clicking on "Add an activity or resource".

Step 20


From the popup choose BigBlueButton.

Step 21


You must provide a "Room name" for this activity room. You can also decide if you want to allow recording for this room.

Step 22


You have various settings that you can set on a room basis by checking the option.

Step 23


Each section has various options that limit or customize the plugin.

Step 24


After you are happy with the settings click "Save and return to the course or "Save and display" to join the room.".

Step 25


You can also add a room to a course. Make sure "Edit mode" is still on and click the course name you would like to add a room to.

Step 26


Click "Add an activity or resource".

Step 27


Choose "BigBlueButton" from the pop-up.

Step 28


Set a name for the course room.

Step 29


You can also assign Moodle roles to be moderators and viewers.

Step 30


Each room has various options you can set by clicking on each section.

Step 31


After you are happy with the settings click "Save and return to course".

Step 32


Turn off Edit mode."

Step 33


Click on the room name on the course page.

Step 34


Click "Join session" to start a BigBlueButton meeting.

Step 35


After a few seconds you should enter the BigBlueButton meeting.