diff --git a/course/lib.php b/course/lib.php
index 10748800f16..9f1a5353a79 100644
--- a/course/lib.php
+++ b/course/lib.php
@@ -1083,7 +1083,7 @@ function &get_fast_modinfo(&$course, $userid=0) {
         $cm->modname          = $mod->mod;
         $cm->name             = urldecode($mod->name);
         $cm->visible          = $mod->visible;
-        $cm->section          = $mod->section;
+        $cm->sectionnum       = $mod->section;
         $cm->groupmode        = $mod->groupmode;
         $cm->groupingid       = $mod->groupingid;
         $cm->groupmembersonly = $mod->groupmembersonly;
@@ -1117,14 +1117,15 @@ function &get_fast_modinfo(&$course, $userid=0) {
         $modinfo->cms[$cm->id] =& $cm;
 
         // reconstruct sections
-        if (!isset($modinfo->sections[$cm->section])) {
-            $modinfo->sections[$cm->section] = array();
+        if (!isset($modinfo->sections[$cm->sectionnum])) {
+            $modinfo->sections[$cm->sectionnum] = array();
         }
-        $modinfo->sections[$cm->section][] = $cm->id;
+        $modinfo->sections[$cm->sectionnum][] = $cm->id;
 
         unset($cm);
     }
 
+    unset($cache[$course->id]); // prevent potential reference problems when switching users
     $cache[$course->id] = $modinfo;
 
     return $cache[$course->id];
diff --git a/course/recent.php b/course/recent.php
index 9a0d08a21ad..c94e6ddb776 100644
--- a/course/recent.php
+++ b/course/recent.php
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@
         }
 
     } else if (is_numeric($param->modid)) {
-        $section = $sections[$modinfo->cms[$param->modid]->section];
+        $section = $sections[$modinfo->cms[$param->modid]->sectionnum];
         $section->sequence = $param->modid;
         $sections = array($section->sequence=>$section);
     }
@@ -186,6 +186,7 @@
         $section = 0;
 
         $activity_count = count($activities);
+        $viewfullnames  = array();
 
         foreach ($activities as $key => $activity) {
 
@@ -228,6 +229,11 @@
 
             } else {
 
+                if (!isset($viewfullnames[$activity->cmid])) {
+                    $cm_context = get_context_instance(CONTEXT_MODULE, $activity->cmid);
+                    $viewfullnames[$activity->cmid] = has_capability('moodle/site:viewfullnames', $cm_context);
+                }
+
                 if (!$inbox) {
                     print_simple_box_start('center', '90%');
                     $inbox = true;
@@ -236,7 +242,7 @@
                 $print_recent_mod_activity = $activity->type.'_print_recent_mod_activity';
 
                 if (function_exists($print_recent_mod_activity)) {
-                    $print_recent_mod_activity($activity, $course->id, $detail, $modnames);
+                    $print_recent_mod_activity($activity, $course->id, $detail, $modnames, $viewfullnames[$activity->cmid]);
                 }
             }
         }
diff --git a/lib/weblib.php b/lib/weblib.php
index 50a353f832e..1787eb6ae46 100644
--- a/lib/weblib.php
+++ b/lib/weblib.php
@@ -5276,7 +5276,7 @@ function navmenu($course, $cm=NULL, $targetwindow='self') {
             continue;
         }
 
-        if ($mod->section > $course->numsections) {   /// Don't show excess hidden sections
+        if ($mod->sectionnum > $course->numsections) {   /// Don't show excess hidden sections
             break;
         }
 
@@ -5284,14 +5284,14 @@ function navmenu($course, $cm=NULL, $targetwindow='self') {
             continue;
         }
 
-        if ($mod->section > 0 and $section != $mod->section) {
-            $thissection = $sections[$mod->section];
+        if ($mod->sectionnum > 0 and $section != $mod->sectionnum) {
+            $thissection = $sections[$mod->sectionnum];
 
             if ($thissection->visible or !$course->hiddensections or
                 has_capability('moodle/course:viewhiddensections', $context)) {
                 $thissection->summary = strip_tags(format_string($thissection->summary,true));
                 if ($course->format == 'weeks' or empty($thissection->summary)) {
-                    $menu[] = '--'.$strsection ." ". $mod->section;
+                    $menu[] = '--'.$strsection ." ". $mod->sectionnum;
                 } else {
                     if (strlen($thissection->summary) < ($width-3)) {
                         $menu[] = '--'.$thissection->summary;
@@ -5299,7 +5299,7 @@ function navmenu($course, $cm=NULL, $targetwindow='self') {
                         $menu[] = '--'.substr($thissection->summary, 0, $width).'...';
                     }
                 }
-                $section = $mod->section;
+                $section = $mod->sectionnum;
             } else {
                 // no activities from this hidden section shown
                 continue;
@@ -5396,7 +5396,7 @@ function navmenulist($course, $sections, $modinfo, $strsection, $strjumpto, $wid
             continue;
         }
 
-        if ($mod->section > $course->numsections) {   /// Don't show excess hidden sections
+        if ($mod->sectionnum > $course->numsections) {   /// Don't show excess hidden sections
             break;
         }
 
@@ -5404,8 +5404,8 @@ function navmenulist($course, $sections, $modinfo, $strsection, $strjumpto, $wid
             continue;
         }
 
-        if ($mod->section >= 0 and $section != $mod->section) {
-            $thissection = $sections[$mod->section];
+        if ($mod->sectionnum >= 0 and $section != $mod->sectionnum) {
+            $thissection = $sections[$mod->sectionnum];
 
             if ($thissection->visible or !$course->hiddensections or
                       has_capability('moodle/course:viewhiddensections', $coursecontext)) {
@@ -5414,7 +5414,7 @@ function navmenulist($course, $sections, $modinfo, $strsection, $strjumpto, $wid
                     $menu[] = '</ul></li>';
                 }
                 if ($course->format == 'weeks' or empty($thissection->summary)) {
-                    $item = $strsection ." ". $mod->section;
+                    $item = $strsection ." ". $mod->sectionnum;
                 } else {
                     if (strlen($thissection->summary) < ($width-3)) {
                         $item = $thissection->summary;
@@ -5426,7 +5426,7 @@ function navmenulist($course, $sections, $modinfo, $strsection, $strjumpto, $wid
                 $menu[] = '<ul>';
                 $doneheading = true;
 
-                $section = $mod->section;
+                $section = $mod->sectionnum;
             } else {
                 // no activities from this hidden section shown
                 continue;
diff --git a/mod/assignment/index.php b/mod/assignment/index.php
index 7409f57847c..4ada3c06bfe 100644
--- a/mod/assignment/index.php
+++ b/mod/assignment/index.php
@@ -66,14 +66,14 @@
         $link = "<a $class href=\"view.php?id=$cm->id\">".format_string($cm->name)."</a>";
 
         $printsection = "";
-        if ($cm->section !== $currentsection) {
-            if ($cm->section) {
-                $printsection = $cm->section;
+        if ($cm->sectionnum !== $currentsection) {
+            if ($cm->sectionnum) {
+                $printsection = $cm->sectionnum;
             }
             if ($currentsection !== "") {
                 $table->data[] = 'hr';
             }
-            $currentsection = $cm->section;
+            $currentsection = $cm->sectionnum;
         }
 
         if (!file_exists($CFG->dirroot.'/mod/assignment/type/'.$cm->assignmenttype.'/assignment.class.php')) {
diff --git a/mod/assignment/lib.php b/mod/assignment/lib.php
index 96127a5184f..f4ad07e7431 100644
--- a/mod/assignment/lib.php
+++ b/mod/assignment/lib.php
@@ -2544,7 +2544,7 @@ function assignment_get_recent_mod_activity(&$activities, &$index, $timestart, $
         $tmpactivity->type         = 'assignment';
         $tmpactivity->cmid         = $cm->id;
         $tmpactivity->name         = $aname;
-        $tmpactivity->section      = $cm->section;
+        $tmpactivity->sectionnum   = $cm->sectionnum;
         $tmpactivity->timestamp    = $submission->timemodified;
 
         if ($grader) {
diff --git a/mod/chat/index.php b/mod/chat/index.php
index bd20bc172e7..127aa6ecf1b 100644
--- a/mod/chat/index.php
+++ b/mod/chat/index.php
@@ -65,14 +65,14 @@
         $link = "<a $class href=\"view.php?id=$cm->id\">".format_string($cm->name)."</a>";
 
         $printsection = '';
-        if ($cm->section !== $currentsection) {
-            if ($cm->section) {
-                $printsection = $cm->section;
+        if ($cm->sectionnum !== $currentsection) {
+            if ($cm->sectionnum) {
+                $printsection = $cm->sectionnum;
             }
             if ($currentsection !== '') {
                 $table->data[] = 'hr';
             }
-            $currentsection = $cm->section;
+            $currentsection = $cm->sectionnum;
         }
         if ($course->format == 'weeks' or $course->format == 'topics') {
             $table->data[] = array ($printsection, $link);
diff --git a/mod/choice/index.php b/mod/choice/index.php
index 670dcfef74c..e7283147876 100644
--- a/mod/choice/index.php
+++ b/mod/choice/index.php
@@ -58,14 +58,14 @@
         }
 
         $printsection = "";
-        if ($cm->section !== $currentsection) {
-            if ($cm->section) {
-                $printsection = $cm->section;
+        if ($cm->sectionnum !== $currentsection) {
+            if ($cm->sectionnum) {
+                $printsection = $cm->sectionnum;
             }
             if ($currentsection !== "") {
                 $table->data[] = 'hr';
             }
-            $currentsection = $cm->section;
+            $currentsection = $cm->sectionnum;
         }
 
         $class = $cm->visible ? '' : 'class="dimmed"';
diff --git a/mod/data/index.php b/mod/data/index.php
index 60b4b7fcf83..cd3cd813c5e 100755
--- a/mod/data/index.php
+++ b/mod/data/index.php
@@ -116,14 +116,14 @@
         }
 
         if ($course->format == 'weeks' or $course->format == 'topics') {
-            if ($cm->section !== $currentsection) {
-                if ($cm->section) {
-                    $printsection = $cm->section;
+            if ($cm->sectionnum !== $currentsection) {
+                if ($cm->sectionnum) {
+                    $printsection = $cm->sectionnum;
                 }
                 if ($currentsection !== '') {
                     $table->data[] = 'hr';
                 }
-                $currentsection = $cm->section;
+                $currentsection = $cm->sectionnum;
             }
             $row = array ($printsection, $link, $cm->intro, $numrecords, $numunapprovedrecords);
 
diff --git a/mod/forum/lib.php b/mod/forum/lib.php
index 3047b6592f5..8e20c3203dc 100644
--- a/mod/forum/lib.php
+++ b/mod/forum/lib.php
@@ -4173,7 +4173,7 @@ function forum_get_recent_mod_activity(&$activities, &$index, $timestart, $cours
 
     if (!$posts = get_records_sql("SELECT p.*, f.type AS forumtype, d.forum, d.groupid,
                                           d.timestart, d.timeend, d.userid AS duserid,
-                                          u.firstname, u.lastname, u.email, u.picture
+                                          u.firstname, u.lastname, u.email, u.picture, u.imagealt
                                      FROM {$CFG->prefix}forum_posts p
                                           JOIN {$CFG->prefix}forum_discussions d ON d.id = p.discussion
                                           JOIN {$CFG->prefix}forum f             ON f.id = d.forum
@@ -4189,7 +4189,6 @@ function forum_get_recent_mod_activity(&$activities, &$index, $timestart, $cours
     $cm_context      = get_context_instance(CONTEXT_MODULE, $cm->id);
     $viewhiddentimed = has_capability('mod/forum:viewhiddentimedposts', $cm_context);
     $accessallgroups = has_capability('moodle/site:accessallgroups', $cm_context);
-    $viewfullnames   = has_capability('moodle/site:viewfullnames', $cm_context);
 
     if (is_null($modinfo->groups)) {
         $modinfo->groups = groups_get_user_groups($course->id); // load all my groups and cache it in modinfo
@@ -4236,17 +4235,22 @@ function forum_get_recent_mod_activity(&$activities, &$index, $timestart, $cours
         $tmpactivity->type         = 'forum';
         $tmpactivity->cmid         = $cm->id;
         $tmpactivity->name         = $aname;
-        $tmpactivity->section      = $cm->section;
+        $tmpactivity->sectionnum   = $cm->sectionnum;
         $tmpactivity->timestamp    = $post->modified;
 
+        $tmpactivity->content = new object();
         $tmpactivity->content->id         = $post->id;
         $tmpactivity->content->discussion = $post->discussion;
         $tmpactivity->content->subject    = format_string($post->subject);
         $tmpactivity->content->parent     = $post->parent;
 
-        $tmpactivity->user->userid   = $post->userid;
-        $tmpactivity->user->fullname = fullname($post, $viewfullnames);
-        $tmpactivity->user->picture  = $post->picture;
+        $tmpactivity->user = new object();
+        $tmpactivity->user->id        = $post->userid;
+        $tmpactivity->user->firstname = $post->firstname;
+        $tmpactivity->user->lastname  = $post->lastname;
+        $tmpactivity->user->picture   = $post->picture;
+        $tmpactivity->user->imagealt  = $post->imagealt;
+        $tmpactivity->user->email     = $post->email;
 
         $activities[$index++] = $tmpactivity;
     }
@@ -4257,7 +4261,7 @@ function forum_get_recent_mod_activity(&$activities, &$index, $timestart, $cours
 /**
  * 
  */
-function forum_print_recent_mod_activity($activity, $courseid, $detail, $modnames) {
+function forum_print_recent_mod_activity($activity, $courseid, $detail, $modnames, $viewfullnames) {
     global $CFG;
 
     if ($activity->content->parent) {
@@ -4269,7 +4273,7 @@ function forum_print_recent_mod_activity($activity, $courseid, $detail, $modname
     echo '<table border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" class="forum-recent">';
 
     echo "<tr><td class=\"userpicture\" valign=\"top\">";
-    print_user_picture($activity->user->userid, $courseid, $activity->user->picture);
+    print_user_picture($activity->user, $courseid);
     echo "</td><td class=\"$class\">";
 
     echo '<div class="title">';
@@ -4283,8 +4287,9 @@ function forum_print_recent_mod_activity($activity, $courseid, $detail, $modname
     echo '</div>';
 
     echo '<div class="user">';
-    echo "<a href=\"$CFG->wwwroot/user/view.php?id={$activity->user->userid}&amp;course=$courseid\">"
-         ."{$activity->user->fullname}</a> - ".userdate($activity->timestamp);
+    $fullname = fullname($activity->user, $viewfullnames);
+    echo "<a href=\"$CFG->wwwroot/user/view.php?id={$activity->user->id}&amp;course=$courseid\">"
+         ."{$fullname}</a> - ".userdate($activity->timestamp);
     echo '</div>';
       echo "</td></tr></table>";
 
diff --git a/mod/glossary/index.php b/mod/glossary/index.php
index f71afc818ad..a6b1db3fcf5 100644
--- a/mod/glossary/index.php
+++ b/mod/glossary/index.php
@@ -81,14 +81,14 @@
         $link = "<a $class href=\"view.php?id=$cm->id\">".format_string($cm->name)."</a>";
 
         $printsection = "";
-        if ($cm->section !== $currentsection) {
-            if ($cm->section) {
-                $printsection = $cm->section;
+        if ($cm->sectionnum !== $currentsection) {
+            if ($cm->sectionnum) {
+                $printsection = $cm->sectionnum;
             }
             if ($currentsection !== "") {
                 $table->data[] = 'hr';
             }
-            $currentsection = $cm->section;
+            $currentsection = $cm->sectionnum;
         }
 
         // TODO: count only approved if not allowed to see them
diff --git a/mod/quiz/lib.php b/mod/quiz/lib.php
index 3162d4f3fde..9a5abcefe79 100644
--- a/mod/quiz/lib.php
+++ b/mod/quiz/lib.php
@@ -589,7 +589,7 @@ function quiz_get_recent_mod_activity(&$activities, &$index, $timestart, $course
         $tmpactivity->type      = 'quiz';
         $tmpactivity->cmid      = $cm->id;
         $tmpactivity->name      = $aname;
-        $tmpactivity->section   = $cm->section;
+        $tmpactivity->sectionnum= $cm->sectionnum;
         $tmpactivity->timestamp = $attempt->timefinish;
         
         $tmpactivity->content->attemptid = $attempt->id;
diff --git a/mod/resource/index.php b/mod/resource/index.php
index 574e4cde822..e9e71dc3751 100644
--- a/mod/resource/index.php
+++ b/mod/resource/index.php
@@ -60,14 +60,14 @@
 
         if ($course->format == "weeks" or $course->format == "topics") {
             $printsection = "";
-            if ($cm->section !== $currentsection) {
-                if ($cm->section) {
-                    $printsection = $cm->section;
+            if ($cm->sectionnum !== $currentsection) {
+                if ($cm->sectionnum) {
+                    $printsection = $cm->sectionnum;
                 }
                 if ($currentsection !== "") {
                     $table->data[] = 'hr';
                 }
-                $currentsection = $cm->section;
+                $currentsection = $cm->sectionnum;
             }
         } else {
             $printsection = '<span class="smallinfo">'.userdate($cm->timemodified)."</span>";
diff --git a/mod/survey/index.php b/mod/survey/index.php
index fcbf432c324..da203dcccec 100644
--- a/mod/survey/index.php
+++ b/mod/survey/index.php
@@ -57,14 +57,14 @@
             $ss = $strnotdone;
         }
         $printsection = "";
-        if ($cm->section !== $currentsection) {
-            if ($cm->section) {
-                $printsection = $cm->section;
+        if ($cm->sectionnum !== $currentsection) {
+            if ($cm->sectionnum) {
+                $printsection = $cm->sectionnum;
             }
             if ($currentsection !== "") {
                 $table->data[] = 'hr';
             }
-            $currentsection = $cm->section;
+            $currentsection = $cm->sectionnum;
         }
         //Calculate the href
         $class = $cm->visible ? '' : 'class="dimmed"';
diff --git a/mod/wiki/index.php b/mod/wiki/index.php
index 883e76c4de8..9bb4cc93cf0 100644
--- a/mod/wiki/index.php
+++ b/mod/wiki/index.php
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@
         $wtype = '<span class="smallinfo">'.$wtype.'</span>';
 
         if ($course->format == "weeks" or $course->format == "topics") {
-            $table->data[] = array ($cm->section, $link, $summary, $wtype, $timmod);
+            $table->data[] = array ($cm->sectionnum, $link, $summary, $wtype, $timmod);
         } else {
             $table->data[] = array ($link, $summary, $wtype, $timmod);
         }