Using the Moodle Book Resource Type

Summary

• The Book module makes it easy to create multi-page resources with a book-like format. The Book resource is essential a multipage version of the Moodle Page resource type with the benefit of an Automatic table of contents, so using the book resource requires learning no new skills for you or your learners. 
• Examples: Place your Course Information,  syllabus, etc. into a multi-page book.  Learning topics can be built into a book (like a textbook). Use to present a collection, like photos, or student work or. Use a book to house your course tutorials. 
• Previously created websites can be imported directly into the Book module. Books can be printed entirely or by chapter.
• The Book module allows you to have main chapters and sub chapters, but it goes no deeper. In other words, sub chapters cannot have their own sub chapters, as the module is intended to be a simple resource for teachers and students.

• The Book module is not interactive. You can, however, link to choices, forums etc., from within a book. Also, Flash movies and other multimedia may be included in a book.

Video Tutorial

Using the Moodle Book Resource Type (video)

Step by Step Tutorial

Preparation:

• Decide if the Book Resource is the best tool.  Books can be used for any multipage content, but you cannot directly add forums, assignments, or other Moodle resource types or activities directly using the Add an activity or resource. 
• Decide how you will chunk the material in your Book using Chapters and Subchapters.  Example a Chapter might be the Chapter title and overview, while the subchapters might be chunks of content/concepts.

Adding and Settings for Book:

1. Click on Add an activity or resource and add the Book resource. 
2. In the Name field fill in the Name of your Book (e.g. Course Syllabus, Chapter 1 Introduction to Basketweaving, Module 1 Learning Resources)
3. In the Description field fill in a description of your book.
4. Set the book settings as desired:
   1. Display description on course page: check if you want the description of your book to show up as an annotation on your Moodle course home page below the link to your Book.
   2. Chapter formatting: Default is Numbers.  Click on the ? to see details on the other options.
   3. Custom titles:Normally the chapter title is displayed in the table of contents (TOC) AND as a heading above the content. If the custom titles checkbox is ticked, the chapter title is NOT displayed as a heading above the content. A different title (perhaps longer than the chapter title) may be entered as part of the content.

That's it all the rest of the settings are common Moodle settings for Groups (Advanced),  Visibility and Restricting access. 

Click Save and display to begin adding content to your book.

Adding Your First Page (Chapter) to your Book:

Consider your book to be structured as a chapter of a book and the first page is the overview (Chapter) and the remaining pages or sections are "subchapters.

1. Chapter title: 
2. Subchapter: Check to make a subchapter or a subpage(Note Subchapter (subpage) is only available after your first chapter has been created).
3. Content: Place your content into the Content area.  You can place any content including text, images, and media.
4. Save changes: Click save changes to save your chapter (or subchapter)

When you "Save and Display" you will notice the appearance of the Table of Contents (TOC) in your right blocks area when you are in your book.

Adding Subsequent Pages (Chapters or Subchapters)

   1. Add a new page: Click on the + in the Table of Contents.

   2. Fill in the Chapter title, check the Subchapter (or not) and add the content for your second page.  Continue repeating the steps until your book is built.

How your Book looks and how to use your Book:

• Appearance of Annotated Link on your course home page: 

• Appearance of page 1 of your book (Instructor view left, student view right).  Note 1) the table of contents and 2) the Settings are the Book administration settings.

Instructor view of book with editing turned on	Student view of book.

• Navigate within your book using the Table of Contents or the Previous / Next Arrows 
• Students (and Faculty) can Print Chapters or the entire book using the Print book or Print this chapter links in the Book administration Settings block.  What these links do is give a single page with the entire book for ease of printing or making a pdf file for sending via email.
• If you have existing html documents (web pages) you can even use the import function, but word and other documents cannot be imported (use copy and paste as you create chapters and subchapters instead).

Moodle Book Resource Links

Moodle Book Module Moodle Docs

Moodle Tutorial: Using the book module

Moodle Tutorial: Using Book Module pages instead of Topic/Week blocks