Adjusting the Weekly Dates

Moodle sections have two options.

The default option is to create weekly sections that follow the course start date. If the course start date is set for January 1st, the first week will run from Jan 1 to Jan 7, then Jan 8 to Jan 14, etc. The default course start date is pulled from Banner, though many courses adjust this to run Sunday - Saturday, Wednesday - Tuesday, etc. 

The second option is to create topical sections. Topical sections typically do not use dates and use section headers that include the topic of study or a simple module title such as Module 1, Module 2, etc. Topical sections can be used to separate sections by dates other than weekly, such as daily or two week sections.

Changing the Weekly Dates

If you want to use dates but need to change how the dates align:

1. Click on Settings at the top of the course
2. Adjust the Course Start Date near the top of the settings to align with the first date that you want it to run
3. Click on Save and display at the bottom

This may get complicated if the first week does not align with the rest of the course. If you want the course to typically run Sunday - Saturday, choose the Sunday that would align with the first week so that the following weeks align with the correct schedule. You can then adjust the title for the first week to cut out the first Sunday if it should not be included.

Changing to Topical Sections

As the default is weekly, it is important to first convert the course to use topical sections rather than by dates. While you can adjust the title in weekly sections, the weekly highlight will still follow along with how Moodle perceives the course to be running.

To change to topical sections:

1. Click Settings at the top of the course
2. Scroll down to Course Format and expand the Course Format settings
3. Change the Structure setting from Default - Week to Topic
4. Click on Save and display at the bottom

With editing turned on, there will be a pencil icon next to each section title. You can click on the pencil to adjust the section title. Click enter on the keyboard to save the change.

Adding a Break Week

This method will include adding an extra week to the end and then slotting that week into the appropriate spot.

1. Turn editing on.
2. At the bottom of the course page, click the plus icon to add an extra section. The extra section will become the break section.
   1. Alternatively: in the course settings found in the settings tab across the top, the Number of Sections can be increased by 1 under Course Format.
3. Rename the section title.
   1. This is primarily to be able to identify the section. E.G. "Thanksgiving Break"
4. Drag the new section into the appropriate week
   1. All existing content will stay in the respective sections and content will be appropriately shifted down.