Moodle - Editing Your Course Site

Summary

Information about the general tools and settings used by instructors to build and design courses in Moodle.

Editing your Moodle Course

The vast majority of editing occurs on the main Moodle page for the course site. The one that displays the weekly or topic outline.

• Moodle "Actions menu"
  In the upper right is the Moodle "Actions menu" that hold most of your Moodle course management tools. When expanded the menu contains the following items.
   
  
  
  

Edit settings - Opens the course settings to set the course start date, course format, and more.

Turn editing on - Activates the instructor course editing mode and editing tools 

Gradebook setup - Provides quick access to the gradebook setup page of the grades area

Import - Use to import a component or entire course from a Template or previous course


Recycle bin- Open to access and restore course components you have previously deleted

More - Click for access to more course management options

On the left side of each course content icon:

• Vertical move 
  Click on this and drag the item to a new spot to move it vertically on the screen.

On the right side of each course content icon

• Edit title  
  Click on the pencil for a quick edit of the Title field.  Click your Return or Enter keys to save your changes.
  
  
• The "Edit" drop-down:

• • Edit settings - Allows you to edit or modify the settings for a resource or activity. You can use this to change the name of the item, link to a new file, change instructions, due dates, etc.
  • Move right / left - Click on the move link to indent the item to the right. Once indented you will have access to left and right arrows so that you can move the item in either direction.
    
  • Hide/Show - Use the Hide link to hide an item from student view. You will still see the item, but it will be “grayed” out. This indicates that it is not available to students.  Use the Show link to make an item available for access by students.
  • Duplicate - Select the duplicate option to make a duplicate of the item. You will be asked if you are sure you want to duplicate it. If you are, click “Continue.” Once the item is duplicated you can click on “Edit the new copy” to make changes to the item or “Return to the course.” The new item will be located immediately below the original item.
  • Assign roles - This allows you to limit who has access to a particular item by role (i.e., student, teaching asst., etc.)
  • Delete - Select the Delete option to delete the item completely. You will always be asked if you are completely sure that you want to delete that item.
    
    
• Groups - You can click on this icon to change between “No groups,” “Visible groups,” and “Separate groups.”

On the right side of each week/topic you will notice more icons

• Edit section - When you click on this, you have the option to edit the section name, adjust collapsed topics reset options, and restrict access.
• Hide section - You can use this to hide the entire week or topic from the students.
• Delete section - You can delete the entire section, including the contents within it

On the left side of each week/topic you will notice the vertical move icon.

• Vertical Move - You can use this to drag an entire week/topic to a new position in the outline.

Adding Resources and Activities to your Course:

In each week or topic, as well as in the top section of the course, you will notice a link "+ Add an activity or resource" 

This opens the activity/resource chooser to allow you to add resources and activities to your topic or week.

• • Activities - items in which students will actively participate in (i.e., assignments, quizzes, forums, surveys, etc.).
  • Resources - items that students will use as resources for the course (i.e., text on the screen, links to files like syllabus and assignment instructions, links to articles, videos, photos, etc.).

Deleting Substantial Amount of Content in Course:

You can delete multiple resources or activities at one time using the mass action block. Be sure to turn editing on. To do so click on your drawer (the three horizontal lines at the top of your Moodle page). Scroll near the bottom and click “add a block.” There is an option to add a “mass action block.” This will add boxes next to each piece of content in the course site. You can click on the items you wish to delete and click “delete” in the block. This will delete those items all at the same time. 

You can then remove the block when you are finished or choose to keep it. Students will not be able to see that block once you turn editing off.

Blocks - On the right side of the main Moodle page are blocks that display various information. Each of these has two editing icons that allow you to move the block or provides special settings for each block.

• Vertical Move - Just click on a block to move the block to a new location

• Settings (gear) - This allows you to make changes to the settings for the block.

• Configure specific block - This provides you with specific editing options for that block

• Hide block - This hides the block by collapsing it, but still allows you to see the title of the block

• Permissions - This allows you to change certain role capabilities to the block

• Check Permissions - This shows you the enrolled users for the specific block and their role

• Delete block - This allows you to delete the block from your page

• Freeze this context - This makes the block “read-only” and prevents users from making changes

Blocks - Docking: 

On the top left of the Moodle page you will find your “drawer” (three horizontal lines). At the bottom you will find an option “Add a block” You are able to add a variety of blocks from this menu. When you click on the block you would like it add it will appear at the top along the right side of your page.

There are two ways to access help documents

• Question marks - Next to many items in Moodle you will see a question mark icon. Click on this to read more about that item.
• "Moodle Docs for this page" - At the bottom left of each page you will see the “Moodle Docs for this page” icon. Click on this to read more detailed information about the page you are on.