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[[Image:Course edit on new 4.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Example shows blocks on left and right on a new empty course homepage]]This page is for teachers who are learning about a course feature called blocks.  
<p class="note">'''Note:''' Major improvements have been made to blocks in Moodle 2.0 onwards. See [[Blocks 2.0]] for details.</p>


The [[course/view|course homepage]] generally contains '''blocks''' on the left and right of the centre column. For example in the upper right is the "Latest News" block and in the upper left is the "People" block.
 
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[[Image:Course edit on new 4.JPG|thumb|right|Default block positions for a new course page]]
==Adding blocks==
A '''Moodle block''' contains a feature that loads in the right-hand or left-hand side of a [[Course homepage|course's home page]]. There are several types of standard Moodle blocks, and others are available as [[Contributed code]]. If needed, each block type can be used multiple times on a page.
Teachers in a course may add blocks.  In the above image the "Add Block" block is in the lower left.  Here the dropdown list showing standard blocks in Moodle 1.6 plus a non-standard "Verify Certificate" block.
 
[[Image:Block_add_dropdown_list.JPG|thumb|150px|frame|right|Add block list in 1.6]]
Blocks can also appear or be used in other places, such as on the [[Front Page]], in some activities, and in a student's [[My Moodle]] page. Administrators can add [[Sticky blocks]] in a site which will appear in every course.
<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>


==Block types==
==Block types==
Here is a list of different types of blocks and links with more infomation
There are many different types of blocks in a course that can be used by a teacher. The teacher can add blocks from a pull down menu.  Other blocks provide information or settings that a teacher may use.  Some activities allow blocks to be inserted by the teacher.
*[[Activities block|Activities]]
 
*[[Administration block|Administration]]
===Pull down===
*[[Blog Tags block|Blog Tags]] (1.6)
Each course has an add block pull down menu.
*[[Blog Menu block|Blog Menu]] (1.6)
{| border="0"
*[[Calendar block|Calendar]]
| |
*[[Courses block|Courses]]
{| border="2";"
*[[Course/Site Description block|Course/Site Description]]
|[[Blogs|Blogs - Tags and Menu]] (from 1.6 onwards)
*[[HTML block|HTML]]
|-
|[[Calendar block|Calendar]] - display calendar
|-
|[[Global Search block]]
|-
|[[HTML block|HTML]] - Use HTML editor in content area
|-
|[[Loan calculator block|Loan Calculator]] (from 1.6 onwards but removed from Moodle 2.0)
|-
|[[Mentees block]] (from 1.8 onwards)
|-
|[[Messages block|Messages]]
|-
|[[Online Users block|Online Users]] - only online Participants
|-
|[[People block|People]] - link to [[Participants]]
|-
|[[Quiz Results]]
|-
|[[Random Glossary Entry]]
|-
|[[Remote RSS Feeds]]
|-
|[[Section Links]]
|}
| style="width:100px" | 
|[[Image:Block add dropdown list teacher 1 8.JPG]]
|}
 
===Other blocks===
*[[Sticky blocks]] A block that is forced to appear on every page as part of a site setting
*[[Activities block|Activities]] A block used by teachers to add activities
*[[Course administration block]] contains course settings.
*[[Courses block|Courses]] Lists student's courses
*[[Course/Site Description block|Course/Site Description]] Teacher's description of course
*[[Latest News block|Latest News]]
*[[Latest News block|Latest News]]
*[[Loan Calculator block|Loan Calculator]] (1.6)
*[[Messages block|Messages]]
*[[Online Users block|Online Users]]
*[[People block|People]]
*[[Quiz Results block|Quiz Results]]
*[[Random Glossary Entry block|Random Glossary Entry]]
*[[Recent Activity block|Recent Activity]]
*[[Recent Activity block|Recent Activity]]
*[[RSS feeds block|RSS feeds]]
*[[Search Forums block|Search Forums]]
*[[Search Forums block|Search Forums]]
*[[Section Links block|Section Links]]
*[[Upcoming Events block|Upcoming Events]]
*[[Upcoming Events block|Upcoming Events]]


==Block arrangement==
There are also many contributed blocks available for download from the [http://moodle.org/mod/data/view.php?id=6009 modules and plugins database] including:
[[Image:Block_People.JPG |thumb|200px|right|People Block - with the editing icons showing]]Blocks may be added, hidden, deleted, and moved up, down and left/right when editing is turned on.
 
<br><br><br><br><br>
*[[Youtube block|Youtube]]
*[[Flickr block|Flickr]]
*[[Side bar block]]
*[[Progress Bar block]]
*[[Unanswered Discussions block]]
*[[Simple Clock block]]
 
==Course page block arrangement==
[[Image:Block_People.JPG |frame|The People block with editing turned on]]
New blocks can be added using the Add blocks dropdown menu. Existing blocks (except  [[Sticky blocks]]) can be hidden, deleted or moved up, down, or across to the other column using the icons in the block header. 
 
User with editing roles, need to turn on editing on the page to add or move blocks.
 
==Adding blocks to activities==
Certain activity modules, such as the [[Lesson module]] and the [[Quiz module]], support blocks on their pages. The site administrator must turn this function on so that the teachers will be able to add side blocks on those pages, otherwise the interface does not show this feature to the teacher.
 
By default, this feature is disabled in the [[Site administration block]]. An administrator can enable it by checking the ''showblocksonmodpages'' box in ''Administration > Appearance > Themes > Theme settings''.  When enabled, users who can manage course activities will be able to add blocks to pages.


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Blocks FAQ]]
*[[Block permissions]]
*[[Blocks administration]] - site block settings that an administrator can use
*[[Site administration block]]
*[[Development:Blocks]] - a developer guide to creating blocks
*[[:Category:Block]] - an index of all block-related pages
*[[:Category:Contributed code]] including a number of contributed blocks
*Using Moodle [http://moodle.org/mod/forum/view.php?id=2121 Blocks forum]


* [[Blocks (administrator)]]
[[Category:Teacher]]
[[Category:Block]]
[[Category:Block]]


[[de:Blöcke]]
[[eu:Irakaslearen_blokeak]]
[[fr:Blocs (enseignant)]]
[[fr:Blocs (enseignant)]]
[[ja:ブロック]]

Latest revision as of 21:01, 19 January 2011

Note: Major improvements have been made to blocks in Moodle 2.0 onwards. See Blocks 2.0 for details.


Default block positions for a new course page

A Moodle block contains a feature that loads in the right-hand or left-hand side of a course's home page. There are several types of standard Moodle blocks, and others are available as Contributed code. If needed, each block type can be used multiple times on a page.

Blocks can also appear or be used in other places, such as on the Front Page, in some activities, and in a student's My Moodle page. Administrators can add Sticky blocks in a site which will appear in every course.

Block types

There are many different types of blocks in a course that can be used by a teacher. The teacher can add blocks from a pull down menu. Other blocks provide information or settings that a teacher may use. Some activities allow blocks to be inserted by the teacher.

Pull down

Each course has an add block pull down menu.

Blogs - Tags and Menu (from 1.6 onwards)
Calendar - display calendar
Global Search block
HTML - Use HTML editor in content area
Loan Calculator (from 1.6 onwards but removed from Moodle 2.0)
Mentees block (from 1.8 onwards)
Messages
Online Users - only online Participants
People - link to Participants
Quiz Results
Random Glossary Entry
Remote RSS Feeds
Section Links
Block add dropdown list teacher 1 8.JPG

Other blocks

There are also many contributed blocks available for download from the modules and plugins database including:

Course page block arrangement

The People block with editing turned on

New blocks can be added using the Add blocks dropdown menu. Existing blocks (except Sticky blocks) can be hidden, deleted or moved up, down, or across to the other column using the icons in the block header.

User with editing roles, need to turn on editing on the page to add or move blocks.

Adding blocks to activities

Certain activity modules, such as the Lesson module and the Quiz module, support blocks on their pages. The site administrator must turn this function on so that the teachers will be able to add side blocks on those pages, otherwise the interface does not show this feature to the teacher.

By default, this feature is disabled in the Site administration block. An administrator can enable it by checking the showblocksonmodpages box in Administration > Appearance > Themes > Theme settings. When enabled, users who can manage course activities will be able to add blocks to pages.

See also