Note: You are currently viewing documentation for Moodle 2.4. Up-to-date documentation for the latest stable version of Moodle may be available here: Course homepage.

Course homepage: Difference between revisions

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(added info about editing the items. sections and blocks)
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Our examples will be for a course homepage that is the standard default for a new install on a site.  There are many course options that determine a course's appearance and make it look very different from our examples. The example course has a header, a footer (both content largely determined by a theme) and 3 columns in the middle.   
Our examples will be for a course homepage that is the standard default for a new install on a site.  There are many course options that determine a course's appearance and make it look very different from our examples. The example course has a header, a footer (both content largely determined by a theme) and 3 columns in the middle.   


Here are basic elements of a course page and links to Moodle documentation.
[[Image:Blankcourselayout.png|thumb|600px|none|Example of Weekly format, teacher view, edit off - [https://docs.moodle.org/20/en/File:Blankcourselayout.png full resolution here]]]
[[Image:Blankcourselayout.png|thumb|600px|none|Example of Weekly format, teacher view, edit off - [https://docs.moodle.org/20/en/File:Blankcourselayout.png full resolution here]]]


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==Editing elements on your course homepage==
==Course sections==  
With the editing turned on, each item on your course homepage and each section/block will have icons next to it which all perform different functions such as edit/move/copy/delete/hide. '''Note:''' ''your theme may have icons different from these below:'':
 
Course sections are displayed in the centre of the course page.
 
To edit a course section:
 
# Turn editing on
# Click the edit icon after the section title
 
If [[Conditional activities]] are enabled for the site, access to the section (including all activities and resources within it) may be restricted.
 
The number of course sections in the centre column may be changed in ''Settings > Course administration > Edit settings'' or by clicking the plus or minus icons at the bottom of the course page when editing is turned on.
 
{|
| [[File:editing a section.png|thumb|Editing a course section]]
| [[File:increasereduce.png|thumb|Changing the number of course sections]]
|}
 
To move a course section:
#Turn editing on
#Click the up/down arrow or the crosshairs icon to move the section
#Drag the section to where you want to position it and let go
 
{{New features}}Note: The ability to move course sections is controlled by the capability [[Capabilities/moodle/course:movesections|moodle/course:movesections]], which is allowed for the default role of teacher.
 
==Blocks==
 
Blocks are displayed in the right and/or left columns of the course page.
 
To add a block to the course page
 
#Turn on the editing by clicking the button top right or the link in ''Settings > Course administration''
#Select a block from the "Add block" dropdown menu (usually situated bottom right of the page)
 
To move a block
#Ensure editing is turned on then click onto the block title until the crosshair icon appears
#While keeping the block selected, drag it to where you want to position it and let go.
 
Alternatively
#Click on the up/down arrow
#Click on the place holder (a zone with a dashed border) where you want the block to appear.
 
{|
| [[File:moveblocksnew.png|thumb|Crosshair icon for moving a block]]
| [[File:Moveblocks.png|thumb|Up/down arrow icon for moving a block]]
|}
 
==Activities and resources==


:[[Image:Edit.gif]] - the edit icon goes to the "update" or "settings" screen.
To add an activity or resource to the course
#Turn on the editing by clicking the button top right or the link in ''Settings > Course administration.''
#Click 'Add an activity or resource' to open the new activity chooser. Select an activity or resource then click the Add button, or simply double-click on the activity or resource name.


:[[File:Duplicateicon.png]] - the duplicate icon allows you to copy an activity or resource within your course
If desired, the activity chooser can be switched off via ''Settings > Course administration > Activity chooser off''. Activities and resources can then be added using dropdown menus. (The setting appears only when editing is turned on.)


:[[Image:Open.gif]] - the open-eye icon means an item is visible to students. It will close when you click on it
'''Note:''' The Moodle admin can switch this off by default in ''Settings > Site administration > Appearance > AJAX and Javascript'' to avoid confusion for people coming from 1.9 to Moodle 2.4.  


:[[Image:Closed.gif]] - the closed-eye icon means an item is hidden from students. It will open when you click on it
{|
| [[File:activity chooser.png|thumb|The activity chooser]]
|}


:[[Image:Right.gif]] - the right icon is used to indent course elements (there is also a left icon)
Alternatively, certain resources and activities may be added using drag and drop:


:[[Image:Move.gif]] - the move icon allows course elements to be placed anywhere
*To add a [[File|file]], simply drag and drop it onto the course section where you'd like it to appear
*To add a [[Folder|folder of files]], simply zip the folder then drag and drop it onto the course section where you'd like it to appear, answer 'Unzip files and create folder' to the popup dialogue, then click the upload button
*To add a [[SCORM module|SCORM package]], simply drag and drop it onto the course section where you'd like it to appear, answer 'Add a SCORM package' to the popup dialogue, then click the upload button


:[[Image:Movehere.gif]] - the move here icon appears when moving a course element. Click into the box to re-locate your item.  
==Editing elements on your course homepage==
With the editing turned on, each item on your course homepage and each section/block will have icons next to it which all perform different functions such as edit/move/copy/delete/hide. '''Note:''' ''Your theme may have icons different from these below:''


:[[File:Ajaxmoveicon.png]]- the "crosshairs" move icon allows you to move items or sections by dragging and dropping. It appears if your admin has enabled Ajax in ''Settings > Site Administration > Appearance > Ajax and Javascript''
{{New features}}


:[[Image:Delete.gif]] - the delete icon will permentantly delete something from the course
:[[Image:quickrename24.png]] - the pencil icon allows to rename your item directly on the course page without entering the settings for that item.


:[[File:Rolesicon.png]] - the roles icon allows you to assign roles locally in the item.
:[[Image:edit24.png]] - the edit icon allows you to change the wording or settings of the item.


The following icons are visible when editing is both on and off
:[[File:duplicate24.png]] - the duplicate icon allows you to copy an activity or resource within your course


:[[Image:One.gif]] - This icon is used to show only the selected section
:[[Image:hide24.png]] - the open-eye icon means an item is visible to students. It will close when you click on it


:[[Image:All.gif]] - This icon is used to show all sections in a course
:[[Image:closedeye24.png]] - the eye with a strike through icon means an item is hidden from students. It will open when you click on it


The following icon only applies to sections
:[[Image:indent24.png]] - the right  arrow icon is used to indent course elements (there is also a left icon)
 
:[[Image:moveajax24.png]]- the move icon allows you to move items or sections by dragging and dropping.
 
:[[Image:movenoajaz241.png]] - this move icon appears if you don't have Ajax enabled.


:[[Image:Marker.gif]] - the highlight  icon allows you to highlight a section as current
:[[Image:movenoajax24.png]] - the move here icon appears when moving a course element without Ajax. Click into the box to re-locate your item.


==Moving sections or blocks on your course's homepage==
:[[File:topicmove24.png]] - the up/down arrows allow you to move course sections up or down and  appear if you do not have Ajax enabled.


===To move a Block===
:[[Image:delete24.png]] - the delete icon will permanently delete something from the course
Blocks appear at the side(s) of your course area. To move one,
#Turn Editing On and *click and release* the Block's crosshair icon. Place holders - zones with a dashed border - appear on the screen indicating the possible areas where your Block can appear.
#Click the placeholder where you want the Block appear. On course area homepages, you can move Blocks from one side to the other, but not into the middle.
#The block should now appear in the location you chose.


===To move a Section===
:[[File:groups24.png]] - the groups icon allows you to change between no groups or separate/visible groups
To move a Topic or Week section:
#turn editing on
#click the up or down arrow or the crosshairs icon to move the section


==Displaying activity descriptions on the course page==
:[[File:assignroles24.png]] - the roles icon allows you to assign roles locally in the item.


{{Moodle 2.2}}In Moodle 2.2 onwards, activity and resource descriptions can be displayed on the course page just below the link to the activity or resource by clicking the 'Display description on course page' checkbox in the activity or resource settings.


==Tips and tricks==
The following icon only applies to sections
===Make your course home page look more like a regular webpage===
Often when a course has a lot of content, students and teachers find the long scrolling tedious and would prefer a 'neater' appearance with hyperlinks to sections in a similar way to the way pages on websites work.


*Anchors/section links can help. But the course page can still be long.
:[[Image:lightbulb24.png]] - the highlight  icon allows you to highlight a section as current.
*Hiding the activities shortens the list for students, but then they can not be selected by students.


One method which might be useful is to put the activities into sections which are then made 'unseen' to the student.
==Tips and tricks==


''Basic Example''
*Make your course home page look more like a webpage - see [[Course FAQ]]
*Set the number of topics in the course setting to 1 more than students will see.
*Activity and resource descriptions can be displayed on the course page just below the link to the activity or resource by clicking the 'Display description on course page' checkbox in the activity or resource settings.
**For example, you plan on the students being able to see 6 topics, set it for 7.
*Add activities in topic 7, such as a quiz (in our example)
*Get the url of your quiz
**Copy it and keep it somewhere (such as notepad) for later use
*Go back to course admin>settings and change your topic/weeks to 6
**Or one fewer than you had before
*The section with your quiz will no longer be on the page that the student sees
*In another section, make a hyperlink to the quiz using its url
**You can also put it in a topic summary, label or  
**as a resource (link to a file or website)


You will find that the quiz is accessible to students even though the section  does not physically appear on the course page for the students.  You have shortened the page.
==Course homepage capabilities==


''More advanced example''
*[[Capabilities/moodle/course:sectionvisibility|Control section visibility]]
*There is a youtube video that gives an example of how to do this [http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XtHPUh_BaxM here]The video is of a Moodle 1.9 course but the principle still applies.
*[[Capabilities/moodle/course:setcurrentsection|Set current section]]
*You can actually set up your whole course using this method.
*Set  your course to have two topics (or more if you wish)
*Ignore topic 1 - do not place anything in it.
*In topic 2, use the resource: [[Page]] to make pages relating to your units of work/topics
*Add all your resources to topic 2
*Copy the resources urls into the relevant webpage as hyperlinks
*In topic 0, the course summary make hyperlinks -or better- images hyperlinked - to each webpage which contains the activities of that unit/topic
*Go back to course settings and set the number of visible topics to 1.


The teacher will see the hidden sections as "orphaned" items on their course page. However; the student will only see the top of the page. When they click on a link in the header, they are taken to the hidden webpage resources, where they select the resource or activity they wish. This creates a very short visual page but keeps all the course material within the course.
==See also==
*[http://prezi.com/oays--oappai/making-my-moodle/ A useful Prezi from a student teacher on designing an effective Moodle course]
*[http://youtu.be/Je9udHLCIv0 How to quickly rename activities and use the activity chooser screencast]
*[http://youtu.be/1You5H_NXM0 Quickly add a course section in Moodle 2.3 screencast]
*[http://youtu.be/Yy6-Sg7z7A4 Drag and drop blocks in Moodle 2.3 screencast]


[[es:course/view]]
[[es:course/view]]
[[fr:Page de cours]]
[[fr:Page de cours]]
[[ru:Главная страница курса]]
[[ja:コースホームページ]]
[[ja:コースホームページ]]
[[sk:kurz/prehľad]]
[[de:Kursseite]]
[[de:Kursseite]]

Latest revision as of 11:33, 30 April 2013

Standard view of a blank course

Our examples will be for a course homepage that is the standard default for a new install on a site. There are many course options that determine a course's appearance and make it look very different from our examples. The example course has a header, a footer (both content largely determined by a theme) and 3 columns in the middle.

Example of Weekly format, teacher view, edit off - full resolution here

Parts of a course homepage

Using the above image, here are the parts of a typical course homepage. It is possible to move and hide parts of the page and different themes display blocks in different regions, so not all courses will look like this.

Column left Course sections - Center Column right
*1 Course full name *6 Section header & News topic *9 Login information
*2 Navigation bar *7 Current week - First section *10 Turn editing on button
*4 Navigation block *8 Future week - Second section *11 Latest news
*5 Settings block *14 "Show only this section" *12 Upcoming events
*15 "Switch role to" *13 Recent activity
*16 User profile settings
*17 Site Administration

Course sections

Course sections are displayed in the centre of the course page.

To edit a course section:

  1. Turn editing on
  2. Click the edit icon after the section title

If Conditional activities are enabled for the site, access to the section (including all activities and resources within it) may be restricted.

The number of course sections in the centre column may be changed in Settings > Course administration > Edit settings or by clicking the plus or minus icons at the bottom of the course page when editing is turned on.

Editing a course section
Changing the number of course sections

To move a course section:

  1. Turn editing on
  2. Click the up/down arrow or the crosshairs icon to move the section
  3. Drag the section to where you want to position it and let go

New feature
in Moodle 2.4!
Note: The ability to move course sections is controlled by the capability moodle/course:movesections, which is allowed for the default role of teacher.

Blocks

Blocks are displayed in the right and/or left columns of the course page.

To add a block to the course page

  1. Turn on the editing by clicking the button top right or the link in Settings > Course administration
  2. Select a block from the "Add block" dropdown menu (usually situated bottom right of the page)

To move a block

  1. Ensure editing is turned on then click onto the block title until the crosshair icon appears
  2. While keeping the block selected, drag it to where you want to position it and let go.

Alternatively

  1. Click on the up/down arrow
  2. Click on the place holder (a zone with a dashed border) where you want the block to appear.
Crosshair icon for moving a block
Up/down arrow icon for moving a block

Activities and resources

To add an activity or resource to the course

  1. Turn on the editing by clicking the button top right or the link in Settings > Course administration.
  2. Click 'Add an activity or resource' to open the new activity chooser. Select an activity or resource then click the Add button, or simply double-click on the activity or resource name.

If desired, the activity chooser can be switched off via Settings > Course administration > Activity chooser off. Activities and resources can then be added using dropdown menus. (The setting appears only when editing is turned on.)

Note: The Moodle admin can switch this off by default in Settings > Site administration > Appearance > AJAX and Javascript to avoid confusion for people coming from 1.9 to Moodle 2.4.

The activity chooser

Alternatively, certain resources and activities may be added using drag and drop:

  • To add a file, simply drag and drop it onto the course section where you'd like it to appear
  • To add a folder of files, simply zip the folder then drag and drop it onto the course section where you'd like it to appear, answer 'Unzip files and create folder' to the popup dialogue, then click the upload button
  • To add a SCORM package, simply drag and drop it onto the course section where you'd like it to appear, answer 'Add a SCORM package' to the popup dialogue, then click the upload button

Editing elements on your course homepage

With the editing turned on, each item on your course homepage and each section/block will have icons next to it which all perform different functions such as edit/move/copy/delete/hide. Note: Your theme may have icons different from these below:

New feature
in Moodle 2.4!


quickrename24.png - the pencil icon allows to rename your item directly on the course page without entering the settings for that item.
edit24.png - the edit icon allows you to change the wording or settings of the item.
duplicate24.png - the duplicate icon allows you to copy an activity or resource within your course
hide24.png - the open-eye icon means an item is visible to students. It will close when you click on it
closedeye24.png - the eye with a strike through icon means an item is hidden from students. It will open when you click on it
indent24.png - the right arrow icon is used to indent course elements (there is also a left icon)
moveajax24.png- the move icon allows you to move items or sections by dragging and dropping.
movenoajaz241.png - this move icon appears if you don't have Ajax enabled.
movenoajax24.png - the move here icon appears when moving a course element without Ajax. Click into the box to re-locate your item.
topicmove24.png - the up/down arrows allow you to move course sections up or down and appear if you do not have Ajax enabled.
delete24.png - the delete icon will permanently delete something from the course
groups24.png - the groups icon allows you to change between no groups or separate/visible groups
assignroles24.png - the roles icon allows you to assign roles locally in the item.


The following icon only applies to sections

lightbulb24.png - the highlight icon allows you to highlight a section as current.

Tips and tricks

  • Make your course home page look more like a webpage - see Course FAQ
  • Activity and resource descriptions can be displayed on the course page just below the link to the activity or resource by clicking the 'Display description on course page' checkbox in the activity or resource settings.

Course homepage capabilities

See also