Course homepage: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 19:38, 23 May 2016

Parts of a course homepage

Watch the screencasts What is a course? and Course layout for an introduction on setting up your course homepage.

A Moodle course can look very different according to the theme and course format (layout). Here is a blank course page using the default 'Clean' theme and standard weekly format:

1.Navigation block

Normally visible on all pages, this block helps you find your way around the course and site.

2.Administration block

Again, normally visible on all pages, this block gives different levels of access to teachers and students.

3.Course sections

Here is where the learning materials are displayed. This element may be arranged in one or multiple weeks, topics, forums or other (non-standard) layouts.

4.Side blocks

Which blocks you see depend on what the administrator has selected and what you as teacher choose to add.

To edit a course section

New feature
in Moodle 3.1!

Turn editing on
Click the pencil icon (1 in screenshot below) to quickly rename the section
Click the Edit menu (2 in screenshot below) to edit the description and other settings.

Section editing menu

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

Click the plus or minus icons at the bottom of the page (with editing on) to change the number of 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

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

To delete a course section

With the editing turned on, click the 'Edit' link to the right of the course section you wish to delete and then, from the menu that displays, click 'X Delete'. You will be prompted to confirm your wish to delete the section and its contents. Note that all activities inside the section and their user data will also be deleted. This operation cannot be reversed.

To link course sections

An admin setting Always link course sections can be enabled from Site administration > Appearance > Navigation and will link course sections so that when a course section name is clicked in the navigation block or the central content area, it will go directly to that section.

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 "Administration > 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.

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

Turn on the editing by clicking the button top right or the link in Administration > 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.

Find out more about the activity chooser in the screencast What is the activity chooser?

If desired, the activity chooser can be switched off via Administration > 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 Administration > Site administration > Appearance > AJAX and Javascript.

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, activities, resources and blocks will have icons performing different functions such as edit/move/copy/delete/hide.

Note:' Your theme may have icons different from these below:

- the pencil icon allows you to edit inline the title of the resource / activity

- this icon groups actions together for easier editing on smaller screens. Click to reveal the options.

- the move icon allows you to move items or sections by dragging and dropping. (If you have many activities to scroll through while moving, see the Tips and Tricks section below for a useful suggestion.)

- this move icon appears if you don't have Ajax enabled.

- the groups icon allows you to change between no groups or separate/visible groups

- the move here icon appears when moving a course element without Ajax. Click into the box to re-locate your item.

- the up/down arrows allow you to move course sections up or down and appear if you do not have Ajax enabled.

Tips and tricks

Moving items in a course with many activities

If you click and drag an activity or resource on a course page which has many items, this might cause you difficulties with "scroll of death" issues. Instead of dragging the activity to move it, click on it. It will display a list of all the items on your page and you just need to click to select where on the course page you want the item to be moved to.

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

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-There are several formats for a course homepage (see below). Most course formats have [[Blocks (teacher) | block areas]] on the left and right sides, with course [[Category:Modules|Activity modules]] and [[Resources]] grouped by [[Course sections | sections]] in the center column.
+{{Courses}}
+===Parts of a course homepage===
+Watch the screencasts '''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKikDYMW_po&index=3&list=PLxcO_MFWQBDebq7Jly4p0s85GeAGRVQDk What is a course?]''' and '''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNrKtMjQ_8s&index=4&list=PLxcO_MFWQBDebq7Jly4p0s85GeAGRVQDk Course layout]''' for an introduction on setting up your course homepage.
+A Moodle course can look very different according to the theme and course format (layout). Here is a blank course page using the default 'Clean' theme and standard weekly format:
+[[File:example_course.png|thumb|600px|center]]
+.[[Navigation block]]
+Normally visible on all pages, this block  helps you find your way around the course and site.
+.[[Administration block]]
+Again, normally visible on all pages, this block gives different levels of access to teachers and students.
+.[[Course formats|Course sections]]
+Here is where the learning materials are displayed. This element may be arranged in one or multiple weeks, topics, forums or other (non-standard) layouts.
+.[[Blocks|Side blocks]]
+Which blocks you see depend on what the administrator has selected and what you as teacher choose to add.
+''
+===To edit a course section===
+{{New features}}
+# Turn editing on
+# Click the pencil icon (1 in screenshot below) to quickly rename the section
+# Click the Edit menu (2 in screenshot below) to edit the description and other settings.
+[[File:31editsection.png|thumb|center|600px|Section editing menu]]
+If [[Restrict access]] is enabled for the site, access to the section (including all activities and resources within it) may be restricted.
+Click the plus or minus icons [[File:increasereduce.png]] at the bottom of the page (with editing on) to change the number of 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
+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.
-== Standard view of a blank course==
+===To delete a course section===
-Generally speaking, the first or top section is not numbered and was designed for general information and to contain activities and resources useful during the course.  Most courses will have at least one additional [[Course sections | section]].
-The look of your course homepage also depends on which block areas you choose to appear using the Blocks field. All of the blocks can be moved up or down or to the other outside column according to one's liking.  Activities and resources can be moved to any place within the center column.  And the HTML editor can turn a plain homepage of text into a visual riot if required.
+With the editing turned on, click the 'Edit' link to the right of the course section you wish to delete and then, from the menu that displays,  click 'X Delete'. You will be prompted to confirm your wish to delete the section and its contents. Note that all activities inside the section and their user data will also be deleted. This operation cannot be reversed.
-Here are basic elements of a course page and links to Moodle documentation.
+===To link course sections===
-[[Image:Course edit on new 3w.JPG|thumb|600px|none|Example of Weekly format, teacher view, edit off - [https://docs.moodle.org/en/images_en/d/dc/Course_edit_on_new_3w.JPG full resolution here]]]
+An admin setting ''Always link course sections'' can be enabled from ''Site administration > Appearance > Navigation'' and will link course sections so that when a course section name is clicked in the navigation block or the central content area, it will go directly to that section.
-===Parts of a course homepage===
+==Blocks==
-{| style="width:75%; height:200px" border="1"
-|-
+Blocks are displayed in the right and/or left columns of the course page.
-| Column left || [[Course sections]]-Center || Column right
-|-
+To add a block to the course page
-|-
-| *1 [[Course_settings#Full_name|Course full name]] || *7 Section header & [[News forum|News topic]] || *10 [[Log in|Login information]]
+#Turn on the editing by clicking the button top right or the link in "Administration > Course administration''
-|-
+#Select a block from the "Add block" dropdown menu (usually situated bottom right of the page)
-| *2 [[Course_settings#Short_name|Navigation bar]] ||*8 Current week - First section || *11 [[Getting_started_for_teachers#Editing_course_section|Edit on button]]
-|-
+To move a block
-| *3 [[Course_settings#Summary|Course description]]|| *9 Future week  - Second section|| *12 [[Latest News block|Latest news]]
+#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.
-| *4 [[Participants|Participant list]]||  || *13 [[Upcoming Events block|Upcoming events]]
-|-
+Alternatively
-| *5 [[Forum module|Forum list]]||  || *14 [[Recent Activity block|Recent activity]]
+#Click on the up/down arrow
-|-
+#Click on the place holder (a zone with a dashed border) where you want the block to appear.
-| *6 [[Course administration block|Course administration block]] ||  ||
+{|
+| [[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==
+To add an activity or resource to the course
+#Turn on the editing by clicking the button top right or the link in ''Administration > 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.
+Find out more about the activity chooser in the screencast  [https://youtu.be/yWo0o4tG9YQ What is the activity chooser?]
+If desired, the activity chooser can be switched off via ''Administration > 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 ''Administration > Site administration > Appearance > AJAX and Javascript''.
+{|
+| [[File:activity chooser.png|thumb|The activity chooser]]
 |}
-==Examples of course formats==
+Alternatively, certain resources and activities may be added using drag and drop:
+*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
+==Editing elements on your course homepage==
+With the editing turned on, activities, resources and blocks will have icons performing different functions such as edit/move/copy/delete/hide.
+''Note:''' ''Your theme may have icons different from these below:''
-===Topic format example===
-[[Image:Course top topic mu1.jpg|thumb|300px|none|Example of Topic format.  Click on image to enlarge]]
-This is a downloaded version of demo.moodle.org, using the Topic course format.
-===Weekly format example===
+:[[Image:pencil.png]] - the pencil icon allows you to edit inline the title of the resource / activity
-[[Image:Course top weekly mu1.jpg|thumb|300px|none|Example of Weekly format, teacher viewing as student]]
-This is a downloaded version of demo.moodle.org, using the weekly course format.
-===Social format example===
-[[Image:Course top social mu1.jpg|thumb|300px|none|Example of Social format.  Click on image to enlarge]]
-This is a downloaded version of demo.moodle.org, using the Social course format.  The existing activities  seemed to disappear.  The teacher added two forums and a student added a third popular topic.
-===Other format examples===
+:[[Image:26actionicon.png|150px]] - this icon groups actions together for easier editing on smaller screens. Click to reveal the options.
-There are also [[SCORM/AICC module|SCORM]] and [[LAMS]] course formats.
-==Course themes==
+:[[Image:moveajax24.png]]- the move icon allows you to move items or sections by dragging and dropping. (If you have many activities to scroll through while moving, see the Tips and Tricks section below for a useful suggestion.)
-Some sites may allow teachers to select [[Themes |themes]] for their courses that are different from the Moodle site homepage. A theme can effect colours, font sizes and page layouts.
-In [[Course settings#force|course settings]], Teachers will see a "Force theme" drop down menu in the general section that contains a list of available themes.  Non-editing teacher can not alter this setting.  The default course theme is the site theme or the category theme.
+:[[Image:movenoajaz241.png]] - this move icon appears if you don't have Ajax enabled.
-The site administrator or course manager should look at [[Theme_settings]] or Administration>Configuration>Variables (older versions of Moodle) and change the allowcoursethemes to yes.
+:[[File:groups24.png]] - the groups icon allows you to change between no groups or separate/visible groups
-==Drag and drop==
+:[[Image:movenoajax24.png]] - the move here icon appears when moving a course element without Ajax. Click into the box to re-locate your item.
-Be aware that drag and drop for course sections currently (25th Feb 2008) has an issue and only support dragging a course section onto an adjacent section. Fix on the way: MDL-11539
-==Making 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.
-While anchors/section links can help, the course page is still very long.
+:[[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.
-Hiding the activities with the eye results in their being not available for students to use.
+==Tips and tricks==
+===Moving items in a course with many activities===
+If you click and drag an activity or resource on a course page which has many items, this might cause you difficulties with "scroll of death" issues. Instead of dragging the activity to move it, click on it. It will display a list of all the items on your page and you just need to click to select where on the course page you want the item to be moved to.
-One method which might be useful is to put the activities into sections which are then made 'unseen'.
+[[File:alternativemovemethod.png|thumb|center|500px]]
-''Basic Example''
+*Make your course home page look more like a webpage - see [[Course FAQ]]
-*Make your course as usual but add an extra topic at the bottom.
+*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.
-*Say if your course has 6 topics - give it 7
-*Add activities in topic 7 - eg a quiz
-*Get the url of your quiz; copy it and keep it somewhere (such as notepad) for later
-*Go back to course admin>settings and set your topic/weeks for 6; ie one fewer than you had before
-*The section with your quiz will no longer be on the page
-*In another section, make a hyperlink to the quiz using the url you have already copied and kept safe -either in a topic summary/ label or
-*via Add a resource>link to a file or website
-*You will see that the quiz is accessible to students even though the section it appears in doesn't physically appear on the course page.
-''More advanced example''
-*Here is a youtube video that gives an example of how to do this: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XtHPUh_BaxM
-*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
-*In topic 2, use ''Compose a webpage'' to make webpages relating to your units of work/topics
-*Add all your resources to topic 2 (etc)
-*Copy their 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 to 1.
+==Course homepage capabilities==
+*[[Capabilities/moodle/course:sectionvisibility|Control section visibility]]
+*[[Capabilities/moodle/course:setcurrentsection|Set current section]]
-==See also==
-*[[Course sections]] - some information about weekly and topic sections
-*[[Blocks (teacher)]] - some links to different types of blocks
-*[[Adding/editing_a_course]] for more information about a course
-*For Administrators - Administration block, configuration, variables and interface [[Theme_config#Course_themes |settings]].
-[[es:course/view]]
+[[es:Página principal del curso]]
-[[fr:Page de cours]]
+[[fr:Page d'accueil de cours]]
-[[ru:Главная страница курса]]
 [[ja:コースホームページ]]
-[[Category:Teacher|Course/view]]
-[[sk:kurz/prehľad]]
 [[de:Kursseite]]

Documentation