Side bar block

This contributed code module allows you to create separate activities and resources in a block. In the standard Moodle, these only appear in the center column. You can have multiple copies of this block in a course, each one unique.

Features

It functions by associating a course section with a sidebar block instance. Typically, this is done by mirroring the contents of an “orphaned” section. Here’s an example:

  -	Let’s assume that a course has 10 sections

  -	Go to the course settings page and change the “number of sections” to 11

  -	Create a Sidebar block and associate it with section 11

  -	Return to the course settings page and set the “number of sections” back to 10

  -	You can now add resources and activities to the Sidebar block. Note that these objects will be created in section 11, which is now hidden (orphaned), but shown in the Sidebar block.

You can create multiple Sidebar blocks. All resources and activities within a block can be edited and moved around just like normal activities when editing is turned on. Adding label resources allows you to add text to the blocks as well.

In a sense, this block combined the main menu block functions and HTML block functions into a single block that can be used in a course.

Tips and tricks

• Use with a Lesson dependency feature. When you create an activity a Side bar block (like a Quiz), you can then hide the block and the quiz is still accessible via an internal link. Thus you can force a student to go through a series of Lessons before taking the quiz. In the last lesson of the series, put the internal link to the quiz which is hidden from view but is technically open to students. This is not 100% foolproof, but will keep most of the students on the path you want.

See also

• Side Bar Block is a Modules and plugins database page for downloads and more information.
• Discussions: please create or find a discussion topic in the Contributed Code forum