Using roles

Below are just a few creative examples of uses of roles and permissions in various settings.

Give a student forum moderator rights

How: Assign the role of non-editing teacher in the module context, via the "Locally assigned roles" link in the forum administration section of the Administration block.

Enables a user to edit or delete forum posts, split discussions and move discussions to other forums
See Forum moderator role for more details
Consider assigning this role to two students, and guiding them in learning to facilitate a forum together; for example, they can share the "coverage" of the forum on certain dates.

Enable a student to grade assignment submissions

How: Assign the role of non-editing teacher in the module context, via the "Locally assigned roles" link in the assignment administration section of the Administration block.

A form of peer assessment/evaluation
Similar use: Enable a student to grade essay questions in a quiz

Give a student the rights to approve database module entries

How: Assign the role of non-editing teacher in the module context, via the "Locally assigned roles" link in the database administration section of the Administration block.

Enables a user to approve, edit and delete database module entries
Similar use: Give a student the rights to approve glossary entries

Allow a student to clean up saved chat sessions

How: Assign the role of non-editing teacher in the module context, via the "Locally assigned roles" link in the chat administration section of the Administration block.

Allows a user to delete chat logs for conversations which don't go anywhere
Allows a user to save chat logs for a longer period of time
Allows a user to put together group chat sessions

Create an archive forum

How: Override the student role in the module context, via the "Permissions" link in the forum administration section of the Settings block and remove the capabilities to start discussions and reply to posts

In an archived forum, students may no longer start new discussions, nor add replies, but may still read all the discussions
See Forum permissions for more details
Similar uses: Archive database, glossary or wiki

Enable students to rate forum posts

How: Override the student role in the module context, via the "Permissions" link in the forum administration section of the Administration block, and allow the capability to rate forum posts.

A formative assessment
Peer evaluation
See Forum permissions for more details
Similar uses: Enable students to rate database or glossary entries

Allow students to unenrol themselves from a course

How: Override the student role in the course context, via the "Permissions" link (Users > Permissions) in the Course administration area of the Administration block and allow the "Unenrol self from the course" capability.

Useful for taster courses, revision courses and any other courses which are optional
See Unenrolment for more details

Hide a block from guests

How: Override the guest role in the block context, via the "Permissions" link in the block header and prevent the capability to view blocks.

See Blocks FAQ for more details
Similar use: Hide a block from students

Give a student unlimited time to complete timed quizzes

How: Assign the role of quiz user with unlimited time in the course or module context (requires Quiz user with unlimited time role to be created by an administrator)

Useful for particular students who require extra time in exams
See Quiz user with unlimited time role for more details

Enable a student to create questions

How: Assign the role of question creator in the course context, via the" Permissions" link in the course administration area of the Administration block (requires Question creator role to be created by an administrator).

Enables a student to create questions which can later be used in quizzes
See Question creator role for more details

Warning: Capabilities with XSS risks associated to them are allowed for the role of question creator. Thus, this role should be assigned with care.

Assign a student the role of calendar editor

How: Assign the role of calendar editor in the course context, via the "Permissions" link in the calendar administration area of the Administration block (requires Calendar editor role to be created by an administrator).

Allows a user to add course events to the calendar
Useful for enabling school admin staff to add term dates etc. to the school calendar (when role assigned in the system context)
See Calendar editor role for more details

Provide temporary read-only access to a naughty student

How: Assign the role in the course or module context (requires "can not post data" role, with selected capabilities prohibited, to be created by an administrator)

Prevents a user from entering text anywhere whilst allowing read-only access

Provide temporary access to a Guest Speaker in a completely online class

How: Create a non-editing teaching role blocking access to everything but post to forum.

Steps to prevent guests from seeing confidential student information:

Assign a guest role without access to grades and assignments.
Only grant access to the guest for the minimal amount of time they need to be in the class.

Allow an administrator and teacher to see participants, but not a student

How: In a course, click on "Users" and then the "Permissions" link in the course administration area of the Settings block. Scroll down to view participants and select the prevent or prohibit button next to "Student".

Allows teachers to see participants but not students.

Add a grader to a course

How: Use Enrolled users (if you want to allow students to see the grader) or Other users (if not) to add your grader with the role of "Non-editing Teacher".

The grader will be able to assign and change any grades in the class.
If you want to only allow the grader to grade certain quizzes and/or assignments, see Enable a student to grade assignment submissions.
If you want to only allow the grader to grade certain offline assignments, you can set up an assignment with no text entry and no file uploading. (See Offline activity assignment and Assignment_settings#Submission_types.)

Documentation