Getting started in Moodle for
Staff
Setting
up key features of a course.
Introducing the course to your students
Word with no
images or graphics
Any file with pictures or graphics
Inside the College click on the Moodle link from MyWi or directly http://moodle.writtle.ac.uk, log in using usual details.
Find your course or module from the list displayed; if you do not have a course set up contact the support desk on either supportdesk@writtle.ac.uk or on-line http://esd.writtle.ac.uk ensure you quote the course code and course name and those who will be allowed editing rights to the course content.
Setting up key features of a course.
Some course settings will need reviewing before content is
added. Click on the Settings link which is shown in the Administration block to the
left of the screen.
- 1. Format should normally be shown as Topics format; this allows the course to be shown in a blocked format. Using ‘dates’ will require more maintenance when rolling course on to next year.
- 2. Course start date is usually the date when the course is created. If a future date is set then students will not be able to see the course until that date.
- 3. Number of Topics, this relates to 1. above, this may need increasing or decreasing as content is added or is limited.
4. Group mode, the usual setting is No
Groups. Other settings are used if for example there is more than one cohort. See Moodle Assessment guide[1] for more
detail.
- Availability is the option to make a course live or hidden. It is strongly recommended that the course is not available until all content has been created and the course is usable by students.
- Enrolment key or password is created for you but can be changed if you so wish. Once set up only students or staff who know the key will have access.
- When all settings have been set for the course scroll down to Save changes.
Designing your course.
Think carefully in your design, what may look good to you may cause your students problems; some key points:
- Keep files and pictures below 2mb, not everyone has a fast broadband connection at home. Also, Moodle server space is limited; see File Management.
- Most files should be saved as pdf, not all students have Office installed at home or may be using an incompatible version. From the application click ‘File’ ‘Print’ select PDF creator from printer list.
- Keep dates as generic as possible e.g. week 1. Then map the week numbers to a separate Scheme of Work or Unit Guide. This will allow easy updating for forthcoming years.
Assigning roles
‘Roles’ is a function that will allow staff/students pre-defined permissions to a course. When the course is initially created staff who are involved in the maintenance of content will be given the role of Teacher, this role give permission to add students or further non-editing teachers to courses. Module leaders are usually given the role of Course Creator who can add more Teachers.
- Click on the ‘Assign roles’ from the Administration box.
-
Click the role you wish to assign e.g. ‘Student’ or ‘Non-editing teacher’
- Then from the search box type all or part of a name.
- Select the name from the right hand ‘potential users’ box and click the arrow to move the user to the left hand ‘existing users’
Start Editing
In all instances to begin any editing function Turn editing on needs to selected, this will then show all the editing icons.
Introducing the course to your
students
The first topic is the Topic outline (un-numbered), here the course title and course code should be the main heading together with the introduction and perhaps a statement about the tutor(s) on the course. Images can also be inserted but these must be resized in another application e.g. Serif, Photo Editor before they can be uploaded, see resizing images guide.
Click the edit (hand) icon to start editing, using the formatting toolbar as you would in Word , then save changes.
Topic headings e.g. Week 1, Week 2 or Module title etc will also need adding, these are done in the same way. Keeping the headings short, meaningful and use ‘bold’ or ‘heading style’ so students can easily navigate their way to the correct topic. Clicking the ‘light bulb’ icon at the side of the topic will show the topic as ‘current’ displaying grey shading to the side.
Adding
Resources
Word with no images or graphics
Students should be able to link to their resources or perform
activities with as few clicks as possible.
If a document contains just text and contains no images or graphics then
it is possible just to copy and paste into Moodle (images will not copy and
paste),
- From the ‘Add a Resource’ drop down menu select ‘Compose a web page’
- In the Name box type a meaningful title for the document.
- In the Summary box type a short description of the document, but this is not essential.
- In the Full text box paste text that has been copied from a Word document, although text can be copied from any application.
- Word can look a bit strange after pasting so it is usually necessary to click on the ‘Clean Word HTML’ button.
-
Text may also need to be formatted again in the same way as in Word using the Toolbar directly above the Full text box
- Scroll down to ‘Save Changes’.
- Review the document and make any changes by selecting ‘Update this Resource’ on the top right hand side.
To review where the document has been saved go back to the course by clicking the course code at the top left of the screen.
Any file with pictures or graphics
Most files can be uploaded to Moodle and made available as a resource. Most files should be saved as a .pdf document if they are just for viewing but if files are needed to enable a working copy then they can be uploaded as a source version. Ensure students have the software to view.
From the ‘Add a Resource’ drop down menu select ‘Link to a file or web site’.
- In the Name box type a meaningful title for the document.
- In the Summary box type a short description of the document, but this is not essential.
Click on ‘Choose or Upload a file’
- This will take you to a file storage area which is managed in
the same way as Windows file
management system.
- Click ‘Upload a File’.
- Then click ‘Browse’ to find and select the file (this can be uploaded from any drive e.g. N:\, memory stick).
Clicking ‘Upload this File’ will return you to the file storage area again.
Select ‘Choose’
next to the file to be used which will return you back to the screen at 4.- Scroll down and ‘Save’
- You will then return to the main course page.
- See Moving resources to place the resource
in the correct place.
Creating links to web sites
1.
From the ‘Add a Resource’ drop down menu select ‘Link to a file or web site’.
2. In the Name box type a meaningful title for the document.
3. In the Summary box type a short description of the document, but this is not essential.
4. Type in the web address or paste the full URL from a web site.
5.
Scroll down and ‘Save’
Creating sub headings
Sub headings may be needed to sub divide topics into sections see below:
- From ‘Add a Resource’
select ‘Insert a Label’
- Type required text using the formatting toolbar similar to Word then ‘Save changes’. The label will need moving in the same as Moving Resources below.
Moving Resources
Resources can be arranged in the correct order by selecting
the move button, then clicking in the destination box.
Hiding Resources and Topics
To hide a resource or whole topic click the eye open/closed icon. The resource or topic is then hidden from
students, teachers can see the greyed out resource.
Deleting Resources
Click the “X” to delete a resource but the connected file will remain in the Moodle file store. Remember to delete unused files as well.
File Management
Files used in Moodle can be reached via the ‘Administration’ block; click ‘Files’.
The principles of file management are
the same in Moodle as it is in Windows.
Ensure files that are not in use are deleted and zipped files have been
deleted once they have been extracted.
It is recommended that folders are created to accommodate files by
subject, week number etc to ease file management. Be aware that if files are moved after a
resource has been created then the link is broken and will need re-assigning.
To move/delete files or a create a zip archive tick the adjacent box(s) to the file(s), then from the drop down box select the action.
When creating a zipped archive of file(s) to be used as a back up, ensure it is moved out of Moodle to a separate location e.g. Memory stick, G:\drive to realise optimum space on the Moodle server; right click the file and ‘Save link as’.
