Getting Started & Moodle Basics
Embedded Files
This page covers resources and guides to navigating through and setting up your course in Moodle. You can use the link navigation to the right to quickly jump to a specific section. Use the bar at the top of this page to go to a different page topic.
Sections
Sections
⤷ Adding Important Files, Links, & Media
⤷ Adding Images
⤷ Adding Files
⤷ Adding Links
⤷ Adding Pages
⤷ Text & Media Labels
Accessing Moodle
Accessing Moodle
Dashboard Orientation
Dashboard Orientation
You can access Moodle by navigating to the Faculty/Staff page on Nazareth's website, and selecting the Moodle icon (see Figure 1), or by going to https://lms.naz.edu.
Users may log in using their MyNaz Credentials (see Figure 2), and will be directed to their Moodle Dashboard, which you can learn more about in the next section.
Your Dashboard (see Figures 3 & 3a) serves as your personal home page and provides access to courses, as well as a number of links and other resources. Refer to the key below to learn more about each element and feature.
More information on the Block Drawer (see Figures 4 & 4a) is available below as well.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
DASHBOARD KEY
A. | Moodle Help Resources
A direct link to your Moodle dashboard, campus student service quicklinks, and Moodle help resources.
B. | Moodle User Account
User account settings for Moodle.
C. | Block Drawer
Contains important links to other Moodle and Campus resources.
D. | Course Overview, Cards
Card view of currently enrolled courses; Can be sorted and search through to find specific courses.
E. | Course Overview Sorting Tools
Tools to show how many course cards are shown, as well as a way to flip through each page of loaded courses.
F. | Course Overview, List
List view of currently enrolled courses.
Figure 3a
Figure 4
Figure 4a
BLOCK DRAWER KEY
A. | Announcements
Announcements from Naz regarding Moodle.
B. | Timeline
Upcoming due assignments.
C. | Moodle Help Resources
Resource links for faculty and students.
D. | Self-Enrollable Courses
Courses you can enroll by yourself.
E. | Course Evaluations
Link to the CourseEval Portal, to give feedback on your courses and instructors.
Managing Starred Courses
Managing Starred Courses
Moodle provides a built-in filter through the use of Starred Courses as a way to limit the number of courses that appear in your Course Overview. They can be added or removed from this list at any time, and can be access by clicking on the Menu icon for each course, and selecting / deselecting Star This Course (see Figure 5).
You can view your starred courses by navigating to the Sort Button, and selecting Starred (see Figure 5a).
Figure 5
Figure 5a
Course Layouts
Course Layouts
When clicking on a course in your Course Overview, you will be taken to that class's Course Page. Moodle organizes course content by sections, with each new section indicated by an arrow or folder.
As the instructor, you may title your sections by week, topic, or however else you prefer. With so many options for managing your course layout, we've provided a video walkthrough that covers all of the basics, which you can view to the left.
Course Customization
Course Customization
Turn Editing On
Turn Editing On
In order to make any changes to your course in Moodle, you must first switch to Edit Mode, and you can do so by toggling the button in the top right corner of your Course Page (see Figure 6).
You will know if editing is on if you can see a Pencil Icon next to any of the content and activities already in your course.
Figure 6
Figure 7
Section Titles & Headers
Section Titles & Headers
Blank course sections are loaded with a generic Section # label. These can be changed by turning on Edit Mode and selecting the Pencil Icon next to the section you wish to change (see Figure 7). Once you've renamed your section, you can press Escape to cancel your edit or Enter to save it.
You may also adjust, edit, remove, or add sections. To add a new section, simple click the + icon in between pre-existing sections or navigate to the bottom of the page and click + Add Section (see Figure 7a). You can reorganize your sections by dragging and dropping them, and can delete them by selecting the Menu Icon and selecting Delete (see Figure 7b).
Figure 7a
Figure 7b
Course Announcements
Course Announcements
All Moodle courses are pre-loaded with a special forum at the top of the course called Course Announcements. This is an efficient communication tool that can be used by instructors to communicate important information, updates, and course content to their students in one, streamlined place. To create a new announcement, click the Course Announcements link, and select Add Discussion Topic (see Figure 8). Type in your announcement with the System Text Editor, and once complete, select Post to Forum (see Figure 8a).
Note: Students are not able to start a discussion or reply to posts in the Course Announcements forum, and any posts created will be sent to every enrolled participant's Naz email address.
Figure 8
Figure 8a
Quickmail Messaging
Quickmail Messaging
To easily and quickly contact course participants, instructors can use the Quickmail Message feature. This feature allows instructors to email course participants (all or selected individuals), with a single process. Moodle will track email history for each course, and any replies to an email sent via Quickmail are automatically directed to the instructor's Naz email address.
To start a message, navigate to the Quickmail section of your Block Drawer, and select Compose Course Message (see Figure 9). Select the recipients, write your message, choose whether or not to schedule your send, and attach any content or files. Once completed, select Send Message.
Figure 9
Adding Important Files, Links, & Media
Adding Important Files, Links, & Media
Moodle offers a variety of media that instructors may add to their Course Page(s). These include images, pages and subpages, a multitude of file types, text and media labels, external links, and much more. All of these types of media can be added by toggling on Edit Mode, and clicking + Add Activity or Resource. Refer to the subsections below to learn how to add specific media-types to your page.
ADDING IMAGES
Images can be added to your course through three different methods, each with varying degree of simplicity. Watch the video guide to the right for more information on Adding Images.
Method #1 ━ The easiest method: dragging and dropping images from your desktop.
Method #2 ━ Click the + Add Activity or Resource button and select File. Upload your image and info, and select Save & Return to Course.
Method #3 ━ Navigating to the Menu of the section you want to add an image to, select Edit Settings. In the System Text Editor, select the Image icon, and upload your file.
ADDING LINKS
To share electronic resources, Moodle allows instructors to add or embed links to content within a course topic. Watch the video guide to the right for more information on Adding Links.
Method #1 ━ Click + Add Activity or Resource and selecting URL. Enter in the necessary information, and select Save & Return to Course.
Method #2 ━ Alternatively, you can utilize the System Text Editor to add a link to any section posting or text within your course. Simply open the editor, highlight your text, and select the Link button. Enter the URL, and click Create Link.
ADDING PAGES
Pages, which can act as a private sub-page for your Course, and may contain written or embedded content. Watch the video guide to the right for more information on Adding Pages.
Method #1 ━ Click + Add Activity or Resource and selecting Page. Enter in the page's title and content, as well as adjust its appearance and settings. Once completed, select Save & Return to Course.
ADDING TEXT & MEDIA LABELS
A label adds a movable text field/media that can further communicate course information. Watch the video guide to the right for more information on Adding Text & Media Labels.
Method #1 ━ Click + Add Activity or Resource and selecting Text & Media Area. Customize the label's appearance and content. Once completed, select Save & Return to Course.
ADDING FILES
Any other file type that is uploaded to Moodle should be done through the File resource. Uploaded content will be opened/downloaded by the participant to their device for viewing, and content can include Microsoft Word documents or PowerPoints, Excel files, images, and more.
For video and audio files, instructors should not upload them directly to Moodle. Instead, they should be shared via Google Drive. Uploading large video/audio files to Moodle could potentially crash the system.
Watch the video guide to the right for more information on Adding Files.
Note: For content that the instructor prefers/does not need students to download, files should be exported as PDFs.
Method #1 ━ The easiest method: dragging and dropping images from your desktop.
Method #2 ━ Click the + Add Activity or Resource button and select File. Upload, and select Save & Return to Course.
Having trouble? Contact the Technology & Media Service Desk at 585-389-2111 or tmsd@naz.edu
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