Managing Moodle Courses & Users
Embedded Files
This page covers resources managing your course content, as well as your course participants, 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
Course Administration & Management
⤷ Switching to Student View
⤷ Using a Folder
⤷ Using a Meta Links
⤷ By Date
⤷ By Completion
⤷ Guest Access
Course Administration & Management
Course Administration & Management
Importing Content
Importing Content
If you've taught a course in the past and find that the content previously used could be utilized in a new/upcoming course, there are options to import it directly from the old course.
To start, ensure you are in the New/Upcoming Course, and select More ⌵ from the toolbar below your course title. From the dropdown, select Course Reuse (see Figure 1).
Click Import, and select the course you wish to import content from (see Figure 1a).
If you plan to import all content and settings from the old course, select Jump to Final Step.
If you only want to import specific content, select Next to cycle through the Initial Settings and Schema Settings to mark what resources/activities you want imported.
A notification will display once the import is complete. Click Continue.
Figure 1
Figure 1a
Figure 2
Figure 2a
Hiding Content
Hiding Content
Moodle allows instructors to hide content from students' view, making it easier to revise and customize your course content, as well as set up your course uninterrupted.
Note: If you wish to temporarily hide a course from view, such as prior to the beginning of the semester, it is best to hide the course content, not the course itself. If the course itself is hidden, students may become confused when they cannot see a course they are expecting to be enrolled in. This scenario often triggers a call to the Registrar or ITS.
To hide course content, navigate to your Course Page and toggle on Edit Mode. Select the ⋮ Menu icon of the section(s) you wish to hide, and click Hide (see Figure 2).
Note: You can hide all sections at once by using the Bulk Editing tool.
To hide a course entirely from view, navigate to your Course Page and select Settings from the toolbar below your course title. In the General section, locate the Course Visibility option and select Hide (see Figure 2a). Once complete, select Save & Display.
You can check to see if your content is hidden properly by utilizing the Student View option. Under your User Icon, click Switch Role To... and select Student. Navigate back to your Course Page and check that your content is showing or not showing up correctly.
Grouping Content
Grouping Content
Organizing your course content effectively is key to helping students navigate your course. The most common reasons why content may need to be grouped include having multiple sections of the same course with different students, and having multiple resources or pieces of content that could be better streamlined for clarity. Below are two options for grouping content in your Moodle course:
━ Using a Folder, which allows you to place multiple files together in one location within a course
━ Using a Meta Link, which allows you to merge enrollment from one course into another
Note: Teachers often have multiple sections of the same course in Moodle. In some cases each section is unique and requires a separate course page in Moodle. However, when the same content is being covered in multiple sections of a course, it may be best to merge all users into one master course and then hide the unused course(s) from view. You should always inform students that being enrolled in a different course title and/or number in Moodle.
To group content in a Folder, navigate to your Course Page and turn on Edit Mode. Click + Add an Activity or Resource, and select Folder. Upload your content and enter in any relevant information. Once complete, select Save & Return to Course.
To create a Meta Link, navigate to your Course Page and select Participants from the toolbar below your course title. Locate the Enrolled Users ⌵ dropdown and select Enrollment Methods. Click Add Method, and select Course Meta Link. In the Search field, select the title of the course you wish to link, and click Add Method.
Note: Once a Meta Link has been created, you may wish to hide the unused course; Refer to the prior section to learn about hiding a course.
For a more detailed, step-by-step walkthrough of creating a meta link, you may refer to our video tutorial above.
Restricting Content
Restricting Content
Moodle allows instructors to control when and how students can access course materials by applying access restrictions to individual items or sections. These settings help structure learning pathways, manage pacing, and personalize the student experience, and there are several methods by which you can restrict access.
Note: Students will see that content is restricted, along with the conditions for unlocking it, unless hidden completely.
━ By Date, which allows you to make content available or hidden before/after a specific time
━ By Activity Completion, which requires students to complete one item before unlocking the next
━ By Grade, which allows you to set access based on a student’s grade in a prior activity
━ By User Profile, which allows you to show/hide content based on user information
━ By Restriction Set, which allows you to set multiple restrictions
To restrict content, navigate to your course page and ensure Edit Mode is on. Locate the section, activity, or resource you wish to restrict, and click the ⋮ Menu icon. Select Edit Settings, and under the Restrict Access dropdown, select Add Restriction...
In the pop up menu, you can select the Restriction Method for your content. For a step-by-step walkthrough, we've linked a YouTube video for you to follow along with.
Note: The video focuses on restricting content by date, but the process is the same regardless of the option you choose.
Figure 3
Bulk Editing
Bulk Editing
Moodle 4.5 introduces powerful Bulk Editing tools that allow instructors to make changes to multiple course items at once, saving time and reducing repetitive tasks. You can use bulk editing to move multiple items to different topics or weeks, hide or show multiple activities/resources at once, and duplicate or delete items in bulk, for multiple items simultaneously, and much more!
To use bulk editing, navigate to your course and toggle on Edit Mode. To the right of your Course Title, select Bulk Actions (see Figure 3). Select the Checkboxes next to the items you wish to edit, and choose from the Actions at the bottom of the screen.
We've included a video from the Moodle team that covers bulk editing, which you can view on this page.
Recycling Bin
Recycling Bin
The Recycle Bin in Moodle provides a safety net when you accidentally delete a resource, activity, or even an entire section. Deleted items are stored temporarily and can be restored within a limited time period, so there's no need to recreate anything from scratch.
Key Features: automatically appears in the Course Navigation menu after the first deletion, stores most types of deleted content (including activities, files, labels, & sections), items remain in the bin for a default of 7 days, and you can restore items to their original location or delete them permanently.
Note: The recycling bin is course specific, so you won't see items or content from other courses.
To use the recycling bin, navigate to your course and ensure Edit Mode is turned on. If not previously done, Delete an activity or section. Select More ⌵ from the toolbar below your course title, and click Recycling Bin from the dropdown.
You will see a list of your recently deleted items with timestamps; Select Restore or Delete (see Figure 4).
Figure 4
Participants & Enrollment
Participants & Enrollment
Adding / Removing Users
Adding / Removing Users
Instructors can manually manage enrollment in their Moodle course by adding or removing users with specific roles (e.g., student, non-editing teacher, tutor). This is useful for granting access to colleagues, support staff, or students not automatically enrolled.
Note: Always double-check roles and permissions before enrolling users. Removing a student from a course also removes their access to grades and submitted work, though some data may still be stored for recovery.
To add a user, navigate to your Course Page and select the Participants tab from the toolbar below your course title. Click the Enroll Users button. In the pop-up window, select the Search field, and enter the email of the user you'd like to enroll (see Figure 5). Choose the appropriate role, and select Enroll Users.
To remove a user, navigate to your Course Page and select the Participants tab from the toolbar below your course title. Locate the user in your Participant List, and click the 🗑 Unenroll button (see Figure 5a). Confirm the user's removal by clicking Unenroll in the pop-up.
In addition to adding users as participants, Moodle also offers a Guest Access feature. Guest can view a course without being enrolled, with which no grades, participation, or submissions are recorded. This is useful for sharing course previews, training materials, or content with colleagues or external reviewers.
To enable guest access, navigate to your Course Page and select the Participants tab from the toolbar below your course title. Click the Enrolled Users ⌵ dropdown and select Enrollment Methods. Click the Add Method button and select Guest Access. You can then enable or disable Guest Access, as well as set a Password (see Figure 5b). Once configured, select Add Method.
Note: Students who are automatically enrolled in a course through the Registrar can only be removed through the Registrar's official Drop/Add process.
Figure 5
Figure 5a
Figure 5b
Groups & Groupings
Groups & Groupings
Moodle's Groups feature allows you to divide students into smaller sets within a course. You can use these for group assignments, discussions, or targeted access to activities. Groupings are collections of groups, used when you want to assign an activity to some groups but not all.
━ Groups are subsets of students in your course, and students in a group can work together on assignments, forums, or projects. Each student can belong to one or more groups. For example: You have 30 students and divide them into three Project Groups (A, B, & C).
To create a group, navigate to your Course Page and select the Participants tab from the toolbar below your course title. Click the Enrolled Users ⌵ dropdown and select Groups. Scroll down and click the Create Group button.
━ Groupings are a collection of specific groups and can be used when instructors wish to limit an activity to certain groups. Without groupings, all groups could potentially access the same group activity. For example: Grouping 1, made up of Groups A & B, has access to a specific activity that Grouping 2, made up of Group C, does not.
To create a grouping, navigate to your Course Page and select the Participants tab from the toolbar below your course title. Click the Enrolled Users ⌵ dropdown and select Groupings. Click the Create Grouping button.
Figure 6
Groups and Groupings can be used to add restrictions to assignments or activities. To do so, ensure you have your Groups and/or Groupings set up, and locate the Assignment you wish to restrict. Select Settings from the toolbar, and navigate to the Common Module Settings section. Set the Group Mode to Separate Groups (students only see their group) or Visible Groups (students see other groups, but only interact with their own). To use a grouping, select Add Group/Grouping Access Restriction. The Group Submission Settings option can be used for help with managing team member submissions and grades.
For a visual representation of how groups and groupings work, please see Figure 6. We've also included a video walkthrough for a more detailed explanation.
Figure 7
Exporting Rosters
Exporting Rosters
Moodle allows instructors to export a list of enrolled users in their course, which can be useful for attendance tracking, offline records, or setting up communication lists outside of Moodle.
To export your class roster, navigate to your Course Page and select the Participants tab from the toolbar below your course title. Toggle the top Checkbox on the left side of your Participants List to select all users, and click the With Selected Users... button (see Figure 7). Under the Download Table As options, select the file type you wish to download the data as (see Figure 7).
Accessibility & Accommodations
Accessibility & Accommodations
ReadSpeaker
ReadSpeaker
ReadSpeaker is an integrated text-to-speech tool that allows students to listen to written content in Moodle. It’s designed to support auditory learners, students with reading or visual challenges, and anyone who prefers listening to course materials.
When enabled, a Play Button appears at the top of Moodle pages, allowing students to hear the content read aloud. They can control playback, adjust reading speed, highlight text as it's read, and even download audio versions for offline use.
Most courses already have ReadSpeaker enabled, but if by some chance yours does not, you can enable it through your Block Drawer. Navigate to your course that does not have ReadSpeaker enabled, and toggle on Edit Mode. Open your Block Drawer, and select + Add a Block. Select ReadSpeaker webReader.
For more information on what ReadSpeaker can do, we've included a video guide for your reference, as well as a longer, in-depth training video from TLT.
What can ReadSpeaker Do?
ReadSpeaker Accessibility Training
Exam Accommodations
Exam Accommodations
Moodle allows instructors to provide individualized accommodations for students during quizzes and exams, most commonly by adjusting time limits. These settings help support students with approved accommodations through Nazareth's Academic Success & Accessibility Office.
Instructors can grant additional time by creating a User Override for a specific student. This override lets you adjust the quiz’s open and close times, time limit, number of attempts, and access restrictions without affecting other students.
To set this up, navigate to your course page and locate the Quiz you want to add an accommodation to. Click the More ⌵ dropdown from the toolbar, and select Overrides. Click Add User Override, and enter in the information for the user and accommodation. Once complete, select Save or Save & Enter Another Override.
You may refer to the video tutorial provided for a step-by-step tutorial on quiz overrides.
Note: Nazareth's Moodle won't have the Administration Block, so be sure to click More ⌵ and select Overrides from the Quiz.
Assignment Accommodations
Assignment Accommodations
Instructors can provide assignment accommodations to support students with extended deadlines, editing needs, or other individualized learning requirements. The most common accommodation is extended time for assignment submissions, however, other accommodations include reopening a submission after it's been closed, locking or unlocking draft submissions, and granting additional submission attempts. These settings help support students with approved accommodations through the office of Academic Success & Accessibility.
Assignment Accommodations can be set up through the exact same method as Exam Accommodations. Please see the previous section for written and video instructions.
Having trouble? Contact the Technology & Media Service Desk at 585-389-2111 or tmsd@naz.edu
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