UoP Moodle Template Tool

The content below explains the process of delivering your Moodle Module(s) and Course(s) using the new UoP Moodle Template Tool and styling features.

At the bottom of this page you will find a short video on the UoP Moodle Template Tool

'Roll or Access' icon pointing to the next 'UoP Module Template Tool'icon indicating the first step of the process.

  1. Rollover/ Access

Contact your faculty Online Course Developer to request the rollover of your module(s) and access to the UoP Moodle Template Tool

'UoP Module Template Tool' icon pointing to next 'UoP Module Template' icon indicating the second step of the process.

2. UoP Moodle Template Tool

Familiarise yourself with the UoP Module Template Format or UoP Course Template Format

'UoP Module Template' icon pointing to the next 'Adapt and Develop Module Content' icon indicating the third step of the process.

3. UoP Module Template Format

Select and apply the UoP Module Template Format or UoP Course Template Format

'Adapt and Develop Module Content' icon is the last icon. Indicate the last step of the process.

4. Adapt and Develop Module Content

Populate new and existing learning materials in the new Module site

  1. Rollover/Access

How do I access the UoP Moodle Template Tool?

The UoP Moodle Template Tool is only accessible to view and use from your course module page once your course module rollover process has been completed. In the first instance, please contact your faculty Online Course Developer to request rollover of your course module.

Once your course module has been rolled over, the UoP Moodle Template Tool will appear on your course module page – it is here that you will be able to familiarise yourself with the UoP Moddule Template Format. The course module content will temporarily be hidden to display this information.

2. UoP Moodle Template Tool

What is the UoP Moodle Template Tool?

This new tool enables you to import a sequence of learning activities in a weekly format. It is designed to scaffold blended learning in a quick and flexible way. You can access the recommended UoP Module Template Format, which has been designed to enable consistency across modules for students or the UoP Course Template for creating community based course/subject level sites.

The UoP Module Template Format is ultimately aimed at enabling students to easily navigate multiple weekly tasks and stay on track with their studies. Within the format is the option to move/add/delete components as you design your weekly teaching activities. The new feature allows similar activities to share icons and a colour scheme for ease of navigation. Staff who are experienced in delivering distance learning have the option to import a more flexible weekly format.

Both formats will automatically include the Baseline tabbed block, which was introduced last year to provide key module information. This information is inserted above learning and teaching content in Moodle modules. The block contains five separate tabs: Welcome; Module Overview; Learning Outcomes; Reading Lists; and an Assessments summary.

This picture shows the Baseline tabbed block that has five separate tabs: Welcome; Module Overview; Learning Outcomes; Reading Lists; and an Assessments summary. The welcome tab has a message to the student and an introduction video.

3a. UoP Module Template Format

How can I familiarise myself with the UoP Module Template Format?

From the UoP Moodle Template Tool you will see a description of the UoP Module Template Format. You will also be able to preview a populated example of what the format will look like once applied to a course module.

This picture shows an example of a module with UoP Module Template. It demonstrates the way a week’s materials is presented in the template.

The recommended UoP Module Template Format is based on a Flipped Learning Methodology. This simply means that the learning material for the week is introduced first. Students work independently to watch/listen/read appropriate materials on the topic. The second stage is an interactive activity used to deepen understanding through discussion with peers and problem-solving activities. Signposting the sequence and requirements for the week is important to keep students on track.

The UoP Module Template Format creates weekly topic spaces for you to populate:

  • Weekly introduction and tasks

  • Group discussion activity

  • Further reading / extension activity

To help you in this process we have added placeholder guidance text to support you when writing instructional information for students.

A Moodle Tour will also be available to you. This step-by-step guide shows new features and functionality available within the template.

This picture shows the three weekly topic spaces: Weekly introduction and tasks, Group discussion activity and Further reading or extension activity organised in different colour and placed one after another.

3b. UoP Course Template Format

What is the UoP Course Template Format?

The aim of the UoP Course template format is to create course/subject level community and belonging. The course sites will improve communication by providing a hub for important information and documentation.

The UoP Course Template format is intended for use on course and subject level sites. Please do not use this template on module sites.

What is included in the UoP Course Template?

The course template contains the following sections:

  • News and Events (requires local content to be added)

  • Arrival Support (pre-populated content)

  • Student Voice (requires local content to be added)

  • Virtual Student Common Room (requires local content to be added)

  • Guidance for effective online learning (pre-populated content)

  • Staff Office Hours (requires local content to be added)

  • Student Support Information (pre-populated content)

  • Additional Course Information (requires local content to be added)

  • Essential Information & Documentation (requires some local content to be added)

We have pre-populated sections of the UoP Course Template where possible (Guidance for effective online learning and Student Support Information for example) and left space for departments to add their own content in other sections (News and Events, Additional Course Information).

A good way to get a feel for the template is to explore the UoP Course Template preview and also read the Guidance for the course/subject level sites document.

How do I go about applying the UoP Course Template to my new or existing course site?

Academic staff should contact their faculty online course developers for assistance with applying the template to a new of existing course site.

If you are applying the UoP Course Template to an existing course site, we recommend adding eight blank topics to the top of the course site before applying the template as the template is applied over the top of existing content.

We strongly recommend staff view the preview of the template in action before pressing the 'Use template' button to apply the template from the UoP Moodle Template Tool.

4. Adapt and Develop Module Content

What will happen once I select the UoP Module Template Format?

Once you have engaged and familiarised yourself with the UoP Module Template Format you can select 'Use Template' – from this action Moodle will automatically apply the format to your course module. From this point you will now be able to start developing your module in line with the new format structure and features.

As part of the template placement process, Moodle will automatically add 16 blank weekly topic spaces to the top of your module and hide existing topic spaces with course materials below them. This will enable you to work from a clean space and pull existing content up in to your preferred weekly topic spaces. It is recommended that students have three week's worth of concurrent content visible to them during any week of study.

What is the new styling feature available in Moodle?

You can now use the new styling feature from the Moodle text editor to help you when creating activities in Moodle (Books, Lessons, Pages etc.). The new styles act like building blocks, allowing you to create learning and teaching materials and signpost students clearly and consistently to what they need to be doing during a particular task. The text editor includes the following styles for you to implement:

  • Activity – links to Moodle activities, H5P interactions or Google Drive documents.

  • Discuss – demonstrates to the student that either a synchronous (WebEx / Google Meet) or asynchronous (Moodle Forum) discussion is available for them to work with both the academic as well as other students on sections of the materials.

  • Note – illustrates a part of the material that requires further consideration or to connect sections of content together and provide context between these sections.

  • Watch – highlights that there is something to watch. This could be a BoB (Box of Broadcast) recording of a television programme, a video from Compass produced by you or a colleague or a Youtube video. Each of these sources can be embedded within this box.

  • Listen – highlights an audio recording that can be listened to. This might be a radio programme, a podcast or recording made by you. It is possible to use the recorder within the Atto editor to record directly into this box, or any part of Moodle.

  • Reading – highlights to the student that there is a reading activity. This could be a link to a section of the your reading list or an article from a specific website. This should be used to help signpost the student to the reading lists and how the reading fits throughout the course content.

  • Quote – highlights specific citations from key texts.

  • Reflect – highlights a reflective exercise. Reflection is a great opportunity for students to process their learning. Reflection allows the student to see how their work can be improved and where they need to focus their future learning.

Examples of all styles can be found from the UoP Module Format preview site.

This picture shows an example activity using Activity Style.
This picture shows an example discussion activity using Discuss Style.

How do I use the new styling feature?

The styles are accessible from a Styles menu (see 'paint drop icon' as displayed below) in the Atto text editor tool bar in Moodle.

To use a style either:

  • Add your content into the text editor, highlight your text and select the style from the drop-down menu – your content will then automatically appear in the selected style box; or

  • Select a style from the drop-down menu and then type/add content to the styled box . Note: If you are using this method you will need to do a soft return using Shift+Enter to create a line break.

If you would like to remove a style you have already added to your content, highlight the text within the style you want to remove and choose No style from the styles drop-down menu.

How do I ensure my content is accessible?

It is important to use the heading styles found in the Atto editor (under the 'A' icon) to title your sections. This helps readability but also ensures that students who require the use of accessibility software – such as a screen reader – will be able to easily differentiate between the content within your styles and that outside of it.

This picture shows the available style options from the Style menu in Atto text editor.
This picture shows a selected style is now inserted in the content.

Can I add more than one style?

You can add more than one style to section of text if you think it is required. It is important to note that the styles have been designed to add emphasis to specific parts of your content, you should not add all your content within the supplied styles or it will become more difficult to read – less is very much more in this instance. To add content without using a style, simply type into the text editor as usual.

Once you have added your desired content into the editor, click save at the bottom of the page as you would usually, and your new content will be saved to Moodle, into the Page, Book or other resource you are editing.

UoP Module Template Tool Explained (3 minutes)

UoP Module Templates (bite-sized)