FAQ for Editing Teachers

This refers to Moodle 4.1 from December 2023 onwards

How to print off these pages as PDFs

It can be easier to follow instructions if you have a printout in front of you. A print button is on the top of every page.  

Alternatively to print off these instructions as PDFs:

1. If you are not already logged into the workspace system then click 'Log in' (top right).
2. Once logged in find your way to the page you want a pdf copy and click Tools (See image below) in the top right hand corner
3. Select 'Export to PDF'   
4. In the popup window Select Open or Save
5. Once Open in Adobe Reader you can choose to Print

Here is a list of questions and answers so far.  Check this list to see if your question is here!

Administration

Q. The module code/title is wrong for the module you've set up for me - can it be changed?

A. All SATURN/Campus Solutions modules are created automatically so take their titles directly from the Student Record System. Ideally you can get it changed in SATURN (Campus Solutions from 2019), but we may be able to correct an error temporarily while it is being sorted out in the Student Record System.  For non-SATURN/CS modules you can request the name of your choice when it is set up. Feel free to point out any mistakes, or let us know of changes to non-module course spaces that come up before session starts. Contact learning-technologies@nottingham.ac.uk with full module title, code (if it exists) and details of at least one editing teacher.

Q. Can I enrol a test student or a fellow academic on my module?

A. Yes   See How to enrol a fellow staff member manually on your module

If they do not have an account in Moodle already please send us the following details for us to create their account

username, lastname, firstname, staffID (if known), shortname of any course you'd like them to have access to and at what level (e.g., editing teacher, observer, teacher, student)

Q. Can I keep an archive or snapshot of my course - back it up?

Teachers can backup their courses at any stage to keep as an archive.  See  Backup a module (course)

Moodle Backups can only be restored or viewed through an instance of Moodle. We recommend that if you have a backup you do NOT attempt to restore on your own - please contact learning-technologies@nottingham.ac.uk for help.

Q. How do I see tracking information for students?

Tracking information can be found under reports. Begin by clicking the reports button under the module title.

 
Click 'More...'

Click one of the available reports

You have various logs and reports that you can look at, e.g., Activity Report and Participation Report.

See How to see tracking information for students

Basic techniques

Q. How can I paste from Word into Moodle?

The Atto Editor has a smart paste feature which will strip out incompatible formatting codes, so simply copy from your Word or other document and paste into Moodle using the right mouse button menu or CTRL+V. So for example, any headings, underlined text and text written in bold should carry over into the text editor. 

Recommendation: Do the absolute minimum of formatting before pasting text: use the Moodle formatting editor for best results.

Q. How can I copy something from one course to another?

A. You will need Editing Teacher access to both courses.

In the destination course:

1. On the 'More' menu (above): select 'Module Import.'
2. Search for or choose the course you wish take the material from and select the relevant radio button
3. Click 'Continue'

4. On the Backup settings screen you can deselect anything you don’t want. For example if you’re importing a single Resource or Activity or only resources and activities, untick 'Include blocks', 'Include files', 'Include filters' 'Include calendar events', 'Include question bank', 'Include groups and groupings' and 'Include custom fields.'

5. Click 'Next'
6. On the Include screen, select None then start ticking items you want (you must also tick the Section/Topic it’s in (untick anything you don’t want). Always untick Turnitin Assignments which cannot be copied.

7. (Scroll down and) Click 'Next'

8. Check (scroll down) and click 'Perform import'

9. Click 'Continue'

The item will appear in your course in the same Section/Topic where it appeared in its original course. If your course has a different number of topics the item may appear in the wrong place, but can easily be moved to wherever you want it.

For full details see How to copy or import a resource or activity (or multiple items) from one module to another

Q. I've deleted something, can I retrieve it?

The 'Recycle bin' allows you to restore items in Moodle if you have mistakenly deleted something. Items in the Recycle bin are automatically permanently deleted after one day. 

To restore a deleted item, you will need to wait a few minutes for it to appear in the Recycle Bin.

Drop down the 'More' menu and select 'Recycle bin.'

Click on the 'Recycle bin' and then click the 'Restore' icon next to the item you’d like to restore.

The item you deleted will be restored to its original location.

Q. How do I add a link in the text?

Highlight the text you wish to create the link from, then click on the 'Chain' icon on the toolbar in the text editor.

When the dialogue box opens then paste the URL in and click 'Create Link'.

Q. Can I delete sections/topics rather than individual files?

Yes, it is possible to delete a section and the contents within it. Press the 'Edit mode' button on the top-right of the Moodle page.

Scroll down to the section/topic you wish to delete. Press the three dots/ellipsis button on the right and select 'Delete section' from the menu.

You will need to click the 'Edit mode' button to off when you have finished editing.

Course design and navigation

Q. Can I use the "weekly format" to create a timetable showing students the dates or times of teaching sessions?

The "Weekly format" will create sections matching the weeks starting with the official start date of your course/module. As Campus Solutions tends to give this as 1 August, the weekly format does not work well.  Also, one invariably wants to add an additional Section or Sections for, e.g., Extra Reading, Feedback, Assessment or similar. It is just as easy to edit the Topics format titles as to edit a Weekly format, so we recommend Topics or Collapsed Topics for the vast majority of modules.

Q. Can I change the number of blocks in my course, I need less than or more than 10?

If you need fewer Sections

You can Hide sections if you prefer OR

Delete the sections you don't want. (NOTE: if Sections have items in them then they will also be deleted.)

If you need more Sections

With editing ON, Click on Add sections at the bottom of the module page.

Q. Can I use the same Moodle space for two modules which have essentially the same content?

A: Yes, it's possible to have two or more modules with different cohorts feeding into a "parent" module or overarching space such as a Programme space with content for both modules or extra content for those students.  Please let us know if you would like to implement something like this in Moodle.  

See How to understand metamodules (parent modules) - if you teach modules with the same content

Q. How can I make resources available to one set of students and not another?

You need to create groups and then groupings and then you can make activities or resources available to a particular grouping. See How To create groups and groupings and  How to restrict access to an activity or resource based on specific criteria

Q. How can I create groups and/or groupings?

Enable Groups in your course:

1. From the front page of your course, click Participants, under the module title.
2. The Participants page opens
3. Dropdown the 'Enrolled users' menu on that page and select 'Groups'

4. Choose from 'Visible Groups' (can see one another's material but not take part) or 'Separate Groups' (cannot see what the others are doing)

• • Create your Groups, e.g., V1000 and V20000 – use e.g., Create group [Moodle: there are several ways to create groups but this is simplest]
  • Create your Groupings, e.g., First Year and Second Year – click the 'Groupings' Tab and Create grouping, then add the relevant group(s) via the Groups button

See How To create groups and groupings

Q. How do I allow my students to see what group they are in?

1. Ensure your Module is set to Separate Groups or Visible Groups.

2. The student can then click on Participants and see just their group (if Separate groups is set) OR (if Visible groups) can choose which group to see members of or all participants

Q. Can I create a series of topics each with a teacher and a group of students (e.g., for tutorial groups) but where the teacher can only see their own group resources and students?

1. Put the students and teachers in relevant groups.
2. Give each a Section / Sections and Restrict Access for each to just a particular group.

Q. Is there any information I can give my students about how to use Moodle? 

There is a special section on Student Moodle Help. It is in Workspace (like this staff Help website) but it is not necessary to log in to see it.

Student Moodle Help

Resources

Q. How do I upload my first file?

A. How to add a file

Q. How do I get a PowerPoint slideshow to open and run automatically as a slide show?

A.

1. In PowerPoint, save your Powerpoint as 'Powerpoint Slideshow' (pps or ppsx)
2. On your Moodle page, select 'Turn editing on' 
3. Go to the section / topic where you want to add your PowerPoint, click Add an activity resource and select 'File'
4. Upload your pps or ppsx file
5. While in the Add file page, Under "Options", for Display choose 'Open' or 'In popup'.
6. Save your file
7. When finished, click on the 'Turn editing off' button at the top of your Moodle page

Q. How do I get audio files to work inside Moodle? How do I allow students to download audio files?

A. MediaSpace is the service used to stream audio (and video) files. Add your video or audio file as a Media Resource. See How to add video and audio in Moodle

Q. I’ve added a Forum to my module, for the students to ask questions and discuss things. Can I set up an email notification to tell me when comments are added?

Forums can be set up in three ways:  

1. Force everyone to be subscribed (anyone subscribed receives emails) e.g., for the News Forum which is the equivalent of Announcements (Force subscription)

2. Allow people to choose whether they subscribe with the default set to receiving emails (so they have to turn them off) (Auto subscription)

3. Allow people to choose whether they subscribe with the default set to NOT receive emails. This one may be a good idea especially where students may be added to the course before you want them to start receiving emails. And it means you can choose to receive the emails and the students won't get them unless you tell them (or they choose) to turn them on. This is the default.  (Optional subscription)

(4. There's also a no-subscription allowed at all setting)  

To change this setting for everyone:

• go into the forum,
• Drop down the Cogwheel / Actions menu then > Edit settings
• Under 'Subscription and tracking' change subscription mode if required.

• See How to add a forum

Q. Can I change whether I get emails from a forum?

To change whether you receive posts by email or not:

1. Click into the forum that you wish to change your subscription to.
2. There is a button in the top-right that will either say 'Subscribe to this forum' or 'Unsubscribe to this forum.'
3. Click 'Unsubscribe from this forum' if you are already subscribed and wish to opt out of email notifications or 'Subscribe to this forum' if you wish to start receiving email notifications.
4. A message will load to confirm your subscription status before redirecting you back to the module's main page.
5. Check your email is correct in your profile!

As a teacher you can also see who is and who isn't subscribed to a forum.

See How to change whether I get emails from a forum

Q. Can I create a glossary outside Moodle and import it to save time?

Yes, this is possible. It is a bit complicated as it has to be an XML file. However, there is a tool available to convert an .xls file into xml for import…MoodleGlossary.xls

Create your glossary in excel using this file: MoodleGlossary.xls. The minimum required is concept and definition: the macro tells you what to do. Note: there seems to be a bug which ignores the last entry, so put a fake entry on the last line.

1. Make sure macros are enabled
2. Run the macro, which produces an xml file, which you save.

To import glossary entries via an XML file:

1. In your module, turn editing on, and create a glossary: Click 'Save and display' OR 'Edit a glossary'
2. Go back to the glossary and within the glossary, drop down the 'Cogwheel' / 'Actions' menu, follow the 'Import entries' link.
3. Click Choose a file > Upload a file
4. Browse for the XML file on your computer. Click 'Upload this file'
5. Select the destination for the new entries, either the current glossary or a new one.
6. If you want to import category information, click the checkbox.
7. Click the 'Submit' button. You'll then see a report of the entries and categories added to the glossary. If you enabled duplicate entries when you created the glossary, the import process will add all of the new definitions. Otherwise, it will not allow you to import any duplicate entries.

Note that Glossaries are Activities not Resources: i.e. it is intended that students are able to add their own definitions to the glossary, not just that the glossary is a static teacher-created resource.

Q. How can I give audio feedback privately to students?

You can do this with the Moodle Assignment tool. Students do not have to submit anything to receive feedback or files back.

1. With editing on, click 'Add an Activity or Resource'
2. Select 'Assignment'
3. Create the assignment as usual (note, select Feedback files if you wish to provide files as feedback). Leave Grade as No grade.
   [Note: If you are giving feedback without a physical assignment being submitted, then make that clear in the instructions – "You don’t have to submit anything but look here for feedback"]
4. View the assignment as a teacher and click on 'View submitted assignments'               
   OR   Click 'Grades' under 'Settings', and select the heading corresponding to the assignment
5. All students are listed whether or not they’ve submitted anything
6. Click Grade for the student of choice
7. Type comments in feedback box if desired (can be just a sentence) and add any files as attachments, e.g., mp3
8. Save changes

Note: a Turnitin Assignment also enables you to record up to 3 minutes of audio feedback (but it cannot be downloaded only listened to)

Enhancements, Improvements and Plugins

Q. I've used Moodle before (or have found information on the Web) and I know Moodle X.X has an activity called [Moodle:insert name of your desired plugin here].  Is this available on Moodle our version of Moodle?

A. These are examples of Moodle "plugins". At the moment we have quite a basic Moodle and will be gradually adding plugins. We are happy to hear from you about what plugins are likely to be useful to you.  There are a couple of issues: not all plugins that work with previous versions of Moodle have yet been brought up to date to work with Moodle 3.4. Also, while lots of plugins look useful, adding too many may affect Moodle’s performance. So we have a procedure to evaluate and test all plugins and balance the pros & cons before making them available in our live Moodle system. Suggest a plugin by email to learning-technologies@nottingham.ac.uk