How to manage hidden resources, sections and modules

Relevant to Moodle 3.8 from September 2020 onward

How to: Manage hidden resources, sections and modules

It is possible to hide individual resources, sections, topics and even entire modules. The easiest way to tell if something is hidden is the colour. Hidden items are usual shown as 'greyed out.'

In many cases, there will also be a purple message.

How to show a module that is invisible to students

When modules are created, they are automatically hidden and will appear as 'greyed out.' This ensures that editing teachers can organise and finalise the layout of a module before making it available to students.

When the module is ready to be shown, follow these steps:

1. In the 'Cogwheel' / 'Actions menu' click 'Edit Settings' (you will need to be an editing teacher on the relevant module.)

2. Under "Course visibility" click 'Hide' or 'Show' as required.

(Clicking 'Hide' again will make the entire module invisible to all students.)

3. Click 'Save and display' at the bottom

How to hide a section or topic

It can be useful to hide sections or topics from student view if there are materials you'd prefer to be unavailable.

1. Click the 'Turn on editing' button at the top right of the Moodle page
2. Scroll to the topic you want to hide and click click Edit then 'Hide Section'. The section or topic will become 'greyed out' and will be hidden.

3. To unhide, follow the same steps but select 'Show Section'.

To hide an individual resource

1. Click the 'Turn on editing' button at the top right of the Moodle page
2. Scroll to the resource you want to hide and click on Edit then select 'Hide'.

The resource will now display a purple 'Hidden from students' message.

3. To unhide, follow steps 1 and 2 but select 'Show' instead of 'Hide' in the Edit menu.