Moodle 4.0 Resources for Faculty

Review our Faculty Quick Start Guide as you begin to prepare your Spring Courses in Brandeis Moodle Courses. Attend a Moodle Workshop with our Library Staff to learn more about the features and set up of Moodle.  Below are some key housekeeping tasks to help ensure a smooth start to your classes:
 

1. Course Content Review

• Double-check that all course materials (readings, slides, assignments) are up to date and correctly uploaded.
• Verify that any links to external resources are working properly.
• Try switching your role in Moodle to that of a student and then try opening each link and file. You can switch your role to that of a student, and view the Moodle page how a student would see the page by clicking on your name near the top right of the Moodle page. Select the "Switch Role To" option in the dropdown menu and select "Student" from the list of available roles. (To return to your normal Moodle role, you can choose the "Return to my normal role" from the same dropdown menu.)

• Library Guide for "Switch Role To" Feature

2.  External Tools & Plugins:

• If you're using external tools like H5P, Perusall, VoiceThread, or Echo360, remember that additional work may be needed to reuse these resources in Moodle. Make sure they are properly integrated and functioning as expected. 

• Library Guide for External Tools

3. Activity & Assignment Settings:

• Review assignment due dates and submission settings to ensure they align with your course schedule.
• Check that quizzes, forums, and other interactive activities are set up as intended.
• Use the “Switch Role to” feature to preview assignments from a student’s perspective. This allows you to understand how instructions, resources, and course flow appear to students, helping to prevent confusion.

• Library Guide for Activity Settings

4. Gradebook Setup

• Ensure your gradebook is organized, with categories and weights accurately reflecting your grading scheme. 

• Library Guide for Gradebook Setup

• Attend a Gradebook Workshop

5. Course Banners and Labels:

• If your course was migrated from LATTE, review and edit any banners or labels that include inline CSS to ensure they display correctly in Moodle. 

6. Images in Restored Courses:

• Replace any broken or missing images in course restore from LATTE to ensure visual content is available to students. 

7. Enrollment & Access:

• Make sure your course is visible to students.  If needed, verify that teaching assistants and co-instructors have the appropriate access levels. 

• Library Guide for Adding Users

8. Course Announcements & Notifications:

• Post a welcome message or first-week announcement to set the tone for the semester. 
• Remind students to check their notification settings to stay updated on course announcements and deadlines. 

• Student Guide for Moodle Notifications

By taking care of these tasks now, you'll help ensure a seamless start to the semester for both you and your students. If you need assistance with any of these items or have questions about Moodle, feel free to reach out to our support team.