Books

A book is a multi-page resource that provides a table of contents.

Suggestions on how to use this tool:

Create a series of pages for one central topic that allows students to jump to a specific page of interest.
Use the book pages to create a series of video clips centred around one theme.
Create a set of resources (video, audio, text content) centred around a topic.

View visual style guidelines View

When you are introducing new ideas to your students, it is important to consider how they receive that information. The way you share content - from formatting, to signposting, to use of language - can impact how students process what you have shared. The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles provide guidance on structuring your learning content for students.

The following guidelines aim to assist Monash University staff in creating and editing content in Moodle text editors and will cover some specific tools you can use to make text in your unit more accessible. For more general guidelines on accessible content, see the inclusive teaching guide.

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Layout (Text formatting)

Chunking text

The simplest way to differentiate your text is to make sure to separate the text into manageable sections by leaving a line between paragraphs to provide visual space on the page. You can also use different formatting options to differentiate the text, see examples below.

Formatting options	Description
Headers	Text editors allow you to change the size and emphasis of headings. Four levels of text are provided in the Moodle text editor: Heading Large Heading Medium Heading Small Paragraph. They can be used hierarchically to give structure to your content. It is recommended to use a combination of a main heading size, a sub heading size and body text. Headings are also recognised by screen readers, increasing accessibility.
Bold and italic text	Bold and italic text can be used separately or *together.* They can be used to indicate emphasis, highlight section headings, indicate key terms, and more. Italic text should be used sparingly, use bold text for preference.
Dot points and numbered lists	If information can be presented in a series of short statements, consider using a list. Dotted lists are suited for non-sequential statements, and numbered lists are for numerically ordered information.
Tables	Tables are ideal for conveying multiple relationships between information in a simple format.

Considerations for chunking text:

Headings can serve to indicate new ideas and sections.
Use text hierarchy and Moodle text and media area to break up chunks of text via subheadings.
Use the ‘squint test’ to see where a student’s attention will be drawn - and if you need to space things out more.
If students have to scroll through more than two or three screens of content, consider using a Moodle book to break the content into ‘chapters'.

Components for Learning

Components for Learning gives you a range of tools to introduce text boxes, highlights and other features to delineate key areas of your text. Use this tool to provide quick and consistent formatting for quotes, tips, key concepts, and more. Components for learning is only available in the TinyMCE editor.

For more information, see the Components for Learning guide.

Considerations for using Components for Learning:

Be consistent. Use the same components for the same purpose throughout your unit.

FontAwesome icons

The FontAwesome filter in Moodle allows you to add icons in text and media areas and is available in TinyMCE and ATTO. For more information, see Icons (below).

Considerations for using icons:

Pair icons with text to clarify meaning.
Be consistent - use the icons you have selected in the same manner throughout your unit.

For more information about text editors, see Selecting your default text editor.

Images
- Always include an image description (alt text) to accommodate individuals with low vision, ensuring that the description accurately portrays the content of the image.
- Source images from the Monash Brand image and illustration banks, otherwise you can use royalty and copyright-free images via Unsplash or Pixabay.
Video and other multimedia
- Include the duration or run time for audio-visual content.
- Embed video content using the Monash video application Panopto and ensure the closed captioning is enabled (closed captioning is enabled by default).
At the time of unit creation, your faculty Moodle admin can elect to include a custom banner - otherwise Moodle will randomly generate a generic banner. It is recommended that you use banners provided by the Monash Web Toolkit (Digital Asset Management) to elevate your unit design and align to our brand. Visit the Monash full-width banners resource to search or scroll through banner options.
If you wish to change your banner, please contact your faculty administrator.
You can use FontAwesome to insert code that shows up as an icon in the Moodle text editor. We have compiled a list of recommended FontAwesome icons that can be used in the higher education context.
Download FontAwesome icon guide
Best practice for icons
We encourage you to use icons to enhance student understanding of content. However be aware that misusing icons can lead to confusion and reduced readability. Please refer to the following principles to ensure that icons are effectively incorporated into your content.
Incorporate icons with accompanying text descriptions
Icons may not convey information as accurately as text, potentially leading to misunderstanding. Additionally, for students with vision impairments, icons can be unreadable. Therefore, we recommend adding text whenever you use an icon.
Reduce the use of icons when possible
When crafting a list, although items can share the same icon, its repetitive use may be burdensome for readers. Consider placing the icon in the list header instead, except when you require icons to differentiate between different types of list items.
Avoid misunderstanding when using multiple icons
When incorporating multiple icons in your content, ensure that the icons and text content are aligned. Avoid situations where one icon represents different meanings or the same meanings are represented by different icons.
Note about using icons in components
Some components already include embedded icons; we recommend refraining from adding additional icons to avoid confusion or redundancy.
For learning and teaching purposes, and to prevent potential misinterpretation, please use icons judiciously, as an excessive amount can be overwhelming. We advise against using emojis or clipart. However, this exclusion applies when communicating with students through informal methods, such as forum responses.

Text colours

Note

Always use the Accessibility Checker tool in the Moodle text editors to make sure your content is accessible according to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1.

Following these guidelines will make content more accessible to a wider range of people with disabilities, including accommodations for blindness and low vision, deafness and hearing loss, limited movement, speech disabilities, photosensitivity, and combinations of these, and some accommodation for learning disabilities and cognitive limitations; but will not address every user need for people with these disabilities.

These guidelines address accessibility of web content on desktops, laptops, tablets, and mobile devices.

Create a book

In the top right hand corner of the page, switch Edit mode to ON(Blue).
In the section where you would like to add a resource or activity, click +Add an activity or resource.
Note: You can add new resources or activities above or below any existing activities or resources.

Select Book.
In the General section:
1. Give your book a name and a summary description.
2. Control how your page titles will be displayed in the Appearance section.
3. Chapter numbering options include:
  - None - chapter and subchapter titles allows you to enter your own chapter titles
  - Numbers - chapters and subchapters are numbered (1, 1.1, 1.2, 2, ...)
  - Bullets - in the table of contents, subchapters are indented and displayed with bullets
  - Indented - in the table of contents, subchapters are indented
  - Hide the chapter title on the page and show it only on the table of contents by ticking Custom titles.
Note: Leave it unselected if you want to display chapter titles on the book pages.
Select other book setting options as required.
Once complete, click Save and display.
You will be prompted to create a chapter.
Give your chapter a title and enter contents in the text box.
Click Save changes.

Edit book settings

Switch Edit mode ON (Blue)
Click on Settings in the top menu to view the Book settings.

Note: Beside each field, you can click on the help icon for a description of the option provided.

Once done, click Save changes.

Chapters

To view book chapters, expand the right hand side panel with the arrow tab. Switch Edit mode ON (Blue) to add, edit, delete and hide chapters.

1. In the Table of contents block, click the plus icon (+) to add a chapter after the current chapter.
2. Enter the title and contents of the new chapter.
3. Once done, click Save changes.
1. In the Table of contents block, select the Edit cog for the chapter you want to make changes to.
2. Once done, click Save changes.
1. In the Table of contents, click on the up or down arrows to reorder the chapters.

Import and export Moodle books

You can import Microsoft word files and eBooks or chapters from an eBook. You can also export Moodle Books as Microsoft word or eBook (.epub) files.

Navigate to the Moodle book you would like to export/import.
Ensure Edit mode is on(Blue) in the top right corner of the unit banner.

1. To download your Moodle book as an .epub file, in the top menu click on Download as ebook.
2. To download your Moodle book as a Microsoft word file, in the top menu click on More and then select Export book to Microsoft Word.
1. Click on Import chapters from ebook.
2. Select the ePUB file with the file picker or click and drag your .epub file into the drop box.
3. In Display options, you can choose to:
  - Add header/footer: Allows you to type in a string of HTML code that is added at the start/end of every chapter.
4. In Stylesheets, you can choose to:
  - Enable stylesheets: This will enable stylesheets.
  - Prevent small text: Prevent the text size from being smaller than the default text size.
  - Ignore font family: All text will appear in the default font instead of the font specified in the .epub file.
5. In Subchapters, you can divide chapters into subchapters. You can specify which HTML tag to start a new subchapter at, and optionally one or more class names that must match.
6. Click Import then click Continue.
7. Chapters from your .epub file will be imported as new additional chapters in your Moodle book.
To import files as a new Moodle book, navigate to an existing Moodle book or create a temporary new book with at least one chapter.
1. Click on the Import ebook as new book.
2. Select the .epub file with the file picker or click and drag your .epub file into the drop box. You can also choose to enter URLs for the .epub file(s) you want to import, one on each line in the textbox.
3. In Display options, you can choose to:
  - Create one book per chapter: This will create one book for every chapter, instead of only one book with many chapters.
  - Add header/footer: Allows you to type in a string of HTML code that is added at the start/end of every chapter.
4. In Stylesheets, you can choose to:
  - Enable stylesheets: This will enable stylesheets.
  - Prevent small text: Prevent the text size from being smaller than the default text size.
  - Ignore font family: All text will appear in the default font instead of the font specified in the .epub file.
5. In Subchapters, you can divide chapters into subchapters. You can specify which HTML tag to start a new subchapter at, and optionally one or more class names that must match.
6. Click on Import.

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Let us know how we can improve this resource.

Next: Files and folders in Moodle

Learning and Teaching: Teach HQ

Learning and Teaching: Teach HQ

Books

View visual style guidelines View

Expand the accordions to learn more

Chunking text

Considerations for chunking text:

Components for Learning

Considerations for using Components for Learning:

FontAwesome icons

Considerations for using icons:

Images

Video and other multimedia

Best practice for icons

Incorporate icons with accompanying text descriptions

Reduce the use of icons when possible

Avoid misunderstanding when using multiple icons

Note about using icons in components

Considerations for using text colours:

Note

Create a book

Edit book settings

Chapters

Import and export Moodle books

Your feedback matters

	Use Red for urgent issues and highly critical text. Use it very sparingly as students may find it confronting.
	Use Orange for reminders and warnings. In general it is seen as less urgent than red, so it can be used more freely.
	Use Green for positive feedback, confirmations, or progress markers. It is seen as a positive indicator.