Shadow link

You can use the shadow link activity to create a link to an assessed activity in the appropriate weekly context on the Learning tab (eg. weekly quizzes), while still being displayed in the Assessment tab. Students will see the icon of the original activity type and the original activity name. When students click the shadow link, they will be taken to the original activity.

Watch the video to learn more

Note

Shadow links cannot be created in the Assessment tab. If you intend to use Shadow links to display activities in the Learning tab AND the Assessment Structure table, you MUST create the original assessed activity under the Assessment tab and then add the Shadow link in the Learning section.

Additional notes at end of page.

Please note:

There is currently an issue with Shadow activities and the Mass actions block. If you select a Shadow activity and then use the Footer, the action will be applied to the original activity. This may lead to you moving, hiding or deleting the original. Selecting the Shadow link and using the Side block will result in an error. We strongly advise moving Shadow links using the Move option in the three dot menu.

screenshot of edit options for shadowlink, move is highlighted in red box

Add a Shadow link

  1. Navigate to the activity you wish to create a shadow link for by clicking on the name of the activity. The activity must be created first, before you add a Shadow link.
  2. Copy the numbers that appear after id= in the URL (web address) for the activity. This is a unique identifier (the Course Module Identifier, or CMID) for the activity.

    example of activity url with last five numbers in the URL highlighted

    Note: You can also shadow links for folder resources located on different Moodle pages, however they may appear slightly different in the academic view, with no change to the student view.

  3. Navigate to where you wish to add your Shadow link.

    Note: Shadow links can only be created in the Learning sections.

  4. Click Add an activity or resource.

  5. Select Shadow.

  6. In the field Target activity's cmid, paste the number you copied.

  7. Click Save and return to unit.
  8. Your new activity will have the Shadow link logo, but the name of the original activity. Clicking on the shadow link will take you to the settings of the original activity.

    screenshot of shadow link icon

  9. Students will see the icon of the original activity type and the original activity name. The shadow link also inherits any access restrictions from the original activity. When students click the shadow link, they will be taken to the original activity.

    screenshot of student view (regular quiz icon)

Additional notes

  • Shadow links should not be created under the assessment tab: This can lead to errors and unexpected behaviours.
  • Shadow link cannot be created for an activity within the same learning section.
  • Shadow links can only point to an activity created within the same unit: You can’t create a Shadow link to an activity outside of your Moodle unit.
  • Shadow links cannot be created from other shadow links: Shadow links can only be created for actual activities.
  • Rolling over activities: When a unit containing a Shadow link is rolled over, the link is updated automatically, and the connection between the two items is maintained.
  • Deleting the activity connected to the shadow link: If the original item the Shadow link connects to is deleted, the Shadow link will also be deleted. Deleting the Shadow link has no effect on the original item.