Getting started

Note

Use the Moodle 4.1 and Moodle 3.9 tabs on each page of this resource to see information and instructions for the version you are using.

Moodle 4.1
Moodle 3.9

Logging in to Moodle 4.1

Log in to Moodle 4.1 using your Monash username and password.
When you first log in you will see the copyright warning box. To dismiss click the (X) in the top right corner of the box.

Access Moodle 4.1

Navigating in Moodle

When you first open Moodle, the first page you will see is your Dashboard, where you can access your units.

On every Moodle screen the navigation bar on the top right can be used to access preferences and support, and the navigation drawer on the left can be hidden or shown to access quick links to units and unit sections.

Your Moodle Dashboard

The Moodle dashboard is the place to access all your units and see an overview of your upcoming events and assessments. You can return to the Moodle dashboard from any page in Moodle, by clicking dashboard in the top-left corner of the screen.

Click here to read a text-based version

Navigation bar	The navigation bar on the top right of every Moodle page, has links to: Unit previews - previews of Moodle sites for units you are not enrolled in. Handbook - information about all units at Monash including requirements and staff contact details. Help - links to various guides on Learn HQ for building your digital capabilities. Notifications - new notifications and messages will be represented by a red dot. Messages - this button will show/hide a sidebar on the right of the screen to access direct messages and group messages on Moodle. User menu - including links to your profile, grades, and preferences.
Edit mode	Edit mode allows you to customise your dashboard. You can easily reset your dashboard, so feel free to experiment with it and set it up in a way that works for you. To customise your dashboard: Click on edit mode. You can now move sections: Each section will have a four-directional arrow icon in the right hand corner of the block. Click and drag the icon to move them. You will see a greyed out preview of the block's new location. To reset your dashboard, click the reset page to default button which can be seen in the top right of the page while edit mode is turned on. To finish customising your dashboard, click the edit mode again to turn it off.
Timeline	The timeline allows you to quickly see important events such as due dates. You can: Filter by all or overdue items, or filter by due date, for example items due in the next 7 days, next 30 days, or the next 3 or 6 months. Sort the list by due date or by unit You can also search your timeline list by typing in the search box.
Your enrolled units	Click on any of the links in the main dashboard area to access your units. This list is also accessible from the ‘My units’ page. You can also filter, sort, and search your list of units.
Star/Remove	You can star a unit by clicking on the three dots next to the unit name. You can also use this menu to remove a unit from your list if you no longer need to access it frequently. If you have accidentally removed a unit you did not intend to, filter the list to removed from view using the drop-down menu on the left, then click the three dots for that unit and select restore to view.
Filter	Click the drop-down menu on the left of the search bar to filter your view. You can: View all of your units View only in progress units View only your past units View only units you have starred View only the units you have previously removed from view.
Search	Type in the search bar to look for a specific unit in your list by name.
Sort	Select an option from the sort menu to sort by course name (alphabetically) or by the date/time that you last accessed the unit.
Card/List	Select between card or list view to change the visual layout of the list.
Calendar	This calendar will show the events from your timeline in a monthly calendar format, and additional event information such as upcoming important dates and Moodle maintenance periods.

Your units on Moodle

Each unit in Moodle 4.1 has the same template, for a consistent learning experience to make it easier for you to find the materials and information you need.

The main pages in each unit are the unit dashboard, unit information, schedule, learning, assessments, forums, and support.

Unit dashboard View

The unit dashboard gives you an overview of your unit. It is a good place to check for upcoming tasks and understand your current progress. Click on the information hotspots below to find out about each of the dashboard’s information blocks.

Click here to read a text-based version

Current focus	This block gives a short overview of the current learning topic or week. Look here to know what your unit coordinator wants you to focus on right now. Only the overview from the week/topic displays here. You need to go to the relevant learning section to see the rest of the content, including the activities and tasks you need to complete.
Quick navigation to learning sections	This block provides links to each learning section in the unit, so that you can easily look ahead or review past content.
Quick navigation current focus	Click on the current week/topic to access the current focus content in full.
Forums	This block displays the latest posts in the unit Announcements forum and other discussion forums, with the title, a preview of text and the post creator. Click on the title of a post to navigate directly to the post. Clicking the forward and back icons to view additional posts. Click see all forums to view a page which lists all of the forums in the unit.
Contacts	This block displays the teaching team, their roles, contact details and consultation hours (where available).
Task tracker	This block proves a short list of upcoming tasks in the unit including due dates and links to the tasks. Any tasks you have not completed which are past their due date will appear on this list with an ‘overdue’ tag. You can filter the list by status (‘all’ or ‘overdue’), or by the due date (7 days, 30 days, 3 months, or 6 months). For more information and a full list of your tasks, including completed tasks, access the assessments page.

Unit information View

Welcome message	Watch the welcome message from your unit teaching staff for an introduction to the unit and to understand their expectations.
Unit resources	The unit resources section is where you can access your reading list, and other key materials you will need to access and use for your study in the unit.
Unit synopsis	Read the unit synopsis for an overview of what the unit is about.
Learning outcomes	Read the learning outcomes to understand what to expect in the unit, and what skills and knowledge you will gain from the unit. You can also use your learning outcomes to help you revise the content you have learned throughout the unit and prepare for your assessments.
Teaching approach	Read the teaching approach for an explanation of how your unit content will be delivered, and what you will be expected to do on Moodle and in your classes.
Content disclaimers	Some units may contain sensitive material. Any warnings or content disclaimers for the unit will appear here.
Download content as PDF	Click the download content as pdf button to save a copy of all information on this page.

Schedule View

Learning area	The first column is the learning area where the task is located. This lets you know which content the task relates to.
Dates	Some tasks have different start and end dates. Check carefully and use them to plan your time and study schedule.
Assessments	Click on the assessment details to navigate directly to that section in Moodle for more information. This is just an overview of your tasks. Make sure you check the detailed instructions so that you understand your assessments and what is required.
Additional details	Some tasks may have additional details. Read them carefully and ask your teaching staff if you are unsure or have any questions.

Learning sections View

The learning sections on Moodle are where you will find your day-to-day coursework materials. Depending on your unit, the content may be structured into weekly, daily, topic, or project based sections.

Each learning section has an overview, followed by three categories of content based on how you need to interact with the content, own-time, real-time, and wrap-up.

Click here to read a text-based version

Learning drop-down menu	You can navigate between different learning sections by clicking on the learning tab and selecting from the drop-down list.
Date range	If your unit schedule has relevant date ranges setup for each week/topic, you will see them listed under the title. These dates tell you the main time frame that you are expected to complete content in this section. However, *before* these dates it can be very useful to read ahead so that you know what to expect, and *after* these dates it is important to return to each section to revise what you have learned.
Current week/topic	If your unit schedule has relevant date ranges, the current week or topic will be highlighted on the drop-down list so that it is easy for you to identify.
Learning journey task trackers	Each learning section is structured into own-time, real-time and wrap-up content. There is a separate task tracker for each of these, which lets you easily see how many tasks there are and whether or not you have completed them, so that you can track your progress, and know what you have left to do. You can hide or expand the own-time, real-time and wrap-up content accordions to make it easier to focus on one part at a time.
Completion progress	The progress bar will be filled in with a solid colour for tasks that you have completed, and the tick will turn green when you have completed all of the tasks.
Own-time	Own-time contains activities that you will complete outside the scheduled teaching times. You may be required to complete these activities before real-time sessions, or they may be things you can do anytime during the topic or week. Instructions for how to engage in the material will be in each section. You can also refer to the teaching approach section of the unit information page on Moodle, or contact your teaching staff if you are unsure of what is expected.
Real-time	Real-time contains all of your timetabled synchronous learning activities and their associated materials. These are undertaken in either face-to-face or online sessions. Depending on the unit structure, this may include a number of different activities that you are required to attend. It may also include activities that you need to complete during attendance at a live session, or during a particular time frame. You may also be able to access class materials such as slides in this section.
Wrap-up	Wrap-up is a consolidation of the learning you have undertaken. You may be asked to post in a reflection forum or do an activity to check your understanding of the key concepts covered. Depending on the unit, you may also find additional resources and readings here to further your learning.

Note

If own-time, real-time, or wrap-up is not relevant to a unit, or a particular topic, the sections will still exist in Moodle, but one or more of them may be empty.

If you expect to find something and think it is missing, contact your teaching staff to confirm. The quickest way to ask is by posting a question in your Moodle forums.

Assessments View

This section lists all of the assessments in your unit in one location.

Assessments which are part of your learning sections, they will also be included here as an overview.
Assessments that fall outside of your learning sections may also be listed here directly.

On the Assessment page there are three places you can find information about your assessments. The Unit Assessment Approach key unit assessment information. The Assessment Structure lists all the assessments for your unit and information such as the weighting and due date. Finally, you can view detailed assessment instructions and submit your assessments in the Assessment Sections.

Unit assessment approach

Assessment structure

This table lists all of the assessments in your unit in one location. By default, the Summary view is displayed. You can freely toggle between the Summary view and the List view.

Both summary and list view have a status column that displays information about the assessment submission status:

Submitted:The student has made a submission to the activity.
Due Soon: The student has not yet made a submission to the activity and the due date is approaching.
Overdue: The student has not yet made a submission to the activity and the due date has passed.
Date passed: The activity has no submission point (eg. in-class presentations, labs, project presentations, Turnitin draft submission activities, etc.) and the due date has passed.
Graded: The activity has been graded.

Summary view
List view

The summary view displays sections that match the assessments shown in the Moodle handbook, including the Weighting and Learning Outcomes.

Clicking on the activity name will take you directly to that activity.

Note

Activities added in the learning sections will not be displayed in the Summary view, however they will appear in the list view.

The List view displays a list of all assessments in the unit (including those created in the learning sections) in chronological order of due dates.

Assessment Sections

Forums View

Announcements	Every unit has an announcement forum where the staff will post important information about the unit.
Forums	All other forums in the unit will be listed below the announcement forum.
Description	Check the description for instructions so you know what to expect and how to use each forum.

Support View

Viewing units you are not enrolled in

In addition to accessing your currently enrolled units in Moodle, you can also preview units you are interested in taking and view past units you have previously completed.

Previewing units

Viewing past units

You can access past units that you have previously completed and passed from the Moodle dashboard. This is helpful for revision purposes. By default, the Moodle dashboard view displays all units you are currently studying and past completed units (except the units you have removed from view).

To view only past units, select past units from the drop down filters on the left of the Moodle dashboard.
To view only current units, select in progress from the drop down filters on the left of the Moodle dashboard.

Note

You will need to log in to Moodle 3.9 to view units that you undertook on that platform. They will not be available in Moodle 4.1. You will continue to have access to Moodle 3.9 so that you can view past units.

What you can access in past units

You can access content in past units on a “read-only” basis, meaning you can read and revise the content but you will not be able to submit, post or take part in activities within past units. Some content, such as lecture recordings and reading lists, may no longer be available. The following information is indicative only. Some of the following content may or may not be made available depending on your unit or course.

The following content will be available where relevant, on a read-only basis	The following content will not be available
Announcements Assignments Books Calendar Database Glossary Files and Folders Interactive H5P Content Label Moodle pages URL links Wiki.	3rd Party content (e.g. Persons) All forums (except for announcements) Chat (Moodle activity) Choices (Moodle activity) Completion Progress Feedback (Moodle activity) Gradebook Group self-selection activity Lectures Lesson (Moodle activity) Quiz Survey Workshop (Moodle activity).

Note

Moodle units prior to 2018 will not be accessible.
Teaching staff will no longer update or monitor past units. Please do not contact teaching staff regarding access to past unit content.
The materials and content in past units will not be updated and may be superseded at a later date.

Moodle global search

You can use the global search to search Moodle for activities and resources using keywords in any unit you’re enrolled in. Search for files, lessons, books and other content quickly and easily.

How to search

Click on the magnifying glass icon (without the eye) in the icon menu in the top right corner. The search bar will appear.

An image of the command bar in Moodle with the new search function highlighted

Type your search word(s) into the search bar and hit enter.

Note: The global search will also return search results for partial key words, for example a search for “iso” will return results for “isopod” and “isosceles”.

Search results will be displayed with a title, a text extract containing the search results (highlighted in blue), and a direct hyperlink to the source.

A screen shot of the search function in Moodle

Advanced searching

On the search results page, you have access to options for more advanced searches.

In the Search section, you can choose which order search results are displayed from the following options:

Most relevant results first
Newest first
Oldest first

In the Filters section, you can filter search results by:

Title: Search for the name of an activity resource.
Area: Search within a specific type of Moodle activity or resource. For example, search within Books, Lessons, or an Assignment activity description.
Units: Search within specific Moodle units you are enrolled in
Modified after/before: select a date range for when a resource was last modified.

A screenshot of the filter feature used in the advanced search option on Moodle.

Preference settings

There are some additional settings in your Moodle preferences and profile that you can change based on how you want to use Moodle and interact with your unit forums.

Access your preferences from any page on Moodle by clicking the user menu in the top-right corner of Moodle and clicking Preferences.

The main preferences that you may like to check and personalise include edit profile, forum preferences, and editor preferences.

Editing your profile

Setting your forum preferences

Selecting your editor preferences

Using text editors in Moodle

The two editors are known as TinyMCE and Atto. You can choose between the two different text editors in the preference settings.

The default editor is TinyMCE. It works well for general purposes, but is limited if you need to type equations or formulae.
The alternative editor is Atto. It is better for equations and formulae. It also allows quick recording of audio and video.

Expand the topics below for instructions on how to use each editor.

TinyMCE editor (default editor)
Atto editor

TinyMCE provides more inbuilt text editing and table tools. The TinyMCE text editor does NOT autosave your work so always save your work at the bottom of the screen before exiting.

Click here to read a text-based version

Edit	The edit dropdown list allows you to do a range of basic editing functions including: Undo/redo Cut, copy and paste Select all Find and replace text
View	The view dropdown list allows you to view source code, show invisible characters and expand the text box to fullscreen.
Insert	The insert dropdown list displays additional items you can insert including code, special characters, emojis, page breaks, anchors, date/time and more.
Format	The format dropdown list displays additional formatting tools.
Tools	The tools dropdown list displays the following tools: HTML view: Switch to HTML code view by clicking on the HTML icon. A pop up of the HTML code will be displayed and you can edit tags or codes directly in this window. Word count: Displays word count. Accessibility checker: Provides accessibility advice including recommendations and standard guidelines. Media manager: Manage the files which you have previously attached.
Table	Insert a table after selecting the number of rows and columns needed. Note: Some table formatting options in Moodle must be set for each cell, such as borders and content alignment.
Help	Click help to view useful information such as: Handy shortcuts Keyboard navigation Plugins currently installed Current version information
Undo/redo	Undo or redo changes you have made in the text editor.
Text formatting	Change the appearance of selected text within paragraphs with these options. Select the text and click the icon to apply the format.
Insert multimedia	Insert a range of enriching resources to the content, from left to right: Insert an image (png or gif). Note: When inserting an image the advanced options allow you to manage borders and how text is positioned relative to the image. Unless a high resolution is a critical requirement for your images, it is recommended that you use .gif, .jpg or .png format to reduce file size. Insert/embed video. Insert audio.
Create hyperlinks	Hyperlink text or images. From left to right: Linking text or images. Highlight the required text then click on the insert/edit link icon and enter the URL. Unlink text or images. Highlight the linked text, and click on the unlink icon to remove the hyperlink.
Paragraph alignment	Select whether text is aligned right, centre or left.
List and indent	Create bulleted or numbered lists. Place your cursor where you want the lists to appear and click on the bulleted list or numbered list icon as required. Indent and outdent text lines or paragraphs. When you click on the indent icon in a numbered or bulleted list, a new sublist is started. When a list is "outdented" into an existing list, the numbering is integrated.
Equation editor	Create or edit an equation with the Moodle equation editor. Note: To use this tool you need a Java-enabled browser. If required, you can download the latest Java plug-in from Java.com.

The ATTO text editor provides better usability and accessibility, equation editing (TeX equation editor) and emojis.

Click here to read a text-based version

Toolbar Toggle	You can use the toolbar toggle icon to show/hide tools.
Text formatting	Change the appearance of selected text within paragraphs with these options. Select the text and click the icon to apply the format.
Embed Panopto video	You can use the Panopto icon to embed new videos or upload existing videos directly into Moodle.
List, indent and paragraph alignment	Lists: Create bulleted or numbered lists. Place your cursor where you want the lists to appear and click on the bulleted list or numbered list icon as required. Paragraph alignment: Select whether text is aligned right, centre or left. Indent and outdent text lines or paragraphs: When you click on the indent icon in a numbered or bulleted list, a new sublist is started. When a list is "outdented" into an existing list, the numbering is integrated.
Hyperlinks	Linking text or images. Highlight the required text then click on the insert/edit link icon and enter the URL. Unlink text or images. Highlight the linked text, and click on the unlink icon to remove the hyperlink.
Emoji picker	You can insert emojis with the emoji icon. From the Emoji picker window, you can select an emoji and insert it into your text. Filter emojis by theme with the tabs along the top row, or use the search bar. Once an emoji is selected, you will see a larger preview and the text description of the emoji.
Equations, special characters and tables	Insert a range of special characters. From left to right: Create or edit an equation with the Moodle equation editor. Note: To use this tool you need a Java-enabled browser. Download the latest Java plug-in from Java.com. Insert special non-standard characters including Greek letters Insert a table after selecting the number of rows and columns needed. Note: Some table formatting options in Moodle must be set for each cell, such as borders and content alignment.
Remove formatting	You can quickly remove any formatting that you have applied to the text by highlighting the text and clicking the remove formatting icon. The formatted text will revert to plain text.
Insert multimedia	Insert a range of enriching resources to the content, from left to right: Insert/edit an image (png or gif). Note: When inserting an image the advanced options allow you to manage borders and how text is positioned relative to the image. Unless a high resolution is a critical requirement for your images, it is recommended that you use .gif, .jpg or .png format to reduce file size. Insert/embed video. Record audio (as file sizes are limited, Panopto is recommended instead). Record video (as file sizes are limited, Panopto is recommended instead).
Undo/Redo	Undo or redo changes you have made in the text editor. The ATTO Text editor automatically saves entries every 60 seconds. Text typed into the Atto Text editor is automatically saved if you leave the page. If you accidentally close the tab or leave the form without submitting, the text in the Atto Text editor will be restored next time you open the page. To discard a restored draft, cancel the form or press the undo button in the editor.
Insert files	Insert, upload or manage files.
Accessibility tools	Accessibility checker: Provides accessibility advice including recommendations and standard guidelines. Screenread helper: Displays the order in which a screen reader will scroll through the content.
HTML view	Switch to HTML code view by clicking on the HTML icon. A pop up of the HTML code will be displayed and you can edit tags or codes directly in this window.
Expand your editing window	Click and drag on the shaded corner to expand the size of the editing window Click on the toggle full screen icon to expand your editing window to full screen. To go back to the settings page, just click the same icon.

Logging in to Moodle 3.9

Log in to Moodle 3.9 using your Monash username and password.
When you first log in you will see the copyright warning box. To dismiss click the (X) in the top right corner of the box.

Access Moodle 3.9

Navigating in Moodle

When you first open Moodle, the first page you will see is your Dashboard, where you can access your units.

Your Moodle Dashboard

The main area of your dashboard shows links to your units. There are also useful blocks on the dashboard, such as your timeline.

You can customise your dashboard which allows you to move blocks around, and add new blocks. You can easily reset your dashboard, so feel free to experiment with it and set it up in a way that works for you.

Click here to read a text-based version

Navigation drawer	The navigation drawer is located on the left hand side of the Moodle dashboard and all Moodle units. To open and close the navigation drawer on any page, click on the menu button in the top left hand side of the page. The navigation drawer provides a list of quick links: On the dashboard, the navigation drawer provides links to: your Moodle calendar links to each of your units. Within a unit, the navigation drawer provides quick links to: your grades each section of the unit a link to to return to the dashboard your Moodle calendar Links to all your other units.
Navigation bar	The navigation bar on the top right of every Moodle page, has links to: Unit previews - view a preview of Moodle sites for units you are not enrolled in. Useful links - including the class timetables system, and various students support services, and policy information. Handbook - view information about any unit including requirements and staff contact details. Help - links to various guides for building your digital capabilities. Notifications - new notifications and messages will be represented by a red dot. Messages - this will toggle a sidebar on the right of the screen to access direct messages and group messages on Moodle. User menu - including links to your profile, grades, and preferences.
Customise this page	The ‘customise this page’ button on the dashboard allows you to move blocks around and add new blocks. You can easily reset your dashboard, so feel free to experiment with it and set it up in a way that works for you. To customise your dashboard: Click on customise this page. You can now move some blocks: Blocks which can be moved will have an arrow icon in the right hand corner of the block. Click and drag the icon to move them. You will see a greyed out preview of the block's new location. You can also configure some sections: Blocks which can be configured will have a settings cog icon in the right hand corner of the block. You can configure the settings to show or hide blocks. To finish customising your dashboard, click the stop customising this page button. Optionally, you can reset the interface to its original position by clicking the customise this page button and then the reset page to default button.
Calendar	Click on this link to view your Moodle calendar and keep on top of upcoming assessments and events. You can use the drop down lists in the top left corner to filter your calendar by month, day or a list of upcoming events, and you can restrict the list to a specific unit.
Filter	Use the drop-down menu on the left to filter your list of units.
Sort	Use the drop-down menus on the right to: sort your units by name (alphabetically) or by most recently accessed change the layout between card or list view.
Cards/List view	Select between card or list view to change the visual layout of the list.
Timeline	The Timeline allows you to quickly see important events such as due dates. You can: sort by due date or by unit filter by all or overdue items filter by due date, for example items due in the next week, month, 3 or 6 months choose the number of items (5, 10 or 25) displayed in the block at one time. To view items not shown in the first lot, navigate with the arrows in the bottom right hand side of the block. To see all your upcoming events view your calendar by clicking on the link in the left hand side navigation menu.
Your enrolled units	Click on any of the links in the main dashboard area to access your units.
Units to show per page	You can choose how many units are displayed on the dashboard at one time.
More units	If you have selected not to display all of your units on the dashboard at one time, use the arrows in the bottom right hand side of the dashboard to cycle back and forth and view more units.
Blocks	In the default view, important information blocks will appear on the right hand side of the dashboard. Make sure you read and familiarise yourself with this information.

Moodle Unit Overview

After clicking on an individual unit in the Dashboard, you will be taken to the workspace for that unit.

Similar to your Moodle Dashboard, the workspace will display blocks on the right that will help you to move around the unit content, as well as provide you with useful tools and information related to the unit. The various contents in the middle are called sections. You will find your learning materials including links to quizzes, assignments and forums in these sections.

Click here to read a text-based version

Navigation drawer	The navigation drawer is located on the left hand side of the Moodle dashboard and all Moodle units. To open and close the navigation drawer on any page, click on the menu button in the top left hand side of the page. The navigation drawer provides a list of quick links: On the dashboard, the navigation drawer provides links to: your Moodle calendar links to each of your units. Within a unit, the navigation drawer provides quick links to: your grades each section of the unit a link to to return to the dashboard your Moodle calendar Links to all your other units.
Navigation bar	The navigation bar on the top right of every Moodle page, has links to: Unit previews - view a preview of Moodle sites for units you are not enrolled in. Useful links - including the class timetables system, and various students support services, and policy information. Handbook - view information about any unit including requirements and staff contact details. Help - links to various guides for building your digital capabilities. Notifications - new notifications and messages will be represented by a red dot. Messages - this will toggle a sidebar on the right of the screen to access direct messages and group messages on Moodle. User menu - including links to your profile, grades, and preferences.
Grades	The grades page is where you can access all of your marks and feedback for the unit. You can also access detailed feedback and files (where relevant) by clicking on each assessed task from here.
Sections	Links to each section of your unit are available in the navigation bar, or from the main workspace area.
Moodle navigation links	Below the section links in the navigation drawer, there are quick links to your dashboard, calendar, and your other enrolled units.
Main workspace area	The main content area for each unit displays the sections which content your daily coursework material. Depending on the template used, they may be displayed in tiles, accordions, or be accessible from a drop-down menu. Click on each section to access the content. You will typically find sections for: Unit information - Check here for information about how the unit is taught, and what you are expected to do. Assessments - Check this section for your assessment information and requirements. Topics/Weekly content - Your content may be divided into weeks or topics, or it may be project-based. Click on each section to access the content and activities. Forums - Forum(s) may be in one section, or they may be included within your weekly/topic sections. Take the time to look at each section, and if you are not sure how you are meant to engage in the content on Moodle, ask in the forums.
Blocks	Blocks located on the right side of the workspace allow you to access resources, additional support services and information. There are some common blocks which you may see on all of your units. Additional blocks that you may see here depending on the unit include the search forums, upcoming events, and completion progress.

Viewing units you are not enrolled in

In addition to accessing your currently enrolled units in Moodle, you can also preview units you are interested in taking and view past units you have previously completed.

Previewing units

Viewing past units

Preference settings

There are some additional settings in your Moodle preferences and profile that you can change based on how you want to use Moodle and interact with your unit forums.

Access your preferences from any page on Moodle by clicking your avatar in the top-right corner of Moodle and clicking Preferences.

The main preferences that you may like to check and personalise include edit profile, forum preferences, and editor preferences.

Editing your profile

Setting your forum preferences

Selecting your editor preferences

Using text editors in Moodle

Moodle has two in-built text editors that you will use whenever you need to post written content directly to Moodle, such as when writing a forum post, completing a written question in a quiz, or filling out the online text field (where required) of an assignment submission. The two editors are known as TinyMCE and Atto. You can choose between the two different text editors in the preference settings.

The default editor is TinyMCE. It works well for general purposes, but is limited if you need to type equations or formulae.
The alternative editor is Atto. It is better for equations and formulae. It also allows quick recording of audio and video.

Expand the topics below for instructions on how to use each editor.

TinyMCE editor (default editor)

Atto editor

The basic Atto editor looks similar to TinyMCE editor, with many of the same options. However the Atto editor provides the option of directly recording audio and video, and the expanded options include advanced functionality for symbols and equations.

Basic functions

Screenshot of Moodle atto text editor minimised menu

From left to right, the basic editor menu options are:

Expand editor: Access additional options.
Text style: Select headings or paragraph style.
Text formatting: Bold or italicise the text.
Panopto: Insert a video hosted on Panopto by choosing an existing video, uploading a new file from your computer, or creating a new recording.
Bullet points: Create lists using bullets or numbers.
Links: Insert, edit, or delete a link.
Add emojis or media: Select an emoji from the inbuilt emoji picker, or upload an image or video from the web, or from your computer. You can also copy-and-paste or drag-and-drop images directly into the Atto text editor.
Add audio or video: Record audio or video directly from your browser. You will need to allow your browser access to your microphones and/or camera. You will be able to preview the recording before attaching it to the editor.
File manager: View, rename, and/or delete files attached to the current text.
H5P: Insert H5P interactive content by entering a URL or upload an H5P file.

Advanced functions

You can expand the menu by clicking on the Expand editor icon to access additional formatting options.

Screenshot of Moodle atto text editor expanded menu

Some of the most useful formatting options in the expanded editor include:

Underline and strikethrough: Change the text to underlined or cross it out.
Superscript and subscript: Change the text to superscript or subscript.
Paragraph alignment: Set the text alignment to left, centre, or right alignment.
Indent: Indent the paragraph of the currently selected text.
Equation editor: An inbuilt formula function that allows you to create complex equations and formulae using either symbol menus or TeX code.
Insert symbols: Insert a special character from a selection.
Table: Insert a table, including table formatting options such as border and colour.
Clear formatting: Remove all previously applied formatting.
Accessibility checker and screen reader: Runs an automated accessibility check, and offers suggestions for improving accessibility if necessary.
HTML code editor: View the HTML code version of your text, and edit the text manually using HTML and/or CSS code.

Equation editor

The Equation editor menu has four sections to select symbols from: Operators, Arrows, Greek symbols, and Advanced, followed by a TeX editing box, and an equation preview.

Labelled view of Atto equation editor

You can select symbols directly from the relevant menu, or if you are familiar with TeX or LaTeX, you can type the relevant code directly into the box. The preview box at the bottom gives you an idea of what your equation or formula will look like. The downward arrow indicates the position of the cursor.

Note that if typing the code in yourself, you need to type quite slowly, as the preview refreshes as you type. You also need to include line breaks (\) etc, or enter and save each line of your equation separately.

When you click Save Equation you will see the raw TeX code in the editor window.

After you click Save or Post to forum, you should see the compiled equation as it appeared in the preview window.

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Getting started

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Logging in to Moodle 4.1

Navigating in Moodle

Your Moodle Dashboard

Your units on Moodle

Unit dashboard View

Unit information View

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Viewing units you are not enrolled in

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What you can access in past units

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Moodle global search

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Preference settings

User picture

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The difference between editors

Using text editors in Moodle

Logging in to Moodle 3.9

Navigating in Moodle

Your Moodle Dashboard

Moodle Unit Overview

Viewing units you are not enrolled in

What you can access in past units

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Preference settings

User picture

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The difference between editors

Using text editors in Moodle

Basic functions

Advanced functions

Note

Basic functions

Advanced functions

Equation editor