Moodle: Setting up a Moodle Course

Please note: Documentation is in progress for this article. Please check back periodically for updated information.

Before students access a Moodle course for the first time, there are a few preparations instructors can make to ensure that students are able to get to work on the first day of class. It is important to manage time wisely in a 7-week course, so careful planning and early communication are key. This article presents a few strategies for getting students on the right track in the first few days of the term.

Best Practices for Setting Up a Course (for Instructors)

The following are good things to do when you set up a new course in Moodle:

1. Thoroughly check settings for each activity and resource. If you have set up due dates, conditional release, or restrictions, verify that each setting is correct. If you are importing activities from another course, be mindful that settings may change. For example, external tools, workshops, and Turnitin assignments will need to be set up again in the teaching course, as settings will not transfer.
2. Review your roster. A good practice is to compare the number of students in your course section to the number registered in mainframe. If your course is cross-listed, cross-enrolled, or has multiple sections, verify that all students in the participants list are present and in the appropriate enrollment groups. Add teaching assistants and graders to the course and assign groups if necessary.
3. Set up groups and groupings. If you would like students to work in groups or groupings, make sure this is set up before making your course available to students.
4. Send a message before the course begins to introduce yourself and share resources. Since online terms are short, it is helpful to share important information with students before they begin working on their first assignments. Send an email or message in Moodle with the syllabus or textbook information so that students can prepare for the first week. Note that the course must be visible to students if you send a message through Moodle.
5. Make the course available to students. When you have checked all settings, make your course available to students. To do this, enter the Course Administration Settings and set visibility to "Show."

Other Resources

For more information, read the following documentation from Moodle Docs. Note that the documentation does not show the SNAP Theme, but the functionality of the settings is the same. All links will open in a new window.

• MoodleDocs: Course Settings
• MoodleDocs: Groups
• MoodleDocs: Groupings
• MoodleDocs: Participants