Moodle 4.0 Resources for Faculty

What's New In Moodle 4.1

Moodle 4.1+ is once again the result of the hard work of their Moodle core team and community contributors. 

Moodle 4.1+ included some User experience (UX) feature updates and plugin improvements.  The updates were to pick up and complement the significant changes to 4.0. Features with 4.1+ (https://docs.moodle.org/401/en/New_features). The more significant improvements are towards the grade book, question bank, database, and report handling. The overall navigation has not changed much from 4.0 to 4.1+:

An Introduction to Navigation in 4.0:

New navigation in Moodle 4.0: (https://youtu.be/Io8ZqAOnAsw)

Moodle 4.0 includes significant new features and fixes with easier navigation and the overall look with the Course homepage in the Boost theme (https://docs.moodle.org/400/en/Course_homepage#Boost_theme).

Overview of course editing (https://youtu.be/ScT3hBTT3ps)

1. Course navigation.  A simplified navigation hierarchy, highlighting your location.

2. Course index. Drag and drop from the course index and central area This is a scrollable, collapsible drawer that displays course sections and elements. As you move up and down the central course area, your location is highlighted in the Course index. Clicking on an item in the Course index will open it up directly in the course central area.

3. Edit mode toggle. An easy way to toggle edit mode on and off.

4. New Activity icons

5. An updated Expandle Block drawer. This is not visible until you have enabled edit mode and added a block. The block drawer can be collapsed and expanded as a user preference.

Features with 4.0 (https://docs.moodle.org/400/en/New_features)

New navigation:

• My courses - Access your courses easily from a My courses tab at the top of the site.
• Dashboard and Timeline - Stay on target with deadlines with an improved Timeline on the Dashboard.
• Edit mode - Toggle edit mode and access the new block drawer to add or view blocks.
• Easily add content - Add activities and resources with a simple click.
• Contextual navigation - Find your way around the course and activities with clear tab menus.
• Drag and drop to move - Move items from the course index or the central area.

Question bank improvements:

• Question bank plugins - Show or hide options such as comments and usage.
• Improved question management -  Save as draft or make ready; see version history and use custom fields when working with colleagues.

New in courses:

• New activity icons - Colour-coded icons help identify the function of each activity.
• Timed assignments - Specify a time on assignments to encourage learners to submit within the period.
• Atto accessibility - The Atto editor has improved accessiblity thanks to an MUA funded project.
• Grade to pass completion - Activity completion can now include a passing grade.

Features with 3.11

• Improved learner experience - Activity dates and Activity completion conditions may be shown on the course page.
• Dates and completion conditions within activities - Activity dates and Activity completion conditions are shown at the top of the activity page.
• New display settings​​​​​​​ - New settings allow teachers to hide or show activity dates and completion conditions on the course page.
• Manual completion​​​​​​​ - Students can mark an activity as complete from within the activity itself.

Features with 3.10

• Download course content - Specific course items, currently content from the File, Folder, Page and Label can be downloaded if enabled site-wide and in individual courses.
• Quiz completion - Set quizzes to be marked complete based on one or more attempts. See Activity completion settings.
• Content bank improvements​​​​​​​ - Download and/or replace H5P files in the content bank.

Features with 3.9

• A prominent 'Turn editing on' button - Never miss the link with a bright new button in the Boost theme.

• The Activity chooser has been overhauled, now featuring the ability to configure the display and specify recommended types - Easily locate, star, and view recommended items in an improved Activity chooser.

• Improved participants page filtering - Search for and filter participants more efficiently.

•  Accessibility enhancements within the Atto text editor - Atto editor improvements, a clearer focus on selected links are two of the improved accessibility features.

• H5P integration improvements, including a content bank and better reporting capabilities - Link to or upload existing H5P interactive content and H5P activities can be added and graded
• Improvements to forums with inline replies, sorting and starring replies and private replies among the key changes - MUA-funded improvements to the Forum activity include adding and replying to discussions online.

• Ability to filter the calendar by month, day and upcoming events - Filter your calendar by month, day or upcoming event.

• Clearer navigation in the Book module - Clearer navigation in the Book avoids earlier confusion.

• Emojis can be included in Moodle messages - Add emojis into Messages or from a button in the Atto editor.

• 'Go to top' of page navigation option - Swiftly move to the top of the screen as one of the many usability improvements.

• Session Timeout warning - Stay on target with a Session timeout alert.

Getting Started with Moodle 4.0+

Managing Your Course - Resources from MoodleDocs

Below are links to common inquiries about Moodle features. Hover over the link for a brief description.

Self-Paced Training Courses for Faculty

Given the number of changes incorporated into version 4.1, Open LMS updated the self-paced Moodle training courses that are available for self-enrollment. The courses include audio and video content to help faculty and staff become familiar with basic functionality and use of the Moodle LMS.  The Educational Technology staff are happy to assist you with any questions you may have in regards to the upgrade to 4.1.

Learner Orientation - v4.1/Moodle Basics -v 4.1

Moodle Basics (Cont.) -v 4.1/Essential Features for Teaching and Learning - v4.1

Advanced Usage of Moodle - v4.1/Advanced Features for Teaching and Learning - v4.1

You may view a specific topic once you've enrolled in a course.  Hover over the link for a brief description.

Moodle 4.0 Resources for Students

Information for Finding Student Moodle Data Who Have Withdrawn Guide

Distance Learning and Online Teaching Resources related to Course (Re)Design