Last Edited: 14/08/2018

An Introduction to Moodle for External Examiners This guide acts as an introduction into the key features of Moodle for External Examiners.

Note: This guide provides a general overview of how a Moodle area is set out. Each Unit/Programme Area may look slightly

different according to how the Unit/Progarmme Leader has structured their content.

Step 1 Open your internet browser and go to http://moodle.mmu.ac.uk

Step 2 Type in your MMU network User ID in the Username text box and your network password in the Password text box as

shown in Figure 1. Then click the Login button.

Figure 1 – Login Screen

Note: Moodle has a lot of in-built help for users. Where you see the help icon you will find useful information explaining

the options available to you. Get used to this facility.

Step 3 Once you have successfully logged in, you will be presented with your My Areas page which will look similar to that in Figure

2. By default, Moodle areas for the current academic year will be displayed at the top of the list. To access Moodle areas from

previous academic years, click on the “Skip to Previous Courses” link as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2 – My Areas Page

Note: Your My Areas page should list all of the Moodle areas that you are enrolled in. It shows a maximum of 40 areas. The right-

hand column shows the Moodle Calendar tool.

Note: During the summer period, Moodle areas for the subsequent academic year are also available and a “Skip to Upcoming

Courses” link is also available as shown in Figure 2.

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Task 2 Hide Your Email Address from Public View

Step 1 From any screen in Moodle, click on the drop down menu top right and then ‘Edit Profile’.

Figure 3 – Update Your Profile

Step 2 From the drop-down box under the ‘Email display’ section, select the option ‘Hide my email address from everyone’, as

shown in Figure 4 below.

Figure 4 – Select the option to hide your email address

Step 3 Click Update profile at the bottom of the page to save the changes you have made.

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Task 3 Explore the Structure of a Moodle area Step 1 From your My Areas page, click on the link to the course area you want to access as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5 - Access your chosen area

Step 2 Look at the screen layout. A Moodle unit area is divided into two columns, as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6 - Moodle course area layout

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(1) The main column on the left shows a list of the course content. This can be organised in either a weekly or topic format

Figure 7 – The main column showing a topic-based format

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(2) The right-hand column (Figure 8) of the unit area shows a range of blocks.

These blocks are of three main types.

Type 1

These blocks will be populated with resources based on information brought in automatically

from other university systems. These may include:

- Timetable Information for the Unit

- Personal Unit hand-in dates and marks

- Unit podcasts

- Unit reading list

- Chapters and articles - Past exam papers

These blocks cannot be edited or removed, and the information shown within them is not

located in Moodle itself but in the system feeding that block, for example the Library system.

Type 2

Blocks which are created automatically within Moodle to help manage the area, including:

- People block. Click on ‘Participants’ to view a list of people enrolled on this particular unit.

Figure 9 – Participants block

- Activities block. Click on ‘Forums’, ‘Assignments’ ‘Quizzes’ etc to go to a list of the activities that have been set up in the

area. Any assignments (Moodle, Turnitin, Video/Audio) that have been set up in the area can be accessed from here.

Figure 10 – Activities block

Figure 8 – The Right-hand Column

Assessments

This block provides links to submission

guidance. By clicking on the + icon this

expands the view of the assessment block

showing information such as due dates, how

many pieces of work are still due and what

type of work is being submitted, which in this

instance is a ‘Portfolio’ piece which counts for

100% of the overall unit.

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- Administration block. A ‘Course Leader’ can administer their course area from here.

Figure 11 – Administration block

Type 3

Blocks which can be added and managed by Course Leaders. These may include

- Upcoming Unit events - items in the calendar or reminders which you set

- Latest Unit news – this includes items which are posted in the Announcements forum

- My courses block - lists all the Moodle areas you have access to. Click on ‘Course Name’ to move to that course.

- Search Forums block – lets you search all discussion forums in that unit. Enter a term to search for into the text box.

Note: Details of how to utilise and add these blocks are covered in other Moodle guides.

At the top of the right-hand column there is a ‘Quick Links’ drop down menu. Click on the arrow to the right of the box and

select a heading to move directly to that section.

Figure 12 – Quick Links navigation menu

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Step 3 You can collapse Type 2 and 3 blocks, so that the heading shows but the content of the block is hidden. Click on the ‘-‘

icon to the right of the block heading as shown in Figure 13. The block collapses and the icon changes to a ‘+’ as shown in Figure

12 . Click on the ‘+’ icon to show the contents of the block.

Figure 13 – Collapse/Show Type 2 and 3 Blocks

If you have any questions about Moodle access or where to find items within a specific Moodle area please contact

your Programme Leader/Team in the first instance or email external_examining@mmu.ac.uk