Day-2

=Moodle Basics - Blocks, Resources, and Activities=

=Adding a Block=

A block is a section which provides additional information or options for the developer or teacher as well as the student who is working through the coursework assigned.

When you first open up a course in Moodle, you will se three columns of blocks. The left block begins with the "People" block, the right block begins with "Latest News", and the middle block has the title "Topic outline".

The left block cannot be changed, but the right and middle blocks can. Blocks can be added, deleted, or moved up, down, left, or right.

There are quite a few block choices that can be made when setting up your online course. A list of those choices is below:

1. **Admin. bookmarks**--allows you to bookmark pages frequently used. 2. **Blog Menu**--allows posting comments on a document which can be used for communication between everyone. 3. **Blog Tags**--features of the blog can be altered or controlled. 4. **Calendar**--place where the workshops, assignments, quizzes, events can be added for everyone to see. 5. **Course/Site Description**--contains the course summary with a description of the purpose for learning. 6. **Global Search**--feature used for searching forums inside an existing site. 7. **HTML**--HTML editor which enables you to format text, add images, create links. 8. **Loan Calculator--**calculates loan payments.
 * 9. Messages**--messages can be sent within the site to others.
 * 10. Online users**--shows who is currently online at the site.
 * 11. Quiz Results**--displays quiz results from a quiz.
 * 12. Random Glossry Entry**--quick reference for course vocabulary which can be set up by teacher or learners.
 * 13. Remote RSS Feeds--**add or create RSS feeds which can display updated content from various RSS sites.
 * 14. Section Links--**displays a quick link menu for topics/weeks in course.

=Adding A Resource=

Resources are the basic components of your online course. They are the materials, reference guides, informational/ news documents, and web links which allow the user or student to explore and research for better understanding of the course activities and materials that will be created or submitted. Once the resources are added to your Moodle site, you can then work on the activities that will help extend and go along with the resources shared with your participants.

The choices for adding a resource to your course are:
 * 1) **Insert a label**--Labels can be used to organize your material within sections of your course.
 * 2) **Compose a text page**--a page that is great for using plain text. Great page for coding.
 * 3) **Compose a web page**--a page that offers you more options than plain text. If you are pasting a document with multiple formatting styles, it will retain formatting better than the text page or plain text will.
 * 4) **Link to a file or web site**--allows you to show content from the Internet or link to a file that you have uploaded to your site.
 * 5) **Display a directory**--gives you the option of displaying multiple files for your users. Can upload multiple files and create a new folder to better organize them.
 * 6) **Add an IMS Content Package**--store material in basic format to input into a different system.

=Adding An Activity=

Activities are elements that you add to your course which require the user or student to upload content to turn in to you. A list of Moodle activities available is show below. The content could be a document, presentation, photo, essay, spreadsheet, audio clip, or video clip.

The file below is a printable resource document for activities and assignments in Moodle:

[|Assignments+in+Moodle.doc]

__**Assignments**__ An assignment can require the user or student to upload more than one file for a grade, upload a single file, or even turn in an offline activity which is done outside of the Moodle space.

__**Chat**__ Gives the users/students a chance to discuss with others from the Web regarding a particular topic that has been introduced by the teacher.

Choices are meant to be a fast and easy way to mold the student's direction of thinking. It can be a single question that you pose to the students for their thought and feedback. It is intended to stimulate thinking and provide a quick response.
 * __Choice__**

The teacher and students in the course can build and display a database of entries for a particular subject.
 * __Database__**

A great way to communicate with students/users via the Web. Teachers and students can be connected to each other remotely and communicate and share resources with each other without being in the same building.
 * __Dimdim Web Meeting__**

A great way to begin the course is by using the forum. Students/users can be invited to introduce themselves to the group. It is a great discussion/sharing area for all of the students in the course.
 * __Forum__**

Students/users can create and maintain a list of definitions for all to see.
 * __Glossary__**

Teachers can create a series of web pages that provides information to the students and then asks questions. It depends upon the student's answer as to the next page that will be shown.
 * __Lesson__**

Teachers can create quizzes with various types of questions such as multiple choice, true/false, short answer, and essay.
 * __Quiz__**

Teachers can create a Moodle survey with questions for the students/users concerning experiences or attitudes covering a topic.
 * __Survey__**

Moodle Wikis give students to ability to write documents together within a course.
 * __Wiki__**