Tip: Flexibility with resource/activity links

One thing I had trouble with when using Moodle is getting it to look “nice” and laying out the middle content how I wanted. This was a bit tough when adding resources and activities because 1.) you had to use the icon set for that resource/activity 2.) I could not change the font size or color and 3.) I couldn’t lay out multiple activities on the same line which made for one long list.

Then I stumbled upon Moodle Docs: Course Homepage – Tips and tricks. Basically, that link gives the idea to make resources or activities in a hidden section, copy the link then use that URL somewhere else giving you more flexibility to link to your content. Here are modified instructions from that link which I have used:

Set your weeks or topics to 1 more than you need
Create the resources or activities you want in that last section
Choose a resource or activity that you just created, open it and copy the URL (this is the direct link to that resource/activity)
Navigate to the place you want to link to the resource/activity you just copied
Insert a label
Insert text or maybe even an image and make that a link using the URL that you previously copied
Go back to your course settings and set the weeks or topics one less (hiding that last section with the stored resources and activities)

How can this be used? I have used this method when I wanted the activity link to be bigger, a different color, an image or when I wanted to make multiple activities be on the same line. I have also used this method when I did not want the default icon for a certain activity.

In my opinion this method gives you much more flexibility in formatting your links look and layout. You can also use the copied URL direct link in an HTML block, compose a web page resource or any place where you can make a link instead of the label resource which I mentioned in the above instructions.

Check out Tips and tricks from Moodle Docs for a more in depth and varied ways of this method. I would like to hear if anyone else has a different method of accomplishing the same thing or would like to add their two cents!

6 Responses

AllisuneLearns

I think you need to be careful with manipulating the look and feel of Moodle. If you decide to do so you really need to know what you’re doing with design, color and layout – I’ve seen so many horrid uses of color on color in Moodle sites.

You also need to consider the level of consistency you are presenting in the design of courses across the Moodle sites presented in an institution – you may have a slightly different theme according to department, or one that differentiates classes from club & committee sites, but there are core design aspects that are desirable to remain the same. This supports the branding of your Moodle site, and gives the students a sense of comfort and familiarity. It’s a site policy decision to consider whether to even allow instructors to switch their theme.

I’m not sure if this would be the case with these links, but – at HSU we had a few instructors using the HTML editor to embed direct links to files in their file directory within the course, ie in Moodle Books. When we upgraded versions and switched servers, those links changed in the course migration & they all broke and had to be redone. This happens when you use the image icon in the HTML editor too to embed pictures…that whole issue with relative vs. fixed links….Moodle 2.0 is supposed to address this thank goodness!

melissa

Those are all good points! We allow our users to set course and user themes – which has been well received. I believe doing the mentioned method would not compromise any consistency because it really isn’t doing a drastic change – just giving the user more options in placement and font format instead of a long list of activities.

I will have to keep an eye out for the relative/broken link issue – thanks!

Michael

I have to agree about the broken links issue. It is much safer to just use the traditional ‘link to file or website’, rather than a hyperlink to it. As a moodle admin, too much of my time is spent bailing out teachers who have a course full of broken links because of their unique design techniques!

I’m all for dressing up the page will images and well placed labels, just be careful with links

If I create a forum, put it in the last section and set it one less section in settings and copy the URL and put it in a label….how can that link get broken? I mean, what sort of things would cause the broken link? I can see an upgrade for sure but what else? Because it looks like that activity has a unique ID (just like a course’s short name or ID) where it can only be linked with that one specific activity.

I guess I would rather use the http://docs.moodle.org/en/Course_homepage#Tips_and_tricks method and deal with broken links IF it happens. I would just have to copy the URL again. I keep everything in order in the section that are well described and organized. I would rather be able to have flexibility with the activities than being a prisoner of several activity objects in one long list.

joseph thibault

Agreed on the links breaking being a really big obstacle. But it’s an awesome “hack” if you want to create something more like a web page. I would chalk this up as a more advanced use of Moodle…but it can really add a new dimension to your classroom.

Thanks for all of the comments and making me aware of the broken link issue. Currently, I’m only personally using it and I’m not training our staff to use it (too advanced for them). I will definitely be careful with this method and only advise it for advanced users!