Chapter 3: Building Your Course Content

 

1.  File Types Displayed by Moodle

 

The DOC file extension is used by several word processing programs such as Microsoft Word and Corel WordPerfect and is ideal for its good text formatting capability. However, DOC files can be different versions, and can only be opened in their native word processor like MS Word.

 

The Portable Document Format (PDF) is a file format created by Adobe Systems. The purpose of this file type is for cross platform file compatibility, hence its portability.  The PDF file type is ideal if you do not want the viewers of your document to be able to modify your document.

 

The Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) is a popular choice for multi-content files such as

links, text, borders, tables, images, and Java applets. Web filtered HTML file types are the only files used in the Book Resource (See Section 4 Using the Resource Block to Display Your Course Files).

 

Small Rich Media files such as MP3s (10 to 20 MB) or RAMs can be supported directly by Moodle. Videos and expansive audio files should however, be located on a streaming server, and from Moodle, resource links can be used to access them.

IMPORTANT

Though the resource, Display a Directory can host all the above file types, web-filtered HTML is the only option used by the Book resource, a popular choice for MScN courses.

 

2.  Resource Options Drop-down Menu & Organizing Content

 

After clicking “Turn editing on,” the “Add a resource” menu becomes available.

 

Figure 3-1:  Web Page Layout in Edit Mode

3.  Preparation of Course Files to be Uploaded to Moodle

 

Your Moodle course may contain Word, PDF, PowerPoint, Excel, HTML and even small audio files (10 to 20 MB each) in your Moodle course. You may upload one file at a time via the Administration/Files’ “Upload A File” function. However, if all your work for the entire course duration is complete, you may Zip the folder that contains all the subfolders and files and upload them to the Files directory area of Moodle. This establishes them locally in the Moodle course, but they are not yet accessible to students until you create resources which link them to the main page. The Steps below outline the procedure to first Zip, Upload, then Unzip an entire folder and its contents.

 

Once all your course files are ready to be uploaded, from Windows Explorer:

  1. Highlight the main folder containing all the subfolders and files.
  2. Right mouse click the main folder.
  3. Choose “Zip/Archive” OR “Send to,” “Compressed (zipped) folder.”
  4. Give it a name, for example, NURS5115A.zip.

 

From your Moodle course, go to Administration/Files

  1. Select “Upload a file.”
  2. Browse to your hard drive, double click the zipped file.
  3. Select “Upload this file.”
  4. Next, select the checkbox in front of the file and choose “Unzip.”
    Folder and subfolders will be extracted; you may then delete the zipped file.

 

4. Using the Resource Block to Display Your Course Files

 

To display your files on the course page, you may use any of the following Resource Options:

 

Figure 3-2:  Book Resources

 

Resources Options Available

Book

Once used, displays a table of contents with navigational links leading to each subsequent chapter (file) within a folder.

Insert a label

Creates a space within the unit on the main page to display either headings, horizontal rules or pictures.

Compose a text page

Allows you to create a mini independent window displaying text only, and can serve as reminders, weekly objectives etc.

Compose a web page

Allows you to create a more elaborate web page including hypertext links, images etc.

Link to a file or web site

Allows you to link to a specific file in the file database, or to an external web site. An example of a link to a file could be a small mp3 file and a link to a web site could be a link to a video on a streaming server.

Display a directory

Allows you to link to a particular folder on your Files directory, for example Module 1.

 

Adding a Resource

 

Simply click “Turn editing on” and for the chosen topic, select from the drop-down menu you would like to add.

 

5.  Employing Internal & External Links

 

Adding a Link to a File Already on the Moodle Server

 

  1. Click the “Turn editing on” button.
  2. Select “Link to a file or web site” from the “Add a resource” drop-down menu.

 

Figure 3-3:  Adding a Link to a File or Web site

 

  1. Type a name and summary for this link.
  2. Click “Choose or upload a file.”
  3. Click the check box next to the file you want to link to.
  4. Click “Choose” and the popup window will disappear.
  5. Click the “Save and return to course.”

 

Adding a Link to a Web Site Outside of Moodle

 

  1. Click the “Turn editing on” button.
  2. Select “Link to a file or web site” from the “Add a resource” drop-down menu.
  3. Type a name and summary for this link.
  4. Type in the URL of the web site you would like to link to.
  5. Click “Save and return to course.”

 

An Example of Uploading an mp3 File Named “madeInHolland.mp3” to the Course

 

  1. Prepare the mp3 file and make sure it is on the hard disk.
  2. Select “Link to a file or website” from the “Add a resource” drop-down menu.
  3. Type the name and summary for this link.
  4. Click “Choose or upload a file”.
  5. Click the “Upload a file” button and a pop-up window will appear.

 

Figure 3-4:  Files Already on Server

 

  1. Click “Browse” button to find the mp3 file.
  2. Select the file and click “Open”.
  3. Click “Upload this file”.

 

Figure 3-5:  Finding the mp3 File

  1. Notice the mp3 file is now uploaded to the server.

 

Figure 3-6: mp3 File Appears on the Server

 

  1. Click the “Choose” link beside the mp3 file name and date information and the pop-up window will disappear.
  2. Select the remaining options as you like.
  3. Click the “Save and return to course” button.

 

Now the mp3 file will appear in the middle frame of the Moodle course web site in the topic that it was added to.  Students can now click on the link and download it.

 

6.  Preparation of Files to be Uploaded to the Book Resource

 

A completed document must be converted to web-filtered HTML before it can be uploaded to the Book resource. To convert a Microsoft Word document to web-filtered HTML:

 

  1. Click “File.”
  2. Click “Save as Web Page.”
  3. Click “Web Page Filtered” in the drop-down menu.
  4. If the title is empty, choose “Change Title”  and enter appropriate title.
  5. Click “Save.”

 

Note: Some may not have the option, Save as Web Page
In that case, choose Save As, then Web Filtered, then name it, Example.htm

 

Once all your course files are converted to web-filtered HTML, from Windows Explorer:

 

  1. Highlight the main folder containing all the subfolders and files.
  2. Right mouse click the main folder.
  3. Choose “Zip/Archive” OR “Send to,” “Compressed (zipped) folder.”
  4. Give it a name, for example, NURS5115A.zip.

 

From your Moodle course, go to Administration/Files:

  1. Select “Upload a file”.
  2. Browse to your network drive.
  3. Double click the zipped file.
  4. Select “Upload this file.”
  1. Next, select the checkbox in front of the file and choose “Unzip.”
    Folder and subfolders will be extracted; you may then delete the zipped file.

 

7.  Uploading Files to the Book Resource

 

To upload, perform the following functions:

 

  1. Click on the drop-down menu of “Add a resource” and select “Book.”
  2. Fill in the Book details such as name and summary.
  3. Click the “Save and display” button.
  4. Select “Import”.
  5. Select “Choose,” select the checkbox of the appropriate sub-folder, then “Choose”.
  6. Select “Import” once again, then “Continue.”

 

Figure 3-7: Book Display

 

Editing a Resource

 

The following describes the functions of the buttons available for each resource once created.

 

The edit icon lets you alter/update whatever resources or activity it is next to by you to its setup page.

The help icon will pop-up a relevant help window.

The open-eye icon means an item is visible to students.  Clicking it will make the item invisible to participants and change the icon to the open eye.

The closed-eye icon means an item is hidden from students.  Clicking it will make the item visible to participants and change the icon to the open eye.

This icon shifts the item right a little.  There is a corresponding left icon.

The move icon allows course elements to be dragged to up and down, side to side positions throughout the course.

The move icon allows course elements to be moved up or down throughout the course.

The move here icon appears when moving a course element.  It appears only after you’ve clicked the move icon, and indicates the destination of the item you’re moving.

The delete icon will permanently delete something from the course after you confirm a warning on the second page.

The marker icon allows you to make a section current.

The one icon hides all other sections of the course, showing only this one.

The all icon redisplays all sections in a course.