EdtechGuides: Moodle staff accounts guide: View modules in other roles

View module as a student

There are two features in Moodle - Switch Role to... and Log in as that can help staff to troubleshoot student problems.

If you are displaying your module in class, ensure you switch role to student so that your Ally accessibility indicator scores are not visible to students.

Switch Role to... is available to all staff roles in Moodle.
Log in as is only available to Programme and E-Learning Administrators.

The tabs below provide an overview of how to activate these features.

Switch role and login as

Select the arrow alongside your Profile picture to open the User menu.
Select Switch role to...
Select Student.
You will be returned to the module page with the student view.

Profile shows temporary roled

When you switch role, your temporary role appears alongside your profile when you select the User menu.

To return to normal role, select the drop-down next to your Profile picture to open the User menu and select Return to my normal role.

You can only login as another user if they have previously logged in to Moodle 4. Users need to accept the privacy and cookies policy on first login. If these policies are not accepted, then you cannot login as that user.

Log in as a student

Select the link to Participants from the contextual navigation menu.
The Participants page will open. Select the Photo Grid tab.
You can use the First name/Surname letter filters to find students quickly on large modules.
Select Log in as alongside the relevant student.
Select Continue.

Profile shows staff member logged in as student

You can now view the module as a specific student and see exactly what they see and can't see.
The name of the student you are logged in as appears next to your profile picture.
Select Log out from the User menu when you are finished reviewing the module. You will then need to log in to Moodle again to return to your normal role.

Your actions while logged in as another user are recorded in the Moodle logs.

Select the link to Students from the Module Dashboard to find the relevant student.
You can use the First name/Surname letter filters to find students quickly on large modules.
Select Log in as alongside the relevant student.
Select Continue.
You can now view the module as a specific student and see exactly what they see and can't see.
The name of the student you are logged in as appears next to your profile picture.
Select Log out from the User menu when you are finished reviewing the module. You will then need to log in to Moodle again to return to your normal role.

Your actions while logged in as another user are recorded in the Moodle logs.