EdtechGuides: Create content guide: Create URL

About URL resource

The URL resource type allows you to display a link to a webpage on your Moodle module. Ensure that you are linking to a page that is not restricted and is open to students. For example:

Students will not be able to view a link to a resource on a Moodle module that they are not enrolled on. Creating links to resources in different Moodle modules is not a recommended method of displaying and presenting content to students. Remember that you may be able to access a module that your students cannot.
Students will not be able to view a webpage that is behind a paywall that the University does not subscribe to.
Links to reading list material should be presented using Reading Lists Online resource and not added as a URL.
Title your URLs with descriptive titles.
Ensure that any URLs that you add via the text editor in Moodle are hyperlinked so that students can easily access them.

You should also ensure that the content on the webpage is accessible to students (e.g. works with screenreaders and captions are available on video content.) Accessibility guidance is available.

When linking to external content, remember to check your links at the start of each term to confirm that the link is still working.

Step 1: Drag and drop a link

Turn Edit mode on.
Open the section where you want to display the link.
Open a new window on your browser.
Resize your windows so you can see the Moodle module and the website.
Select and hold the Favicon (icon to the left of the URL) and drag onto the Moodle page.
Give the link a title that is meaningful and descriptive.
Select Upload and the URL will appear on your module. Video demo of this method (no audio)

Change how the link displays

Links added via drag and drop require students to select twice to open the link, so you need to change the Display of the link.

Turn Edit mode on.
To the right of the link, open the three dots menu. Choose Edit settings.
Scroll down to the Appearance settings. Select an option from the Display drop-down menu.
- Automatic: The best display option for the URL is selected automatically.
- Embed: The URL is displayed within a Moodle page below the navigation bar together with the URL description and any blocks.
  - Some external websites embedded within Moodle may not open. Test that the link works as expected across browsers if using embed option. If it does not work, change the option to Automatic.
- Open: The URL is displayed in the browser window and students have to click the back browser button to return to their Moodle module.
- In pop-up: The URL is displayed in a new browser window without menus or an address bar.

Scroll to the bottom of the page and select Save and return to module. Open the link to ensure that it is displaying correctly.

Turn Edit mode on.
Open the section where you want the link to display.
Select Add an activity or resource.
Select URL from the Resources tab.
Enter a meaningful Name for the link
In the External URL field, paste the URL for the site to link to i.e. https://www.bbc.co.uk/
Add a Description, if required. Check the Display description on module page to show your Description text below the link on the module page.

Link name and description

From the Appearance settings, select an option from the Display drop-down menu. By default this is set to Automatic. Options for displaying your URL.
- Automatic - The best display option for the URL is selected automatically
- Embed - The URL is displayed within the page below the navigation bar together with the URL description and any blocks.
  - Some external websites embedded within Moodle may not open. Test that the link works as expected across browsers if using embed option. If it does not work, change the option to Automatic.
- Open - The URL is displayed in the browser window and students have to click the back browser button to return to their Moodle module.
- In pop-up - The URL is displayed in a new browser window without menus or an address bar.
- If you choose In pop-up, you can select to choose the size of the pop-up window.

Link appearance

Select Save and return to module. Open the link from the module page to ensure that it opens correctly.