Get started with Moodle 3.9 staff guide

When developing your Moodle module, accessibility regulations state that the structure of your module and the design of your content must be accessible. Maximise your content and ensure that it is accessible to the greatest number of users. Review our guidance below on creating an accessible module.

Related guidance

• Typically Moodle modules are arranged in two columns using the City Course Format. Your content is presented in a collapsed format to provide students with a quick overview of module content.
• Additional information and functionality provided via blocks on the right-hand side of the module. You can choose to Hide Sidebar to the right of the module page to hide the blocks on the right to increase your working space when designing or navigating modules.

Modules can be organised either by topics or by weeks.

1. You can change to a weekly format by selecting Settings and choosing Edit Settings.
2. Scroll down to Course format settings.
3. Select Weekly from the Format to use drop-down.
4. Scroll to the end of the page and select Save and display.

• The Module Dashboard provides access to key services and functionality in Moodle and to Activities available in your module. When using the City Course Format or PGrid format, these are always displayed at the top of the page even when you are accessing on a mobile.
• Seven Quick Links or Activities will display with the remainder available from View More.
• With editing turned on, you can change the order of the Activities or Quick Links to prioritise what's important for your students.

Module content is delivered in the form of resources and activities that you create to help students meet the outcomes of your module.

1. To start adding content, select Turn editing on.
2. Select the section where you want the content to display.

   

3. Select Add an activity or resource and use the Activity chooser to select choose an activity or resource and complete the steps.

Common file types that are uploaded to Moodle modules will automatically be assessed by Ally and receive an accessibility score viewable only to enrolled lecturers on the module. These accessibility scores are created by checking the resource against each of the requirements of UK legislation for web accessibility relevant to higher education and then also given a weight based on how much of an accessibility challenge an issue may pose to education.

The accessibility score assesses the way content is conveyed to students, not the quality of the content itself. For example, a low accessibility score for a resource may be because it is a scanned PDF of a photocopied book, not because the book itself or content therein is of pedagogical low quality. 

These accessibility scores include:

• Explaining which specific issues are the easiest to improve, with step-by-step guidance
• Explaining which specific issues are the most important and impactful to improve, with step-by-step guidance
• A weighted aggregate score for the whole module to identify successes and areas for improvement across the module

The Activity Chooser is structured in tabs to help you quickly find the relevant activity/resource to add to your modules.

1. Starred: Activities/resources that you have starred as you use them regularly. Starring activities/resources helps you to quickly locate and add them to your module. 
2. All: Available activities/resources.
3. Activities: All activity types (e.g. Forum, Assignment, Glossary).
4. Resources: Content types to help you present and display content (e.g. Page, Book, Label).
5. Recommended: Most commonly used activity and resource types across City Moodle modules.
6. If you can't find what you are looking for start typing into the Search field.

You can use a Moodle PlaySpace to explore different Moodle structures, features and to test different activities. You can request a PlaySpace using the Non-SITS Moodle module request form and choose PlaySpace as the Enrolment type in the form.