This article provides a beginner’s guide to Moodle, giving you the necessary knowledge and tools to navigate this virtual learning environment effortlessly. Moodle is an online platform that is a central hub for your courses, resources, assignments, discussions, and more. It offers a centralized space to access all your learning materials, engages with instructors and classmates, and stay organized throughout your educational journey. Let’s get started!
Login to Moodle using your Pacific College credentials
Upon entry, you will view your personal page with general information. Let’s review it more closely.
At the top of your screen, you have options to adjust settings and access vital class information. You can personalize your profile settings by modifying your time zone, viewing the Dashboard for class overviews and upcoming events, and checking your Grades section for academic performance summaries (if available).
To the left of your personal page, you’ll find a menu to filter your classes depending on the year. You can also click Browse all courses to search for a class by code.
On the right side of the screen, you’ll find a convenient menu offering a range of additional features. The Deadlines section provides valuable information on any updated due dates from the instructor. However, for the most accurate and up-to-date assessment and due date details, referring directly to your syllabus is recommended. Additionally, within this menu, you may come across grading items and messaging notifications that pertain to your course.
On the personal page, you can click on any of the card titles to access the class directly.
Before accessing a class, let’s take a quick look at the Dashboard. It can be accessed by clicking on the Dashboard hyperlink at the top of the screen.
The Dashboard provides an informative overview of your enrolled classes, offering a wide range of general details. Utilizing the user-friendly drop-down menu allows you to filter your courses based on your preferences, whether you wish to view in progress, future, or past classes.
The Dashboard will also display orientation content available and a General Calendar.
The Calendar offers the flexibility to customize its display and show information about a specific course. Simply select the desired class from the drop-down menu to view the relevant details. It is important to note that the Calendar relies on the instructor’s updates for each class, so the accuracy of the information is contingent on their input. A meeting reminder will not be generated when a course does not have an online meeting component. If you have any uncertainties regarding the information reflected in the calendar, we recommend contacting your instructor for clarification as a first step.
The Dashboard will also allow you to access a particular class by clicking on the course card.
When you enter a class, you’ll immediately notice the course code and name displayed prominently at the top of the screen. To the left of the interface, you’ll find a well-organized table of contents that includes the General Course Information and a breakdown of the weekly sections.
The General Course Information tab will display an Activities and Resources block with direct access to all activities in the class.
This is also where you will find your Syllabus and other general documentation.
The course will also feature an Announcements forum for important updates and a section for accessing Zoom meetings and recordings for classes with online sessions.
As you progress through the course, you’ll find a wide range of class content organized by week. This includes items like Required Readings, Resources Assignments, and Activities the instructor selects. Moreover, each week will have a dedicated Weekly Feedback Survey, allowing you to provide valuable input and feedback on that specific week’s class.
You can access the Course Dashboard at the bottom of the Table of Contents.
This view offers essential features to enhance your class experience. These include the Gradebook for tracking your progress, the Participants section for connecting with classmates, and a block for accessing supplementary materials. You’ll also have easy access to your calendar and Announcements to stay informed.
The gradebook provides an overview of your academic progress and allows easy access to assigned grades for assessments.
The Participant’s view provides an overview of fellow students and your instructor. Additionally, it conveniently displays information about assigned groups, making it easy to communicate and collaborate with your designated group members. (Not all courses use groups)
The Calendar showcases important class events specified by your instructor. If there are no online meetings, meeting reminders won’t be displayed. Clicking on “Full Calendar” gives you a detailed view of all class-related dates and activities.
Select the correct class from the drop-down menu.
You can move between the months using the arrows at the top. When you encounter a specific event of interest, a simple click will unveil additional details, such as the due time and any available instructions or directions.
