Moodle Navigation

The first thing to learn about navigating in moodle courses is that in most cases there is no single "Right Way". There are a variety of different methods for getting to different parts of the course, and the method you choose is down to personal preference. This section introduces the various parts of a moodle course, as displayed on the screen, and explains some of the different navigation techniques. It is up to you to choose the methods that you feel most comfortable with.

The moodle site index page

When you direct your web browser to the Greensboro College moodle e-learning site (http://moodle.gborocollege.edu), the first thing you will see is the main index page. In the configuration that we use, the front page shows the Main Menu box, containing some items of information that can be accessed without having to log on (although these are also available after you have logged in). Moving from left to right we then see the "Course Categories," which contains a list of the various types of courses that are available on the system. You may not have the ability to actually enrol in all of these courses as this depends on the individual course and tutors involved.

The moodle course list

Courses in a category are listed. There may be fewer courses listed than the number appearing on the index page because some courses may be unavailable (under development or not active for the current semester). If a key is shown then an enrollment key is required to access the course for the first time. At the top left of the details page, the full name of the course is displayed. This is actually a link and clicking on it will take you into the course itself, or to the course enrollment page, if an enrollment key is required. Below this is shown information on the faculty teaching the course. After this you will usually see a more detailed description of the course contents.

Joining a moodle course

Once you have selected a course to join, one of two or three things may happen, depending on the course settings and whether or not you are a currently registered user. If the course allows guest users and you are not currently logged on, you may be allowed to join the course as a guest. Or, the course may not allow guest users and so you will have to log on using a registered ID and password. Or, the course may have been set up with an enrollment key. This is the one-time password that you have to type in to gain initial entry to the course. Once you have typed it in, the system remembers that you are enrolled in that course and will not ask you for the key again.