Some of my students have been having trouble finding their way around within my Moodle course, so I converted web pages into lesson plans. Still, would like to make the navigation clear.
Where could I find more information? I'd like students to be clear where they are, what pages are in the lesson, and how much more they have to go.
For instance, several postings here have pointed out that Progress Bars are nice, but don't register progress if the students aren't answering correct questions.
Somewhere I seem to recall a navigation chart that could appear to the left or right of the screen. However, I can't recall what it's called.
Any and all pointers are appreciated. Thanks-- Andra
We're in the process of converting our Moodle instructor training course to lessons from Web pages in part to improve navigation.
In the settings for the lesson, click Yes in the Display left menu drop-down list to get a lesson menu on the left side of the screen. The menu contains links to each page and the current page is highlighted to show the user where they are in the lesson. To add other blocks in the lesson, such as an overall table of contents for the course, you have to select the following check box (or request it from your admin):
Site Administration - Appearance - Themes - Theme settings - Show blocks on module pages
As I mentioned in an earlier post, the progress bar calculates a completion percentage based on the total number of pages in the lesson. That's fine the first time through, but in subsequent sessions, it may not be an accurate representation of "how much more they have to go." If I view 8 of 10 pages today and then go back to page 1 two weeks from now, it will still say the lesson is 80% complete. For some courses, that might be the desired behavior, but not for others.
The Progress Bar block (not part of Moodle core) provides more flexibility than the built-in progress bar. With the block, you can add any combination of resources and activities from the course, not just pages in the lesson. After it's installed, you could add this block to your lessons and turn off the built-in progress bar.
Another advantage of lessons is that the lesson name appears in the breadcrumb trail, which shows the user where they are in the course. With regular Web pages, the breadcrumb trail stops at the course name.
Thanks for the suggestions, Mike. However, I still seem to be missing something.
I turned on Display Left Menu, and while the column appears, it's blank. The heading bar says, "Lesson Menu," but the column below it is empty.
There are at least ten pages within the lesson, so there's plenty to show up.
I also went to Theme Settings and clicked Show block on module pages, but still nothing displayed.
What am I missing? Thanks! -- Andra
I turned on Display Left Menu, and while the column appears, it's blank. The heading bar says, "Lesson Menu," but the column below it is empty.
There are at least ten pages within the lesson, so there's plenty to show up.
I also went to Theme Settings and clicked Show block on module pages, but still nothing displayed.
What am I missing? Thanks! -- Andra
Thanks Mike for the description of one reason to use Lesson and the left menu and progress bar.
Andra, as I recall, question pages do not show up in the outline, only branch table pages. Try demo.moodle.net and the Features Demo and the second lesson. I only see the first and last pages (both branch pages). Just a thought, I could be off base because I do not use that feature of lesson. My authorities like to keep people in the dark and in lock step with their idea of what the students need to see
I would recommend reviewing Adding/editing a lesson in MoodleDocs. It runs down all of the Lesson settings. The setting names and actions, especially when they interact (fight) with each other can produce "interesting" results on the interface side.
If custom scoring is on and the teacher is not paying attention, the correct answer maybe scored 0. Also double check those Lesson settings and maybe gradebook. Look at a course/lesson where the student score is displayed and then go to the place where it is not. I have seen some crazy stuff, where max score has been set to 0 in Lesson settings (how dat happen?) or "Practice lesson" is checked. Or my common mistake, where the question page was saved without any answers, then re-opened in edit mode and answers given. Lesson changes the default 1 in the top answer to 0 when it is saved with a blank answer in #1, so if you do not notice this when custom scoring is turned on, no answers are correct, no grade can be given. All very logical....for the Lesson Module but apparently acting very stupid to us mere humans.
Good luck Chris
Chris
Andra, as I recall, question pages do not show up in the outline, only branch table pages. Try demo.moodle.net and the Features Demo and the second lesson. I only see the first and last pages (both branch pages). Just a thought, I could be off base because I do not use that feature of lesson. My authorities like to keep people in the dark and in lock step with their idea of what the students need to see
I would recommend reviewing Adding/editing a lesson in MoodleDocs. It runs down all of the Lesson settings. The setting names and actions, especially when they interact (fight) with each other can produce "interesting" results on the interface side.
If custom scoring is on and the teacher is not paying attention, the correct answer maybe scored 0. Also double check those Lesson settings and maybe gradebook. Look at a course/lesson where the student score is displayed and then go to the place where it is not. I have seen some crazy stuff, where max score has been set to 0 in Lesson settings (how dat happen?) or "Practice lesson" is checked. Or my common mistake, where the question page was saved without any answers, then re-opened in edit mode and answers given. Lesson changes the default 1 in the top answer to 0 when it is saved with a blank answer in #1, so if you do not notice this when custom scoring is turned on, no answers are correct, no grade can be given. All very logical....for the Lesson Module but apparently acting very stupid to us mere humans.
Good luck Chris
Chris