General developer forum

I'll add another reason--sometimes I will create a "course" that really isn't a course at all, e.g. "Library", and I don't want to add any irrelevant blocks. Thus, if it doesn't have the Participants block, then I can't even use loginas from that course. This would definitely be handier, Howard.  I'm curious, though, does this "dummy" have a real account in the database?

Maybe... it would also have the advantage of lighting up "You are in student mode' so you don't forget.

The disadvantage is that student mode is not specifically turned off if you jump from one course to another, so you may land in another course without the block and think you are a student. Similarly, it's not designed (currently) to function on the front page, as I didn't think it was necessary (and it would only really apply to admins).

I didn't really like the drop-down idea - it would be far too big a change.

Yes, it needs to be along side - it seems to be a theme issue though. I was going to get our themes 'guru' Dave Scotson to have a look at that in true passing-the-buck style.

PLEASE no drop-downs! I'm weary of having drop downs when in fact buttons (regular or radio) will do. Choosing an item from a drop down takes several discrete hand motions (click, hold-drag, release) whereas clicking a button is just easy.

I wonder if there is not a way to incorporate such a button into the functionality of the "turn editing on"...  you know that to view as a student editing is turned off... maybe a three-way toggle? First click turns on editing, 2nd click goes to student view, 3rd goes back to non-editing instructor view...

I suppose that's a big usability no-no, but seems to work with well with the switches on my car's headlights (one is off, other is parking, other is on). Are there other metaphors worth exploring?

I like the way that you click on your own name to get back into the instructor view, but it's not intiutive.. .you just learn it quickly b/c it's such a useful feature.  (how did I learn that..?? don't remember). Actually, I think right next to where it says:  You are logged in as D.I. von Briesen (Logout) it could say (login as generic student)
so: You are logged in as D.I. von Briesen (Logout) (view as student)
Which would only add slightly to the real estate, be unobtrusive, and be consistent with the idea of being in (as me) out (logout) and kind of in (as student).

Cheers!

d.i.

I also think it's a great addition.

I also, like Chris, think that placing the "Turn student view on" button next to the "turn editing on" would be better use of the screen. I would go so far as suggesting it ought to be default rather than a hack. The only possible conflict I can see is if there is a LONG "cookie trail". I would suggest calling the "Turn student view on" button a more compact: "Student view" with a tooltext: "Turn student view on". (In the student's view one could have a compact "Teachers view" button with tooltip "Turn student view off".)

Is there anyone that prefers, the 2 line placement?

Hi Chris,

In latest distribution of version 1.6 beta 3 the 2 buttons are indeed adjacent, just as you want them (see screen shot of a Standard Theme view).

Check that you have the following lines in your version of moodle\theme\standard\styles_layout.css

.navbar .navbutton form {
  float: left;
}

That does the trick!

Joseph

It's going back a bit now but I seem to remember that they used to be next to each other. Somebody changed it a month or two back. I'm not sure who or why.

EDIT:
Oh yes, I've just noticed that it's back to where it started. The wandering 'student view' button