Blocks

course/format contains subdirectories for topics, weeks and social. 

1. Copy whichever of these you usually use to a separate subdirectory off from course/format
2. rename the subdirectories so these formats can be identified as your custom formats
3. edit the config.php file in each directory you copied so the line starting with "$format['defaultblocks'] = " contains your desired block configuration
   (Example: "$format['defaultblocks'] = course_summary,admin,course_list:participants,compose_mail,activity_modules,section_links,online_users';)
   1. Each block separated by comma
   2. Left-side blocks separated by colon from right-side blocks

When you create a course, select one of your formats (its name will probably appear in brackets since it isn't in the language file) and you will have your custom block configuration