Courses and course formats

I've had a few instructors using the site I maintain ask about structuring a course with the most recent week at the top of the page, so that users don't need to scroll down (or link down with the section links or course menu block) to the current week.

Here's a nifty solution.  You'll need the Course Program block installed (works fine in MOODLE 1.5+ & 1.6)

Set your page up in Topics format, and label the date in each topics block manually, upside down (would this be right-side up in Australia?) - i.e., with week 1 at the bottom, working up to the top.

In your course Settings, in the Hidden Sections field, select "Hidden sections are completely hidden"

Using the Course Program block, program each topics block to show when it is needed; e.g. 1 week before the class session.

Each week's block will now magically appear, at the top of the course page, as it is needed; with previous weeks' blocks maintained, beneath this.