Blocks Available to the Instructor (non-editing) Role

The Calendar block helps instructors stay organized, and helps learners manage their time. It displays the following events:

• Site events: created by admin users - viewable in all courses.

• Course events: created by instructors - viewable only to course members.
  

• Group events: created by instructors - viewable only by members of a group.
  

• User events: personal events created by a user - viewable only by that user.

Note: Adding closing dates to assignments, forums, quizzes etc. will cause them to display in the Calendar block.

1. On the calendar block, click on the month name.

The Calendar editing page appears. 

2. Click on the New Event button.

The New Event editing page appears.

3. Type an event title in the Event title box, and select the date and times.

4. Leave the default type of event set to Course so that learners can see it.

5. Click on Show more...

6. Type a description in the Description text box.

7. If necessary, set a Duration or end time.

8. If the event will be repeated over days or weeks, set this in the Repeat this event option.

9. Click on the Save button.

10. Return to the course homepage by clicking on the course breadcrumbs link.

11. The event appears on the Calendar block. Hovering over the

day on the calendar reveals the event title. 

The Comments block allows users to post a comment for all to see; this enables easy access and quicker communication.

1. Click and type your comment in the Comments block.

2. Click on the Save comment option to finish.

After an interval, learners and instructors will want to clear / delete their comments from the course Comments block. Instructors can also delete learners' comments.

In the Comments block, your saved comments will display a garbage bin icon next to comments you can delete.

Click on the Delete icon to remove the comment(s).

The comments are then removed.

The Latest announcements block displays recent announcement posts as listed items. It also contains a link to older announcements. By default, the Latest announcements block displays 3 announcement items.

Instructors must add announcements to the Announcements Forum, and these announcements are then linked to the Latest Announcements block. (See the Announcements article for instructions on how to add an announcement to your course.)

The Online users block shows which users are currently logged into the course. This can be an invaluable way to contact learners when you see them, or for learners to contact you or other learners when they are online as well.

Click the Eye icon to hide your online status from other users. When hidden, your name will disappear from their Online users block.

Click the Message icon to send a direct message to a user.