Managing Blocks

Note: For a list of blocks available to this role, refer to the the Blocks Available to the Instructor (non-editing) Role article.

The image below shows three blocks on the right-hand side of Beverly's 3-4 Class page: the Courseware help block, the Online users block and the Latest announcements block.

Note: In this example, we will show how to add the Calendar block. Other blocks can be added in the same way.

1. At the top of the Course Homepage, click on the Edit mode toggle button in the upper right corner of the screen to activate the editing tools.

Note: The toggle moves to the right, indicating that course editing is now on.

2. Ensure that the Block drawer is visible. If it is not visible, click on the Open block drawer icon in the top-left corner of the page.

3. Click on the Add a block button.

4. A list of available blocks appears. 

Note: A block appears in this list only if it has not already been added to the course.

From the list of available blocks, click on Calendar.

5. The new block (Calendar) appears at the bottom of the block drawer.

6. Click on the Edit mode toggle button to turn editing off and view the block as a student.

We will use the Calendar block to describe the parts of a block. Different blocks contain different content, but the main areas described below are consistent across blocks. Learners see a block with the Block title and the Block content. 

Note: In addition to the Block title and content, instructors see an Edit icon and a Move block icon when editing is turned on.

In this example, we will use the Calendar block. The process is the same for other blocks.

1. To enable editing, click on the Edit mode toggle button in the upper right corner of the course page. 

2. In the Calendar block, click on the Edit icon. 

Several options appear. Note that we will demonstrate only how to change the Show/Hide setting in this article.

3. Click on Hide Calendar block.

The Calendar block becomes invisible to students.

4. To make the block visible again, click on its edit icon.

5. Click on Show Calendar block.

Note: The Calendar block becomes visible

In this example, there are three blocks in the block drawer. The Courseware help block, the Online users block and the Latest announcements block. Instructors can change the order of these blocks. The following example demonstrates how to move the Online users block. 

1. At the top of the Course Homepage, click on the Edit mode toggle button.

2. In the Online users block, move the cursor over the Move icon.

The cursor changes to a white-filled cross with four arrow tips.

3. Drag the Online users block vertically to a new position in the block drawer.

4. Another way to move the block is by clicking on the Move icon once.

A pop-up appears showing the name of all blocks on the page, in the order they appear.

Note: The "Text" block listed here refers to the Courseware Help block. 

5. Click on the name of any block to move the Online users block to that position. In this example, we clicked on Text (Courseware Help block). 

Note: The pop-up closes and the Online users block is moved.

Follow these steps to delete a block.

1. At the top of the Course Homepage, click on the Edit mode toggle button in the upper right corner of the screen to activate the editing tools.

2. In the Calendar block, click on the Edit icon.

3. Click on Delete Calendar block.

4. Click on the Delete button to confirm that you want to delete the block.

The Calendar block is removed.

Note: Deleting a block from your course is not always necessary. An alternative solution is to hide it temporarily from your students.