Mass Actions Block

The Mass Actions block is a useful editing tool for instructors. When added to a course, it allows instructors to perform actions on multiple resources or activities, rather than having to perform repeated actions on individual items. Supported actions include mass selection, indentation, deletion, hiding, showing, duplicating, and moving. Using Mass Actions can be especially helpful when first setting up your course or when you need to apply the same changes to multiple items. Because Mass Actions can affect a large number of activities at once, instructors must use this tool carefully.

Note: This block is only visible to teachers when Edit mode is turned on and is never visible to students.

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. In the upper right corner, click on the Open block drawer button.

3. Click on the Add a block button.

4. A list of available blocks appears. From the list of blocks, click on Mass Actions.

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

5. The new block (Mass Actions) appears in the right column of the course with the message: "To use this block, you need to enable bulk editing mode".

6. Click on the Enable bulk editing button.

First, the Mass Actions block expands, and the Bulk editing bar appears at the bottom of the screen.

Note: The Mass actions block can also be activated by clicking on the Bulk actions link near the top of the course area.

  Note: This is the Bulk editing bar.

Note: The Bulk editing bar can be closed by clicking on the X icon on the right side.

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.

Note: The Mass Actions block appears on the course page.

A) Select all to select all resources and activities in the course;

B) Select all in section menu to select all resources and activities in a specific section;

C) Help icon to display a pop-up with help for the Select all in section option;

D) Deselect all to deselect all previously selected resources and activities in the course;

E) With selected: to choose the desired action for the selected items;

F) Help icon to display a pop-up with help for this block.

Note: Select All is a powerful feature that selects multiple resources, saving time during course development.

Note: All resources and activities in the course are selected (white checkmark with a blue background), but sections are not selected.

Note:  Using this method allows you to make changes to all elements of a course without affecting the appearance of the course sections. For example, you can hide all course content from students while still allowing them to see the section titles.

1. In the Mass Actions Block, click on the Select all link.  

Note: All selected items in the course now display blue and white checkmark icons. Teachers cannot deselect individual items.

2. Choose one of the available Actions.

Note: This scenario is typically used to show or hide course resources and activities in bulk. Selecting Hide makes all selected items invisible to students.

Note: Selecting Make Available hides these items from students, but they remain accessible via a link from elsewhere in the course, such as a Page or a Book.

1. Click on Select all in section.

Note: A drop-down menu appears.

2. Choose one of the course sections.

Note: Items in the chosen section will be checked. Teachers cannot deselect individual items.  

Note: Make Available will hide the selected items but leave them available for use via a link. 

Note: Duplicate will place copies of the selected items at the end of the current section.

Note: See below for instructions on how to Duplicate to another course.

1. Click on Select all in section.

A drop-down menu appears.

2. Choose one of the course sections.

Note: Items in the chosen section will be checked. Individual items cannot be unchecked.

4. Choose the destination section.

5. Click the arrow icon to the right of the Move to Section field.

Note: The selected content moves to the bottom of the destination section and is removed from the original section. The transfer process may take a few minutes. Please be patient.

1. Click on Select all in section.

A drop-down menu appears.

2. Choose one of the course sections.

Note: Items in the chosen section will be checked. Individual items cannot be unchecked. 

3. Click on the Duplicate to Section drop-down menu.

Note: The selected content is copied to the bottom of the destination section. The items remain in the original section. You may see the following message at the top of your course:

Note: The duplicated materials may not be visible until you have refreshed your screen.

1. Click on Select all in section.

A drop-down menu appears.

2. Choose one of the course sections.

Note: Items in the chosen section will be checked. Individual items cannot be unchecked. 

3. Choose Duplicate to another course.

4. Click on the down arrow in the Search box.

5. In the drop-down menu, click on the course name.

6. Click the Choose course button.

7. If the items were in the fifth section and you want them placed in the same section number in the destination course, select Keep original section number. Otherwise, choose the section where the items should be copied.

8. Click on the Choose section button.

Note: The items are copied to the bottom of the destination section and remain in the original course. You may see the following message:

Using the Mass Actions Block

Moodle Documents: Mass Actions Block