Mass Actions Block

The Mass Actions block is a useful editing tool for instructors. If it is added to a course, it allows instructors to perform actions upon 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, but also any time you need to make the same changes to a number of items. Because a large number of activities can be affected at the same time, great care must be taken.

Note: This block will only be visible to teachers when Editing is turned on, and never to students.

1. Click on the Turn editing on button.

2. Ensure that the Navigation drawer is visible. If it is not visible, click on the Vertical ellipsis icon on the top-left corner of your page.

3. Scroll down to the bottom of the Navigation drawer and click on the Add a block link.

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

Note: You will only see a block's name on this list if it is not already added to your course.

5. The new block (Mass Actions) appears in the right column of the course.

Note: The Mass Actions block is only visible while editing is turned on, and students cannot see the block.

1. Click on the Turn editing on button.

The Mass Actions block appears on the course page.

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

B) Select all in section menu to allow selecting all resources and activities in a particular section/topic;

C) Help icon for a pop-up of help with Select all in section;

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

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

F) Help icon for a pop-up of help for this block.

2. Select the items to be acted on.

Use Select all or Select all in section (A and B above).

Then, deselect any items which should not be acted on, using the checkboxes at the left of the appropriate items.

Note: Activity Completion checkboxes still appear if they are present in the course.

1. In the Mass Actions Block, click on Select all. If necessary, deselect any items which should not be acted on, using the checkboxes at the left of the appropriate items.

Note: All selected elements in the course now have blue and white check box icons. The grey check boxes to the far right are the activity/resource completion boxes (if available).

2. Choose one of the Actions available.

Note: These are usually used for mass showing or hiding of course resources and activities.

Selecting Hide makes all selected items invisible to students.

Selecting Make Available hides these items from students, but available to students using a link to the item from elsewhere in the course, e.g. a Page or inside a Book.

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. If necessary, deselect any items which should not be acted on, using the checkboxes at the left of the appropriate items.

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

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

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. If necessary, deselect any items which should not be acted on, using the checkboxes at the left of the appropriate items.

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

4. Choose the destination section.

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

Note: The selected content moves to the bottom of the destination section. The items are no longer in the original section. The transfer of a section's content 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. If necessary, deselect any items which should not be acted on, using the checkboxes at the left of the appropriate items.

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

4. Choose the destination section.

5. Click the grey arrow to the right of the Duplicate to Section field.

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:

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. If necessary, deselect any items which should not be acted on, using the checkboxes at the left of the appropriate items.

3. Choose Duplicate to another course.

4. Type the name of the destination course and select from the suggestions.

5. Click Choose course.

6. If the items were, for example, in the fifth topic and you want them in the fifth topic in the destination course, you can use Keep original section number. Otherwise, choose the section where the items should be copied.

7. Click on Choose section.

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

Moodle documents: Mass Actions block