Random Glossary Entry Block
Margarita Berezyanskaya
Last Update місяць тому
This feature highlights a random entry in a glossary in a block positioned by the instructor. Possibilities for this include: Learner of the Week, Word of the Day, Question of the Day, Tip of the Month, a random picture gallery, FAQs or any combination of these ideas. Once a glossary is built, it is simple to use a Random glossary entry block to display the glossary content on the course home page. It will add variety to the virtual learning environment.
The instructor can set the appearance of terms with their definitions to display randomly or in a predefined sequence.
Note: You must have a glossary activity within your course first to be able to select it for the Random Glossary Block.
Exemplar
An example of a Random glossary entry block is found in the Stage 2/3 Exemplar course. It is the Word of the Day block. Another example of this block, called Instructor ideas block, is in the Stage 2 course.
Adding a Random Glossary Entry Block to a Course
On your course, Toggle Edit mode on.
Click the Block drawer tab (below and to the right of the Edit mode toggle) to show the course blocks.
Press the Add a block button to open a list of blocks to choose from.
From the pop up, click on the Random glossary entry option.
The Block's settings window will open where you can configure the Random glossary entry block.
The Random Glossary Entry block displays a single entry from a chosen glossary, such as a Word of the Day or Tip of the Week. You can decide which glossary to use, how often the entry changes, and what information is shown.
Type the name you want to appear at the top of the block in the Title box.
Default: Random glossary entry
(Example: “LINC 3 Word of the Day”)
Select the glossary you want this block to draw entries from, using the drop-down menu next to this option.
Only glossaries already added to the course will appear here.
Enter the number of days each glossary entry will stay visible before a new one is displayed.
1 shows a new entry every day
7 shows a new entry each week
0 (default) shows a new entry each time the page is reloaded
Use this drop-down menu to decide how Moodle selects which entry to display. There are four options:
Random entry – (default) Displays a random entry from the glossary.
Last modified entry – Displays the most recently added or edited entry.
Next entry – Displays entries in sequence. Useful with “Days before a new entry is chosen” for Word of the Day or Tip of the Week rotations.
Alphabetical order – Displays entries alphabetically by concept.
Select Yes if you want the glossary term (the concept) to appear as a heading above its definition in the block.
Select No if you prefer to display only the definition.
Link Text Options
These options based on student permissions control the text or links shown to users depending on their glossary access level.
The block automatically adjusts which one is displayed based on the user’s role and permissions.
When users can add entries to the glossary
Displayed to users who can add or edit entries (for example, students contributing to a shared glossary).
Enter the text you’d like to display as a link for adding new entries.
Default: Add a new entry
Example: “Contribute a new word” or “Add your example.”
When users can view the glossary but not add entries
Displayed to users who can view but not edit the glossary.
Enter the text that appears as a link to open and view all glossary entries.
Default: View all entries
Example: “See all words” or “Browse the glossary.”
When users cannot edit or view the glossary
Displayed to users who do not have access to the glossary.
This text appears without a link.
Default: (to be continued)
Example: “Glossary not available” or “Coming soon.”
Save changes
After adjusting your settings, click Save changes to apply them and return to your course page.
The Random Glossary Entry block will now display according to your chosen options.
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