Unintuitve Moodle

[SimpleSi]

I know I'm getting a bit dim in my old age but everytime I look into Moodle, I find myself searching around trying to find out how to do simple stuff. :oops:

 

Its been around 9 months since I set up my last one, I've been on about 6 training sesssions including a 1 day administrators course but I still gaze at the screen and can't work out out how to to the simplest of things :oops:

 

My latest site (now up and running thanks to CLEO - merry christmas to them) is http://vle.euxton.lancs.sch.uk.

 

I can't even change the front page - I managed to get the calendar showing and put in the schools holiday dates but that took me 1/2 hour :oops:

 

I'm sure the problem is that the Moodle developers are so far down the path of adding brilliant new features that they've not stopped to work out how bloomin hostile the basic system is

 

or maybe I should re-read my own 1st paragraph...

 

Is it just me or do/have others struggled with theirs - no need for Geoff to answer this purely rhetorical question AFAHIC

 

regards

 

Simon

 

PS How do to I get something on the front page again...? I did it once before :oops: http://vle.hoole.lancs.sch.uk

[Edu-IT]

I would start by adding some courses. The Latest News block should appear once you have some courses created.

 

http://docs.moodle.org/en/Courses_(administrator)

[MkII]

No you're right it's very un-intuitive. And the main factor why my school would quickly plumb for something else if they were only free.

 

New teachers trying it for the first time are scared off, and that's the IT literate ones.

 

I spent a lot of time trying to get a smooth and simple (as much as it is) like moodle have on the projects' home page. Of course that theme isn't available to the masses. And finding things on there is not an easy task.

 

Seems there are a lot of individuals struggling with the templates.

 

Bottom line - the interface needs some serious work - the intended audience are teachers for heavens sake! (apologies )

[dezt]

Si, i'm having a similar problem with the CLEO moodle. It's very ristricted by CLEO, I think that is why Geoff has gone down the reverse proxy route. Take a look at Carr Hills VLE, it's very good and it's moodle.

[webman]

Carr Hill CHUCKLE.

[arran]

...I think that is why Geoff has gone down the reverse proxy route...

 

How did he get the reverse proxy set up?

[MkII]

Nice Christmas theme Geoff!

[Geoff]

...I think that is why Geoff has gone down the reverse proxy route...

 

How did he get the reverse proxy set up?

 

It's a service offered by CLEO.

[mighty.grey.eagle]

@SimpleSi

 

Most of the Carr Hill front page is produced by adding various labels. To do this you need to go to Site Administration/Front Page and then turn on the "Include a topic section".

 

To really customize the page you will need to play around with the different themes and be familiar with CSS.

[SimpleSi]

@mge

As you don't know ( ) we don't have much control over the appearance of CLEO hosted moodles.

 

 

But I'm not trying to get up to your standards - I'm just trying to remember/work out how to get a bit of welcome text up like I've done before :oops: on vle.hoole.lancs.sch.uk

 

I turned on the topics flag but still didn't see anything I could edit to add some text

 

Thanks for the other comments of support - I'm glad its not just me.

 

regards

 

Simon

[danIT]

Once you add the topics section you need to turn editing on in order to see it, once text has been added it will be visible.

 

I support multiple moodle installations, training many staff both teaching and support staff - Course creator training and Administrator training. Feel free to PM with any questions.

[secretlife]

Hi there - I think you need log in as Admin then go to Front Page> Front Page Settings> Front Page description (summary ) and type something in there. And , as has been said, tick the include a topic section box lower down. Our is below -except CLEO seems to be on holiday over Christmas so it's virtually impossible to access...

http://vle.olchs.lancs.sch.uk/

[Edu-IT]

http://vle.olchs.lancs.sch.uk/

Don't you find it annoying because you have to scroll to the bottom to login? I prefer it when the Moodle login box is positioned at the top of the page.

[mighty.grey.eagle]

@secretlife

 

Front page description isn't needed to get the labels working.

 

@SecretSi

 

If you want to pm me with some login details I could have a browse around and see how CLEO set up their Moodles. From a memory from a distant discussion I think the login page is forced - so basically it should be be pure HTML with the login block. I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong.

 

BTW I know that replying to this on Christmas morning is a little sad but I am waiting for the oven to warm up before putting in the turkey. Excuse over.

[secretlife]

hello mighty eagle and Edu_IT- merry Christmas to all - I am 'sad' too! Can't even get on ours today, thanks CLEO, so you were lucky even to have the annoyance of scrolling down to the login. (It was a deliberate decision apparently, to force people to view all the stuff first)

[SimpleSi]

@mge

 

PM sent - but please don't work on it unless very very bored (or needing to escape outlaws )

 

regards

 

Simon

[danIT]

I dont understand where to confusion is......

 

Front page settings, tick add topic section, as it appears you have done this already you the need to go back to the front page.

 

On the front page 'Turn Editing on' you should then see a topic box appear at the top of the page above site news, catergories or courses. Its should have two drops downs, add resources and add activities. There should also be an update icon top left of the new topic box where you can add your welcome message etc....

 

Moodle is easy....

[SimpleSi]

There should also be an update icon top left of the new topic box where you can add your welcome message etc....

 

Beneath the sign saying beware the leopard....

 

Thanks for the info

 

The prosecution now rests ....

 

@mge

 

Keep the logon - I'm sure I'll need your help again one day

 

regards

Simon

 

PS - I remember now ... I did the Hoole front page while I was actually on the course and had experts showing me how!

[SimpleSi]

@mge

.

re your PM about you not having admin rights

 

Where the b&^%*y hell do I make you an administrator

 

I'm in accounts - users - select you - click on roles - make you an admin (along with me) - try logging on as you - as you say - no boxes to let you do anything.

 

 

This software is absolute b*&^%ks.

 

Simon

[secretlife]

Simple Si - sorry if you have tried this - but - when you are in admin yourself, go to Front Page>Front |Page roles > and then click on admin and make mge admin - then he should get admin rights to the front page if that;'s what you're talking about

[mighty.grey.eagle]

Or

 

Administration/Users/Permissions/Assign Global Roles

 

You can give anyone administrator rights from here.

[SimpleSi]

@mge

Your method worked but why doesn't my method work - what was I giving you admin rights to?????

 

Anyway - you should be in - ready for the next stupid question from me

 

Merry Christmas one and all

 

regards

 

Simon

[mighty.grey.eagle]

Ask away - everything seems to be working correctly. The first thing that I would do is kill the purple colour!

 

As long as you are happy with HTML the labels can contain almost anything and they do make the site less boring. With Moodle 1.9 you will be able to use rounded boxes which, again, make the site more interesting. Not sure when CLEO are moving to 1.9 though.

 

If it makes everyone feel better the Carr Hill site is down this morning. I don't think it is the reverse proxy since the email is working. Perhaps Geoff has been playing.

[ConTheITGuy]

Have you been on the FREE Admin training courses at Woodlands? It is worth going, if just for the lunch

 

Andy

[SimpleSi]

@andy

 

Thats my point - I've been on the courses and I still don't know how to work it if I stop playing with one for more than a month :oops:

 

Given the last example - I go into users select mge and give him what I think are full access rights.

 

Does it work.

 

Does it &^%$.

 

I have to do it Dave's way - not the way I think it should work.

 

Latest example, I made up a simple test choice quiz - it seemed to work OK but my score wasn't shown - prob cause I'm not enrolled onto the course I think - can I find where to do that - can I &^%$.

 

Its EVERY SINGLE STEP that bites me

 

Now the real problem is that I'm the one that shows teachers how to do things -If I can't work it - what chance them!.

 

My magical geek powers seem to be sucked out of me by Moodle

 

[/rant]

 

@mge

 

Feel free to play -I'd like a nice #000080 look to the place

 

regards

 

Simon

PS I think I'll setup my shiny new webcam that I got in the sales today instead (MS VX6000 - a nice model I use in schools as its widescreen (or even wideangle!) so handy for whole classroom use BTW - £25 in Dixons! )