1. Course categories in Moodle are containers that hold courses on a specific theme. A new category can only be created by contacting the KSI unit.
2. The title of a category should reflect a thematic area rather than a program or unit to help users easily identify course themes.
3. Content and images are added to a category page by logging in and using the text editor. Finalized pages with text and images are visible to all users.
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Module 1 categories
1. Table of contents
1. Categories
i. What is a category ?
ii. How is a new category created?
iii. What should the title of a category be?
iv. How can content and images be added to a category page?
v. Follow these steps to edit a category page
2. I. Categories
As a starting point, gaining a clear understanding of the configuration of the Moodle LMS is
necessary. The system is designed in a hierarchical manner implying that emanating from the main
online platform are a number of course categories, sub‐categories and courses. The division can be
understood in this way:
The central point of all activity is the online platform, i.e. UNITAR’s VLE.
The online platform allows for a number of course categories to be created inside it.
i. What is a category?
A course category can be considered as a shell that contains courses.
It can also be divided into a sub‐category, and further sub‐categories, each with their own set
of courses.
Take note that a course is the final element in the Moodle structure; it cannot have further
sub‐divisions or courses within it.
Online Platform
Category Category Category
Sub‐Category Course Sub‐Category Sub‐Category
Course
Course Course Course Course Sub‐Category
Course
3. ii. How is a new category created?
The LAs themselves are not able to create a new course category. Whenever a new course
category needs to be created, the KSI Unit should be contacted and a category will be
created by them.
Note that once the category has been created, the LA becomes responsible for managing its
contents.
iii. What should the title of a category be?
You can think of a category as a repository for courses on a certain theme; therefore, the title
of a course category should reflect a specific thematic area rather than the title of any of
UNITAR’s Programmes/Units. Such a user‐centred perspective will allow external users to
easily identify the themes covered by UNITAR’s e‐Learning courses.
iv. How can content and images be added to a category page?
Every category available on the platform has an entry page that is directly accessible from the
front page of the VLE. The category page is accessible by everyone, regardless of whether
they have a user account on the platform or not. Therefore, it is essential to use this page to
present information in a user‐friendly and comprehensive manner so that any external
person browsing the category is easily able to gain a sense of what elements are touched
upon by the e‐Learning courses offered under that specific theme.
It is the responsibility of each LA to enter text in the category entry page summarising its
contents.
The entry page of the category gives access to the both the sub‐categories and courses that
fall under the category.
Follow these steps to edit a category page:
1. Log into the platform.
2. Click on the title of the category you are responsible for.
3. Click on Turn editing on, in the top right corner of the page:
4. 4. Click on Edit this category.
5. The in‐built Text Editor will allow you to directly enter text. You can format your text in the
Text Editor using the formatting tools it offers.
In case you have written your text in a word processing software, like Microsoft Word or Open Office
Text Document, and wish to paste it into the Text Editor: first select the text you have typed; copy
and paste it into Notepad to remove formatting; then copy and paste it into the Text Editor. As your
text will now appear without any formatting, you can use the Text Editor’s formatting tools to format
your text as desired.
6. After entering new text/saving modified text, click on Turn editing off in the top‐right corner
of the screen:
7. In order to add Images to this page, please provide an image to the KSI Unit and they will add
the image to your category page. This is because the repository of images is maintained by
the KSI Unit as they have Administrator rights on the platform.
5. 8. The final version of the page, with text and images, will appear as below: