If you’re a Unit Coordinator in Trimester 1 2022, you may notice that a few things look different when you access your Moodle site. As part of the university’s strategy to provide a high-quality learning experience and develop efficient, sustainable processes, Digital Education and the Learning Design Team have implemented a modified process and layout for unit site setup. You can read more about the process redesign here.
A key focus has been actioning critical feedback from students around consistency in layout – this is the single most identified issue in student evaluations over several years. The changes to layout are only minor, but should significantly improve the student experience across all UNE units. So, what has changed?
Topic Zero
Topic Zero is the top section in each Moodle site that is usually used to house welcome messages and key resources. Resources in this section have now been standardised – raising the visibility of core items like the Unit Information and Assessment Overview, Lecture Recordings, and Reading List. For many units there will be no changes, and for others, only a few slight changes.
The content of Topic Zero has been standardised across UNE Moodle Sites to increase consistency and discoverability.
Tile Images
A set of simple, modern and consistent tile images have been applied to Tiles which are commonly used across the university, such as ‘Unit information’, ‘Assessments’ and ‘Discussion Forums’. This consistent imagery will make it easier for students to locate fundamental information and activities, no matter which units they are studying.
Simple numbered icons have also replaced topic tiles that previously featured only generic or block colour images (as shown in the examples below). We hope that these new icon options will improve usability and enhance the overall look and feel of a site.
Before: An example of Tiles prior to the application of new images.
After: An example of Tiles after the application of new images.
Site Contacts Block
Every teaching unit will contain an automated Site Contacts block located in the top right. More information on the block and how to update your profile, including your photo and description, can be found here.
Need more information, or want to provide feedback?
If you need support setting up your Moodle site, resources and guidance is always available via Teaching Online @ UNE and this step-by-step guide, or you can contact the learning design team via learningdesign@une.edu.au
If you would like to provide feedback or suggestions, a brief survey is available here, or you can email learningdesign@une.edu.au. This feedback will inform our approach to site set-up in T2, 2022 and will be compiled in a full evaluation report by April 2022.