Moodle is flexible and allows you to add content to your course site. Files can be uploaded in their original format (such as .doc or .ppt documents) and when students click on the link created, the files are downloaded to the student's computer (may open in browser depending on the browser and the computer setup). HTML or web supported graphic files (such as .jpg's or .gif's) can also be added, which can be viewed directly within the Moodle page.

Note: Because Moodle is cross platform (works on Macs and PCs) all files should have a file extension (such as .doc or .html), which designates its file type. To prevent conflicts, file names should contain no spaces or special characters except the underscore (_) and only one period before the file extension (ex: HomeWorkOne.doc).

From the Course Home Page:

1. Click on Turn editing on.
2. Find the area (week or topic) you wish to add an item to.
3. Click on either the drop down menu labeled Add files or Add an activity to the right of your desired section and select the desired addition.
4. When you are done, click Turn editing off.

Further of Explanation "Add files" Options:

• Compose a text page - Use this option to create a page of plain text directly into the page.
• Compose a web page - Use this option when you wish to have styled text, such as bold, italics, choice of font size, etc. inserted directly into Moodle.
• A file or website - Use this option when uploading a single file directly from your computer or loading a link to a website directly to the page.
• Display a folder - Use this option if you wish to diplay an entire folder from you computer.
• Insert a label - Use this option to better organize your page by entering labels or titles.

Note: If you upload files to the Files area in the Control Panel, to them to show up in the course you still need to go back to your course page, turn editing on, select a topic or week and use the "Add files" menu to place the files on your course page for your students to view. Click here for more information about adding files to your course. You can also create folders in your files area, and then use the "Add files" to display them. After you do this any files you place in that folder in the files area will automatically be available in your course.

Further of Explanation "Add an Activity" Options:

Directly to the right of the Add files tab is the Add an activity tab. This will explain what each of the options will do for you. If you need more information, simply click on the bold title.

• Assignment - Use this option to do one of three things: Offline assignment assumes the assessed activity happens offline but the teacher still grades it here so students can see their grade. Online text assignment allows students to enter their assignment online using the default text editor. Upload file assignment requires you to upload a file, teachers can then provide feedback and grades.
• Book - Use this option to set up indexed multi-page study material, which is ideal for presenting linear content (think PowerPoint).
• Chat - Use this option to allow participants to have a real-time synchronous discussion via the web.
• Choice - This option is very simple - the teacher asks a question and specifies a choice of multiple responses. It can be useful as a quick poll to stimulate thinking about a topic; to allow the class to vote on a direction for the course; or to gather research feedback.
• Dialogue - This option provides a simple communication method between pairs of users. A teacher can open an dialogue with a student, a student can open a dialogue with a teacher, and (optionally) a student can open a dialogue with another student. A teacher or student can be involved in many on-going dialogues at any time.
• Forum - This option is an online discussion among participants and teachers. Forums can be structured in different ways, and can include peer rating of each posting. The postings can be viewed in a variety for formats, and can include attachments. By subscribing to a forum, participants will receive copies of each new posting in their email. A teacher can impose subscription on everyone if they want to. In addition, you can make a forum a graded activity.
• Glossary - This option allows teachers and participants to create and maintain a list of definitions, like say a dictionary of terms specific to course content (Fig. 21). The entries can be searched or browsed in many different formats.
• Journal - This option is a very important reflective activity. The teacher asks the student to reflect on a particular topic, and the student can edit and refine their answer over time. This answer is private and can only be seen by the teacher, who can offer feedback and a grade on each journal entry.
• Lesson - This option allows a series of pages to be entered. Each page can have a question at the end, and can lead to any other page. This module can create a series of pages which can be presented in a linear fashion, like a slide show, or in a non-linear, branching manner, or a combination of the two.  It can be graded, with questions, or ungraded and used simply as a resource.
• Quiz - This option allows you to design and set quiz tests, consisting of multiple choice, true-false, and short answer questions. These questions are kept in a categorized database, and can be re-used within courses and even between courses. Random questions may be drawn from a question pool.
• Survey - The survey module can be used to conduct surveys of your students. Surveys can be anonymous, and you can limit survey responses to one time, or allow multiple responses.
• Wiki - The Moodle Wiki module enables participants to work together on web pages to add, expand and change the content. Old versions are never deleted and can be restored.

More Information

Q: What kinds of documents can I upload to Moodle?

A: Uploading just means putting your document up onto the Moodle server or any Internet server. You can upload just about any file type to Moodle, however the type of document that you upload affects how your students can view it. If you upload documents that were created and saved in specific software programs (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.), your students will have to have that particular software installed on their computer to view the documents.

For example, if you upload a PowerPoint document (as a .ppt or .pps), your students will have to download the file and then open it in PowerPoint or the PowerPoint viewer. However, if you save your files as HTML and then upload them to Moodle, the students can view the documents directly on screen from within Moodle.

Q: Why should I save and upload my files as HMTL?

A: Uploading HTML documents to Moodle allows your students to directly access the information from within the Moodle page. This is preferable for course information and documents, such as assignment instructions and timelines, which students may need to check often. There may also be times where you want to upload files for download, such as templates or forms that need to be modified or copied or longer documents that students will want to print. In those cases, leaving the document in its original form (.doc, .xls) would be preferable.

Q: What should I put in the Name of Link to File field?

A: If the file is for downloading, type something like "Click to download." If the file is in a web format and will be viewed on screen, type something like "Click to view." This lets the student know what will happen when they click the link. Remember, whatever you type in this field becomes the actual link that students will click on.

Q: How should I save my graphics?

A: The most universally supported file formats on the Web are .gif and .jpg format. In general, use .gif format for graphics that have few colors, graphics that contain text or type, or graphics that have large areas of a single color. Use .jpg format for graphics that have many colors and lots of fine detail, such as photos. It is NOT recommended to use bitmapped graphics with Moodle. These files are very large and can affect your course performance, as they are slow to load, especially for modem users. Many scanners default to .bmp files, so make sure you check this if you are scanning photos or images.

It is also important to remember that Moodle will upload all graphics in their original size. Make sure that you have sized and saved your graphics in an appropriate size for your course site. There are recommended sizes shown in the Page Editors when uploading course banners and staff photos.

Q: What kind of media files are supported by Moodle?

A: The following media files can be viewed within Moodle.
Graphics: GIF and JPEG
Video: MPEG, Quicktime, AVI
Audio: WAV and AIFF
Animation: Flash, Shockwave
Note: students will need the appropriate software and plug-ins to view the media files.

Q: How fast (or slow) will my files be downloaded?

A: When developing your course materials, remember that the students may be connecting to the Internet via a dial-up modem. Files should be kept small enough so users with slower connections will still be able to access the files in a reasonable amount of time. If you cannot keep the file size down, an alternative is to use the text field in the Add Item area to provide the student with information describing what the file is, how large it is, and why it is important that they view it. Often, simply letting a student know that the download may take longer than usual will diffuse any frustration associated with the long process.

Keep in mind that download time will vary based on Internet traffic and connection speed.