URL Module

The URL module enables a teacher to provide a web link as a course resource. Anything that is freely available online, such as documents or images, can be linked to the URL (it doesn’t have to be the home page of a website). The URL of a particular web page may be copied and pasted or a teacher can use the file picker and choose a link from a repository such as Flickr, YouTube, or Wikimedia (depending upon which repositories are enabled for the site).

There are a number of display options for the URL, such as embedded or opening in a new window and advanced options for passing information, such as a student’s name, to the URL if required.

Note: URLs can also be added to any other resource or activity type through the text editor.

  1. To add a URL module to your course, begin by clicking the “Turn editing on” button in the upper right of the page in the course you want to add the module to.
  2. Turn Editing On button

  3. Next, click the “Add an activity or resource” in the section you would like to add the URL module.
  4. Add activity or resource image

  5. Scroll down to the Resources section and click “URL” and then click “Add.”
  6. Add URL

  7. This will take you to the “Adding a new URL” screen. Under the “General” section, you are required to name the URL module, you can also provide a description if desired, and choose whether to display that description on the course page.
  8. In the “Content” section, either type in or copy and paste the external URL or click “Choose a link…”
  9. Content section/external URL field

    • After clicking “Choose a link…”, the “File picker” window will launch where content can be added from various repositories enabled on the left side.

    URL File Picker window

  10. In the “Appearance” section, choose how you would like the URL displayed in the “Display” drop down menu. The width and height are adjustable depending on the display option you choose. “Display URL description” is selected by default, but you can deselect this option if you would like. The “Display”setting, together with the URL file type and whether the browser allows embedding, determines how the URL is displayed. Options may include:
    • Automatic – The best display option for the URL is selected automatically
    • Embed – The URL is displayed within the page below the navigation bar together with the URL description and any blocks
    • Open – Only the URL is displayed in the browser window
    • In pop-up – The URL is displayed in a new browser window without menus or an address bar
    • In frame – The URL is displayed within a frame below the navigation bar and URL description
    • New window – The URL is displayed in a new browser window with menus and an address bar

    URL Appearance section

  11. Next, choose the URL variables if you have specific ones in mind.
  12. URL variables section

  13. For the “Common module settings” section, choose whether to show or hide the module. Ignore the “Restrict access” section unless specific access restrictions are desired. Click “Save and display” at the bottom of the page once finished.

Save and display