Moodle allows you to add a variety of files and activities to course sections. This tutorial will specifically show you how to add a syllabus to your Moodle course.

To begin, click Turn Editing On located on the top right of the screen.

You are able to add activities and/or resources under each section of your course. Once you have turned editing on, you can click + Add Activity or Resource under the section you wish to add your course syllabus to. We recommend keeping your course syllabus easily accessible at the top of your Moodle page. 

A file, such as a course syllabus, is considered a resource in Moodle. To add a resource, scroll down the list of options and choose which resource you would like to add from the resource menu. You may also sort the options by clicking on the Resources tab at the top. For adding a course syllabus, we will choose to add a file. From the list, click on File. 

The Adding a New File window will become visible to you. Give your file a name by typing a title in the name field.

To add the file, either click and drag the file into the content area, or click on the paper icon on the top left of the box to browse for the file.  

If you click on the paper icon at the top left, you will be taken to the File Picker. Choose Upload a File, then click on Choose File. You may then choose the file from various areas, including your desktop on your computer. Find the file you wish to add to your course, then click Upload this File.

You will then see the file you’ve selected in the Content area.

IMPORTANT: When you upload a file, make sure it has a proper extension associated with it. The extension is the dot or period followed by three or four letters behind your file name. For example, in syllabus.docx, .docx is the file extension. Many computers will recognize the file without the extension, but this file is being uploaded to a server, where extensions are important to recognizing what type of file it is. If you choose to rename your file in the save as field, then be sure to add the proper extension to the file name to ensure your students can read and download the file as needed. Also, make sure to only have a period “.” before the file extension, if you have a period within the title Moodle will try to read it as the extension and the file will not work.

You now have the option of choosing your display settings if you do not want to use the default settings. 

This area allows you to display your file automatically, within a popup window, and allows you to embed files. The default is set to automatic, and is a safe default if you are unsure of what to do.

NOTE ABOUT .PDF FILES: If students are accessing .PDF files in your course with an iPad, please set the display option to Open rather than Automatic. This setting will be safe for those accessing Moodle from a laptop or desktop as well. PDF is a common format and in the majority of cases students will be able to open the document using Adobe Reader.

When all your settings are in place, choose Save and Return to Course

You have now successfully added the file to your course, and choosing to save and return will allow you to see where and how your file was added. 

If you are interested on how to structure a course syllabus for your class, you may find the following resource beneficial:

Creating a Course Syllabus and Structure