Virtual Learning Environment
Get started with Moodle, the University's virtual learning environment
Moodle is the University's virtual learning environment (VLE) hosting course learning materials and activities.
Moodle is available 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. You can access your course and module learning materials from Moodle via smartphone, laptop or desktop computer. You’ll only have access to Moodle once you register on your course.
On Moodle, you can access:
- module information
- course information
- links to online resources and reading lists
- learning activities
- recorded videos of teaching sessions
- news, announcements and discussion forums
- assessment information
Using Moodle
Visit Moodle and log in with your normal network password and username. On the dashboard, you'll see a list of the course and modules you're enrolled on. Select the link to the module you want to use and you're ready to get started.
Accessibility tool
You can make Moodle work for you using the built-in accessibility tool – configure screen colours and font styles that work best for you.
Notifications
You can disable and enable different notifications by clicking on your name in the top right-hand corner of Moodle and choosing 'Preferences'. Moodle offers notifications by web or email, and you can choose what notifications you get in both instances.
Logging in
You'll need your University account username and password to login to Moodle. Your username isn't case-sensitive, but your password is.
Your username will be in either of the following formats:
- upxxxxxx where x is a number (e.g. up123456)
- abcxxxxx where abc are letters and x are numbers (e.g. shl12345)
Please note, your username does not end in @myport.ac.uk.
Login issues
If you're having trouble logging in, you may need to reset your password.
If your services have previously been suspended (but are now restored) please contact elearn@port.ac.uk to ensure the restriction has been lifted. Please note it may take 24 hours for your full services to be restored.
Connection issues
If you can access other websites but not Moodle, the service might be unavailable for planned maintenance (which will have been publicised) or because of an unexpected outage. In either case, please refer to the IS Service Status page for the latest updates.
Access after graduation
When you graduate, your access to Moodle, along with other university services such as the library, will remain active for 5 months after your official course end date. We'd recommend that you download and save any content or assignments before you leave. Find out more about what happens when you finish university and your IT and Library access.
After this time, while you will be able to contact your department and request copies of particular assignments, you will be unable to access the Moodle platform yourself.
Accessing modules
Your courses and modules are all available on your Moodle dashboard. To access Moodle in first year, you’ll need to register on your course. In following years, you’ll need to re-register on your course.
You can choose to view your courses and modules in a grid, list or summary view using the drop down in the top-right corner of the module view. You can also star courses that you want easy access to later, and filter your modules by those in progress, future modules or past modules.
Module pages
At the top of each Moodle page are a number of helpful tabs that enable quick navigation.
The Course tab contains the learning materials and activities of the module. Module Info is where your Module Overview and Learning Outcomes can be found. Your assignments can be found under the 'Assignments' tab at the top of your module pages. Each one will include deadline information so you know when to submit your work. If there is a Reading List attached to your Module, then it can be found underneath the relevant heading.
Finally Grades gives you an overview of your assignments on Moodle however it should be noted that for official marks, you should check your Student View as not every assignment, exam or assessment is housed on Moodle.
The main part of the module page will be split into teaching weeks, where you'll find tasks you need to complete each week such as:
- learning activities
- recommended or required reading
- recorded classes
Seminar activities you need to complete will be highlighted under the 'Seminar Activities' heading. You'll also find extra reading or knowledge check activities under the heading 'Further reading/extension activity'.
Module coordinator
If you need to contact your module coordinator, you'll find their details on the right-hand side of the module page.
Academic advice
You'll find additional advice in the 'Academic Advice' block in the right-hand side of the module page. This could include:
- Online submission procedure
- Absence form
- Referencing guide
Issues accessing modules
If you're unable to see modules that your classmates can access, your course lecturer can make it available to you. If you can't see your modules and attendance group on your timetable (it will look something like this: M12345-20SC-SEP), contact your Student and Academic Administrators who can correct this for you.
Online assessments and assignments
You'll be required to complete online assessments and assignments through Moodle to achieve the required credits for each module and move onto your next year of study.
Types of online assessment:
- Written coursework, assignments, reports and presentations to be submitted via Turnitin or Moodle Assignment
- Weekly/fortnightly quizzes
- Other Moodle activities such as engaging in forum discussions may contribute towards your marks on some modules
Submission tools
Use the submission tools to submit your work directly through Moodle – you don't need to install any additional software.
- Turnitin – you can submit your written assignments to Turnitin
- Moodle submission drop-box – use this tool to submit digital files including Word documents, spreadsheets and images as well as typing directly into the text editor
Moodle on mobile
We recommend you access Moodle on a computer or laptop for the best experience. But the learning environment is responsive – so you can access it on mobile if you need to.
You can also download the Moodle app to your Android, iOs or Windows phone. Just search for it in your phone's app store. You'll need an active WiFi or data signal to connect.