Using the Mass Actions Block

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The Mass Actions block allows instructors to perform actions upon multiple resources or activities in a Moodle course simultaneously, rather than having to perform repeated actions on individual items.

NOTE: In order to use the Mass Actions block to duplicate content from one course to another, you must first have an editing role (teacher or staging manager) in the target course.

The Mass Actions block allows for the following mass or bulk editing actions:

  • Duplicate activities or resources
  • Delete activities or resources
  • Move activities or resources
  • Show or Hide activities or resources
  • Indent or outdent activities or resources

These editing options apply to any activity (e.g., assignment, quiz, forum) or resource (e.g., pdf file, page, URL) added to a Moodle course. It does not apply to content added to the section summary.

Select Items

Select Items

Instructors can select all the activities or resources in a course, all the items in a section, or individual items within a section or across sections.

First, add the Mass Actions block to your course and enable Edit mode.

To select or deselect multiple items, check or uncheck the box to the left of each individual item in your course.

To select all the items in a specific section, use the Select all in Section drop-down menu in the Mass Actions block to select the section.

You should see that all the items are now checked in that section.

NOTE: You can repeat this process to select items from more than one section at a time.

To select all the items in a course, click Select all in the Mass Actions block.

You should see that all the items on the course page are checked.

NOTE: You can use Deselect all to deselect all the checked items.

Edit Settings

Edit Activity/Resource Settings

You can make changes to multiple activities and resources at the same time with the Mass Actions block. Modify its settings to Delete, Show, Hide, Make Available, Indent, Outdent, etc.

Select all the activities and resources that you would like to change.

Select the setting you wish to use from the Mass Actions block.

The common settings are:

  • Show or Hide – Show or hide the selected items from students.
  • Make available but not shown on course page – Students will not see the items(s) listed on the course page but will still be able to access them (and associated files) if directly linked or accessed from the Gradebook.
  • Delete – Delete the selected items. You will see the following warning: Click “Delete” to confirm deleting the selected items. If you delete anything in error, these items can be found in the Recycle bin for a limited time.
  • Indent or Outdent – Move the selected items to the right or left to indicate a visual hierarchy.

The screen will refresh showing the results of the action(s) performed at the top of the course. All items will be deselected.

Move

Move Activities and/or Resources to another Section

The Mass Actions block will allow you to move multiple activities and/or resources to a different section of your course. This can be helpful if you are reorganizing your course.

Select all the activities and resources that you would like to move.

Select the Section—from the Move to section drop-down in the Mass Actions block—where you wish to move the selected items.

Click on the blue arrow to the right of the Move to section drop-down.

The screen will refresh to show the results of the action(s) performed at the top of the course. All items will be moved to the bottom of the section you chose and all items will be deselected.

NOTE: You may still need to reorganize the items within the section.

Duplicate in current course

Duplicate Activities and/or Resources in the Current Course

The Mass Actions block will allow you to duplicate multiple activities and/or resources in the current course. Depending on which option you choose, you can duplicate items to the bottom of the current section or a different section. This can be helpful if you want to create a consistent weekly format and reuse some of the common activities and/or resources.

Select all the activities and resources that you would like to duplicate.

If you wish to duplicate the activities and/or resources to the bottom of the current section, click on Duplicate.

OR

If you wish to duplicate the activities and/or resources to another section, use the Duplicate to section drop-down to select the section you wish to use and click on the blue arrow to its right.

Be patient; this process may take some time. When completed, the results of the action(s) performed will appear at the top of the course.

NOTE: If you are duplicating more than 5 items, this process will be executed in the background as you work; you will not see the items in your course immediately.

Duplicate to another course

Duplicate Activities and/or Resources to Another Course

The Mass Actions block will allow you to duplicate multiple activities and/or resources to another course. It is best to use Import to copy an entire course as it will copy section names and summaries. However, if you want to copy only a few items, this is the recommended method.

Select all the activities and resources that you would like to duplicate.

Select Duplicate to another course from the Mass Actions block.

Type in the name of the course in the Search drop-down until you find the course you wish to use.

Select the course you wish to use.

NOTE: You can only select one course at a time.

With the name of your course listed above the Search drop-down, click on the Choose course button.

NOTE: To use this feature, you need to be enrolled in the target course with a role that allows you to edit course content (Teacher or Staging Manager). If you try to copy to a course where you do not have editing permissions, you will receive an error message.

You can select to Keep original section number, choose a specific Section in the course, or New Section.

Then, click on the Choose section button.

Be patient; this process may take some time. When completed, the results of the action(s) performed will appear at the top of the course.

NOTE: If you are duplicating more than 5 items, this process will be executed in the background as you work; you will not see the items in your course immediately.

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