Connect and learn with Moodle
3 December 2020
Perhaps the most important software you will use studying at UCL is Moodle, UCL's education platform or 'virtual learning environment'.
![A laptop](https://www.ucl.ac.uk/students/sites/students/files/styles/large_image/public/moodle.png?itok=nbrBr8YO)
Almost all taught modules have a space on Moodle which acts as a central hub of information, materials and activities. You can login to Moodle on any of the major browsers, from a computer, laptop or smart device.
Your tutors will use Moodle in different ways, but to help you get acquainted, below we outline some of the common tasks that can be completed on Moodle.
Get access to your course content
On Moodle, you can download lecture slides, course notes, activity sheets, you name it! You can even download common files in alternative formats such as audio (Mp3) and eReader format (ePub).
Moodle is also the place to go to watch lecture recordings. You can access recordings when it suits you, start and stop at the important moments and add your own notes.
Access a range of different technologies
At UCL you will get the chance to use a range of innovative technologies as you learn. You could be stepping into a virtual lab, engaging in a video discussion with your lecturer and peers in Blackboard Collaborate, responding to a pop quiz on Mentimeter, or writing a reflective blog on UCL Reflect. No matter where you end up, you will most likely start by logging into Moodle.
Stay organised
Course content on Moodle is usually laid out by weeks or topics. Many activities and resources include indicators of participation effort so that you can plan your study time (e.g. this article should take you 10 minutes to read). Moodle helps you stay on top of your schedule and access information quickly through its calendar, which shows upcoming assessments and other events, and links to the Common Timetable and to Library Resources.
Connect and learn
Moodle is a hub of communication. You can stay up to date by checking the Announcement Forum for your course to see if your tutor has made any important posts.
You can also discuss and learn on the Moodle discussion forums with other students and your tutor. You can share ideas, debate, answer or ask questions, receive feedback, and practice communicating your knowledge on everything from the “modern significance of Don Quixote” to “find the derivative in respect to z of cos(z) x (cos(4z)”.
Submit assignments and receive feedback
Moodle is where you can complete quizzes and submit assignments, both written essays and video presentations. Submissions are often sent to Turnitin, a technology which scans student submissions to check for text-matching. As a student you’ll get to use Turnitin to check your assignment is properly referenced before you submit. Moodle is also where your tutors return feedback to you, which can include annotated feedback, and video and audio comments.
Learn more about Moodle
This is just a taste of how Moodle supports student learning. If you already have your UCL login, why not explore Moodle further and learn about UCL's other learning technologies, by signing up to the Connected Learning at UCL Moodle course.
Last revised: 7 September 2021
Eliot Hoving, Learning Technologist, ISD Digital Education