Blocks allow the instructor to customize the course sidebar. Blocks have the capability of doing things such as: draw attention to a reading assignment, guest speaker event, or an upcoming quiz; post the course calendar; access specific activity types; see all enrolled students. The HTML block, in particular, is the most versatile because html code can be used to add even more features to the course.

Add a Block

1. Go to the course you would like to edit and turn editing on using the gear icon or the link in the Administration Block.
2. In the grey sidebar, scroll down to the bottom and click on the “Add Block” link.
   
3. Select the type of block you want to add from the pop-up menu. For this example, we will choose the HTML block.
   
4. Find the added block in the blocks column and click on the edit settings gear icon and choose “Configure Block” from the drop-down menu.
   

Configure Block

1. Input the block title
   
2. Add content. For the HTML block, we can add images, linked images, or customized content here.
   

Add Hyperlinked Image

1. To add a hyperlinked image, you need to have the image and the URL to the webpage you want to link.
   
2. In the content box, click on the image button.
   
3. Click on the “Browse Repositories” button and select upload a file.
   
4. Click on the “Choose File” button and choose your image file.
   
5. You can add a new title for the file in “Save As” or if the file is already well-named just click on “Upload this file.”
   
6. For an image in a block, make sure the image is resized to 200-350px in the first size box. Make sure the checkbox for auto-size is checked. This will make sure the image is resized evenly.
   
7. Add description text that will describe the image to people with disabilities using a screen reader. If the image is strictly decorative and does not add any information to the content, then check the box next to “Description not necessary.”
   
8. Click on the “Save Image” button.
   
9. You should see the image in the content box now.
   
10. To link that image to a website, click on the image so that it is highlighted.
    
11. Then select the chain link button. This is the hyperlink button.
    
12. A pop-up menu will appear, copy and paste the website’s URL.
    
13. Check the box next to “Open in a new window” and click on the “Create link” button.

Save Settings

1. Leave the default settings for the rest of the sections.
   
2. Click on the “Save Changes” button at the bottom of the page. The image should be added to the block. Go ahead and test the link or go back and adjust the image size until it looks right to you.
   

Move Block

1. Turn editing on using the gear icon or the link in the Administration Block.
   
2. Find the block you want to move and click-and-hold on the cross-shaped icon to drag and drop the block where you want it.
   
3. Or click on the cross-shaped icon. A pop-up box will appear with a list of the blocks you have in the sidebar. You will see them listed as, “To item ‘(insert block name here)’ ”
   
4. Click on the block you want to move the block under. For example, if you click on To item “Administration” then the block will appear above the Administration block.
   

Hide Block

1. Turn editing on using the gear icon or the link in the Administration Block.
   
2. Find the block you want to hide and click on the gear icon.
   
3. In the drop-down menu, click on the “Hide HTML block.”
   
4. This will make the block invisible to students. The instructor will see the block in the sidebar, but it will look blank.