Initial setup of course,
adding resources & activities,
overriding permissions, etc.

Starting from the default Moodle page...
Click "Turn editing on"

If your profile says Ajax & Javascript: "Yes: use advanced web features" you will see the following screen
and will be able to drag & drop blocks using the mouse.
For example, place the mouse over the title of the "ONLINE USERS" block
and note that it changes to a "drag-drop" cursor."
Drag it over to the left and drop it where you want. Simple eh?

otherwise (if your profile says Ajax & Javascript: "No: use basic web features") you will see something like this...
note the arrow icons under the block titles; these move the block in the direction indicated.
For example, click the left-facing arrow under the title of the "ONLINE USERS" block
to move it into the left-most column. Simple, but somewhat slow eh?

Use the "BLOCKS"  "Add..." listbox to add a "RECENT ACTIVITY" block and an HTML block
 

Click the red cross next to "LATEST NEWS" & "ACTIVITIES" to delete those blocks.
(Deleted blocks can be added back again later using the "BLOCKS"  "Add..." listbox)

Rearrange the blocks as you want - I prefer them all on the left (sadly the add blocks listbox remains on the right in edit mode!)

Click the little notepad and pencil to edit/configure the item it is next to, e.g. the HTML block...

Select "Forum" from the "Add an activity..." listbox in week zero...

Fill in the "Forum name" & "Forum introduction" (here Assistants & Lecturers Only" & "Private discussion area...")
Most of the defaults will be fine, however, ensure...
Groups are set to "no groups" so everyone can join in one big conversation
and, since we want this forum to be for teachers only, set Visible to "Hide" so students can't see it!
Note: Rather than relying on the forum being "hidden" from students to stop them seeing it,
it may be better to explicitly change the permissions for the student role (use "Override permissions" and "prevent" students to "View discussions", see below).
Once this is done the forum can be made visible, but students will not be able to enter it.

Click the "eye" icon next to an item to hide (& unhide) it.
For example, click the eye next to the "News & Announcements" forum, to hide it from students.
(we won't be using this for our course -which is why we already deleted the latest news block.)
(you could actually delete the forum entry from week zero too,
but getting it back is a little trickier, so I suggest you leave it for now.)
Click "Turn editing off" to see the result...

Click the "Switch role to" and select "Student" to see the page as students will...
note they cannot see the hidden forums!
(click "Return to my normal role" to continue.)

Add further (public, visible) forums,
For example:

• "General course-related discussions" to allow everyone to interact on course-related issues,
• "Interesting computer news & research" enabling everyone to pass on interesting snippets they came across, and
• "Social, Ethical & Professional Issues in Computing" which provides a space for debate on controversial issues.
  (At least initially, I usually restrict the topics open for debate so as to better focus attention on the real issues.
  Do this using role override permissions by removing the option for students to add new topics in this forum.)

To stop students starting/adding new discussion topics in a forum
go to the forum, eg.

Click the "Update this forum" button (top right)

Click "override permissions"

Click "student" (or whatever role you wish to change permissions for)

And select the "PREVENT" option for "Start new discussions"
and click "Save changes"

The overview now shows one override for students...

Returning to the main course page, select student role
and view the forum again to confirm that students can no longer start new topics!
note that they will still be able to reply to topics the teacher does create
and that students can still start new topics in the other forums.

Happy Moodling