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  5. Ten steps to help prepare for the start of semester

Ten steps to help prepare for the start of semester

Published on: 05/09/2023 · Last updated on: 04/07/2025

1. Check you have access to Moodle spaces

Ensure you can access all Moodle spaces for the units you’re teaching on. If you can’t find a unit or aren’t sure if you’ve been given the correct role, check with your Programme Administration team to confirm you’re listed as Unit Convenor or Additional Teacher in the SAMIS roles tool.

Enrolments begin 3 weeks before the start of semester:

  • AY and S1 units: from 8 September 2025
  • S2 units: from 12 February 2026

Need access earlier? Ask a colleague with access to enrol you manually.

Managing staff enrolments on Moodle using data from SAMIS

Annual Moodle administration cycle overview

2. Hide your Moodle space while editing

Keep your Moodle space hidden from students while you’re preparing it. It will remain visible to those enrolled as Teachers.

How to hide your Moodle space

3. Check that students have access to Moodle spaces

Students are automatically enrolled to Moodle from SAMIS 3 weeks before the semester starts, provided unit details are entered.

  • Enrolments begin 3 weeks before the start of the semester:
    • AY and S1 units: from 8 September 2025
    • S2 units: from 12 February 2026
  • If students are missing, confirm with your Programme Admin team that the Unit Convenor is listed in SAMIS.
  • You may still see students from last year — they’ll be automatically unenrolled before teaching begins, or you can adjust the unenrolment date manually.
  • The most common reason students lack access to Moodle is incomplete registration online.

Managing Moodle enrolments in the SAMIS Integration block.

Annual Moodle administration cycle overview

4. Tidy your Moodle space

If you’re reusing a Moodle space, take time to tidy it up, review, and streamline. We recommend resetting it to remove students’ data:

  • A snapshot of content and data is taken every August – check you have everything you need in the Moodle archive or take a manual backup.
  • Delete old, unused, or hidden activities that make it hard to navigate.
  • Reset Forums and Quizzes to permanently remove old student data.

Resetting Moodle activity settings ready for a new cohort

5. Add fresh content

Add new activities and resources. Author content directly in Moodle, upload files from your computer, or import content from another Moodle space.

An introduction to Moodle activities and resources.

How to copy (import) resources and activities between Moodle spaces.

6. Create fresh assignment activities.

It’s important to NEVER re-use or duplicate old assignment activities, as student data can become corrupted. Always create a new Assignment activity and delete old ones (first check you have the copies/data you need or it’s in the Moodle archive).

How to create an assignment in Moodle.

7. Re-use old video recordings

Move any recordings you want to reuse into this year’s Moodle-linked folder in Panopto. Moodle-linked folders for the 2025-26 academic year will be created in September 2025.

If previous cohorts still need access, move and share the recordings with them separately.

Share recordings with multiple cohorts of students.

8. Schedule lecture recordings

Staff listed as Unit Convenors and Additional Teachers in SAMIS can:

Scheduled Lecture Capture guidance

9. Unhide your Moodle space when ready

Don’t forget to unhide your Moodle space when it’s ready: this always catches some people out!

How to unhide your Moodle space

10. Know where to find help

For Technology Enhanced Learning support:

Other support:

  • Department programme admin teams (staff and student course queries).
  • IT Service Desk (staff and student IT issues and queries).
  • Academic Registry (student registration queries).

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