Published on: 11/11/2024 · Last updated on: 02/01/2026
What is Noteable?
Noteable is a cloud-based service from EDINA that provides each student with a Jupyter environment for running Python or R code. It supports Jupyter Notebook, JupyterLab, and RStudio interfaces.
Staff can add a Noteable activity to their Moodle space: this allows students to access the Noteable environment and for staff gives them the ability to distribute, collect work and grade/autograde student work.
Why use Noteable?
- No need for students to install software locally. Students all use the same packages.
- Works in any web browser, reducing hardware and OS issues.
- Files are accessible anywhere with an internet connection.
- Students can download their work after the course.
- Teachers can distribute, collect, and grade work easily.
How to add a Noteable activity on Moodle
Access to Noteable is only through a Noteable Activity on Moodle, that a Moodle Teacher must first create. A Moodle course should only have one Noteable activity on the unit:
- If there is already a Noteable activity in a Moodle space: rename this Noteable activity and use this as the access portal.
- If you there is no Noteable activity in a Moodle space, then go to “Add an Activity of resource” and select “Noteable” from the list of activities. Give the Noteable activity an appropriate title (e.g. “[Unit code] Noteable access portal”) and an Activity description.
Accessing Noteable through Moodle
Staff/students access Noteable by clicking on the Noteable Activity in Moodle. This will authenticate the user and take you to the Noteable service. Then, you must select a personal notebook server from the dropdown (this defines the available libraries and tools for that session).
Tip: the Standard Python 3 uses the Jupyterlab interface with many common libraries installed (e.g. NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib) is a good starting place for most.
Direct Login
You cannot log in to Noteable directly. Access is only via Moodle.
Installed libraries and packages
- Each notebook servers has a pre-configured set of packages (see detailed list of Notebook packages).
- Students/staff can also install additional packages (via pip or CRAN), but these are temporary and must be reinstalled each session. See the Noteable – FAQ for more details.
- You can make a request for additional packages for the next semester through the Noteable Contact Us form.
Noteable help and support
- See the Noteable Guidance Resources and the Noteable FAQs.
- For service issues please use the Noteable – Contact Us form.
- University of Bath staff are recommended to join the Jupyterhub project MS Teams space, where we share tips and updates.
Effective teaching with Notebooks
There are many benefits to using Notebooks in learning and teaching: the Literate Programming approach [Knuth 1984, Ramsey 1994] allows students to engage with the narrative and results (potentially useful for mitigating the use of Generative AI within coding activities).
The Catalogue of Pedagogical Patterns in Teaching and Learning with Jupyter [2019] gives a wide range of ideas for structuring activities to challenge and engage students (beyond the gap fill in the blanks type Notebooks).
University of Bath staff are recommended to join the Jupyterhub project MS Teams space, where we share tips and will inform you of updates.