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Log in to Moodle

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This page explains how to log in to Moodle and find your courses, with troubleshooting tips for students, instructors, and TAs.

Log in to Moodle

  1. In your web browser, navigate to Moodle:
  2. In the Login block, click Log in with NetID. The login button will show at the top-right on a large screen, but on your phone, you may have to scroll down to find it. The UMass Amherst Web Login page will open.
  3. On the Web Login page, enter your NetID and Password and click the arrow (arrow - go) or press enter/return on your keyboard. Links to help with passwords are also on this page. When you have successfully logged in, you will be returned to Moodle and will see your name and Moodle avatar in the user menu at the top-right of the page.  
    Note: Do not bookmark the Web Login page. To bookmark Moodle in the Cloud, use umass.moonami.com.

Students and TAs who cannot log in to Moodle should contact the IT Support Center. Instructors who have trouble logging in should contact the Instructional Media Lab.

Important! Log out of Moodle

When you have finished using Moodle, log out and quit your browser

  1. To log out of Moodle, at the top-right of the page, click your name to open the User menu, and from the drop-down menu select Log out. The Web Logout page will open with the message "You have been logged out. Please close your browser to ensure the Web Auth cookies are destroyed."
    Note: You can also click Log out at the bottom of any Moodle page.
  2. Quit your browser to ensure your Web Login session is closed.
    This is a critical step on shared or public computers: If you do not quit your browser, for the next hour (when your login session expires), anyone using that browser on the computer you were using will have access to your accounts on the UMass services that use Web Login authentication.

Log out From Anywhere

If you forget to log out of Moodle on a public computer, you can log in from a different computer or mobile device and close any Moodle sessions that are still active.

  1. Log in to Moodle.
  2. At the top-right of the page, click your name to open the User menu, and from the drop-down select Profile. Your Profile page will open.
  3. On your Profile page, under Reports, click Browser sessions. The My active sessions page will open listing sessions that are still active.
  4. To log out from a session other than the Current session, under Action, click Log out. The session will be closed and removed from the My active sessions list.

Find Your Courses

Access Courses through the Navigation Tray

Once you have logged in to Moodle, from anywhere in Moodle, you can access courses that are open to you in the Navigation Tray (at left). 

  1. If your Navigation tray is collapsed, select the Navigation tray toggle (hamburger menu 3 horizontal lines, thus looks like a hamburger, top left). The tray will expand to show your courses. (Students see only courses that are open for student access.)
  2. Under My courses, select the course name you would like to open. The course page will open.

Access Courses from the My Courses Block (Home Page only)

  1. From the Moodle home page look for the My courses block (top-right on large screen, scroll down on small screens). Links to your courses appear in this block.  (Students see onlycourses that are open for student access.)
  2. Select the course name you would like to open. The course page will open.

Use Dashboard Links to Courses and Activities Requiring Attention

  1. If your Navigation tray is collapsed, select the Navigation tray toggle (hamburger menu 3 horizontal lines, thus looks like a hamburger, top left), and the Navigation tray will expand.
  2. In the Navigation tray, click Dashboard. The Dashboard will open. Note: The page may take a few moments to load.
  3. At the top of the Dashboard, underTimeline, activities requiring attention will be listed. 
    (Optional) Use the Due date menu to locate Overdue,  Filter menu to order activities: Choose between Sort by dates or Sort by courses
  4. Below the Timeline list, under Courses, you will find links to each Moodle course open to you. Select a Course name to open its course page.
    (Optional) Use the Filter menu to order courses. Choose between Sort by course name and Last Accessed

Troubleshooting Tips

If you do not see a course in the My courses block that you believe you are enrolled in or teaching, the reason may depend on your role in the class (student, instructor or TA):

Troubleshooting for Students

  • There may be up to a one-hour delay after a student registers for a class in SPIRE before that student can access the Moodle course.
  • The course may not yet be open to students. Be sure to check again after the first day of classes or ask your instructor.
  • The course may not use Moodle. Check your class schedule in SPIRE. If your course uses a Learning Management System click the LMS icon (Course URL Icon in Spire) to be taken to the correct system.
  • For more on student access to Moodle see Access to Moodle Courses for Students.

If you are still having problems finding your course, please contact the IT Support Center. You should also notify your instructor if you can not access a course after troubleshooting.

Troubleshooting for Instructors

  • You may not be listed as the course instructor of record in SPIRE. Confirm that you are listed correctly and have requested a Moodle course through SPIRE, and that you have received a confirmation from Academic Computing that your course has been created. For instructions on requesting a Moodle course through SPIRE see: Request a Moodle Course through SPIRE
  • A course that is not open to students will not initially show in your My courses block (top of the column on your right). To see these hidden courses, at the bottom of the My courses block, click Show Hidden Courses. The hidden course titles will appear in grayed-out font. The list of hidden courses will include:
    • Courses not released to students before the beginning of a semester.

    • Courses requested after the start of the semester (you must release these courses yourself; see Make your Moodle Course Available to Students).

    • Courses you taught in a previous semester which are no longer available to students.

If you have any problems requesting or finding your course, please contact the Instructional Media Lab as soon as possible.

Troubleshooting for Teaching Assistants

  • You may not be listed correctly in SPIRE. Confirm with the Academic Scheduling Representative in your department that you are listed in SPIRE as a Teaching Assistant in your instructor's course or Primary Instructor if you are in charge of a separate discussion/lab.
  • For more information, see Access to Moodle for Teaching Assistants.

If you are still having problems finding your course, please contact the IT Support Center. You should also notify your instructor if you can not access a course after troubleshooting.