KB1151 - Adding a link to a course page

Linking your Moodle course out to other web pages is the most common way to refer your users out to external information.
(A links is also known as a Hyperlink or a URL.)

How Your Link Should Open for Your User

Some links should open inside the same tab, and other times, it's better to open up hyperlinks to external sites in a separate browser window or tab.

• If the page or file you want to link to is located inside your VCC Moodle course, then it's okay to let that link open up inside the same browser tab/window.
• However, if it's an external site, or a file like a PDF, you should open the link into a new tab or window so that your students don't lose the location of your Moodle course if they close their browser window.

How to add a Hyperlink (URL) in Moodle

Here's how to add an Internet link (a.k.a. hyperlink or URL) to your Moodle course:

1. From the topic where you wish to add the link, click on Add an Activity or Resource.
2. Choose URL.
3. On the page that appears, give your link a name in the Name field.
4. Paste the URL of the external page into the External URL field.
5. Click on Appearance, to open up the available options.
   1. If the link leads to an external website or opens a file like a PDF or something that will display in the browser, you should change the Display option from Automatic to New Window, so that it opens a new window and doesn't lead the student away from your course.
      Note: Any link that opens a new tab/window should include the text "(opens in a new tab/window)" in the link, so that screen reader software for the visually impaired will recite it to their user.
   2. If the link leads to another page inside your Moodle course, then you can leave the Display option at its default ("Automatic").
6. Click on Save and Return to Course.
7. Check your new link to make sure it functions as expected.