Moodle’s new default theme, Boost, gives administrators and teachers better navigation and improved course editing.
Boost is the fresh, new default theme for Moodle 3.2. Boost refreshes the Moodle user interface and includes improvements to navigation and course editing.
Here we will have a look through the new Boost interface and also how the fresh theme will assist teachers and administrators in delivering more user friendly, interactive and engaging learning environments.
So let’s start with…
A fresh look and feel
Moodle’s newest Boost default theme gives users a clean-cut and content-focussed user interface.
A menu displaying essential navigation points such as dashboard, home, courses and site administration can now be collapsed and opened via a gear icon. The new default course layout without blocks makes for smoother switching from desktop to mobile app.
All of this frees up more screen space for users who want to focus on the site content.
All Moodle users can still navigate around the site as convenient navigation points are displayed at the top of every page.
This new Boost default theme aligns with the look and feel of the Moodle Mobile app, therefore users will get a more harmonised experience when switching between Moodle 3.2 on computers and mobile devices.
Boost is also a great new base for your own themes. With Bootstrap 4, built-in SAAS compiler, automated rtl support, preset files and new templates available, it’s easy to configure Boost and customise Moodle components.
Lastly, if, after installing Boost, users prefer the previous Moodle theme, you always have the option to switch back to the familiar old interface at any time without affecting your custom themes
Boost for administrators in Moodle 3.2
Administrators are now able to easily customise the Boost theme with custom brand colours, logo, font and much more in Moodle 3.2. The improved navigation in Boost also makes it easier for administrators to access admin areas.
In Boost, navigation and administration blocks are no longer displayed by default (although they are still available to use) and site administration is accessed from one link.
Please refer to the Boost for teachers video in the next section to see how the theme and new navigation work in a course with editing turned on.
Site administration is also now accessible from one link. Administrators can search for an admin area by searching for them or finding it in usefully organised tabs.
A new screen logo, which applies to all available themes in Moodle 3.2 – Clean, More and Boost – allows administrators to upload full and compact logos once only for basic branding, independent of the theme.
On the Boost settings screen, administrators can also change the brand colour and upload a theme preset file. Users can either use their own theme or one contributed by the community, available on the themes preset database on moodle.net
Finally, with advanced settings, administrators can add SCSS and CSS code to Boost preset files, making it easy to customise the new default theme.
Preview the new Boost theme for administrators through our video explainer below.
Boost for teachers in Moodle 3.2
Educators will enjoy the improvements that the new Boost theme in Moodle 3.2 brings to course editing and navigation.
The new Boost theme lets teachers avoid continuous and long scrolling down the page. Teachers will see links to important elements such as Participants, Competencies and Grades in the left side section of Boost in their Moodle sites, along with, further down, links back to their dashboard and to other courses.
This left drawer may be opened and closed by clicking the hamburger icon. Quick access to Enrolments is available from the Participant’s screen by clicking the gear icon.
The ‘More’ link in the Boost theme will take teachers to course administration areas such as Reports, Badges and the Question bank. Teachers can also benefit from quick access to the switch roles link from the user menu.
Editing existing activities and resources is easier now because the options are accessed from the gear icon top right. There’s no need to scroll down to a side block and the page is quickly updated.
Finally, editing is turned on from the gear menu located at the top right of the page, which is also where you can edit the course settings and access other important areas.
New courses in new Moodle 3.2 sites won’t display any blocks, as they are not shown when using the mobile app. However, teachers can still add them from the link in the nav drawer.
Moodle will continue to further develop Boost next year in response to user feedback.
Preview the new Boost theme in Moodle 3.2 by viewing our explainer video below.
- Download Moodle 3.2 at download.moodle.org
- Join the conversation on social by using #MoodleBoost
- Download our Boost in Moodle 3.2 explainer poster here: boost-in-moodle-3-2
- Find out about all Moodle 3.2 features list: https://docs.moodle.org/32/en/New_features
