Frequently Asked Questions

for students
On this page

Overview --  General Info  -- Technology  --  Access and Navigation  --  Course Content  --  Emails & Notifications Assignments and Grades  --  Quizzes   

Overview

The field of Learning is constantly expanding and evolving. 

So we decided to collect ODeL related Questions you could possibly have under one roof. From types of training to devices and engagement, below you’ll find all your burning questions about eLearning, answered.  Stay put — and feel free to bookmark this article for whenever you want to revisit some of the eLearning questions and answers found here.

 

General Info & Technology

Africa International University utilizes a blend of traditional face-to-face instruction and Open and Distance e-Learning (ODeL) through Moodle LMS, offering flexibility and accessibility to students.

Yes, our courses are accessible from anywhere with an internet connection, allowing students to study weekly at their own pace and convenience.

ODeL Login & Course Access

To access the ODeL portal, visit https://odel.aiu.ac.ke and navigate to the login page. Enter your username and password provided by the university. This can be done via the traditional browser .

You may also use the moodle app to access the portal - Download it either on the Google Playstore, (for your phone) or Microsoft store (for your computer).

There could be many reasons but the most probable is you have simply forgotten your password, are trying the wrong one or are entering it incorrectly. 

Some other things to think about include:

- Does your username or password contain a mixture of upper and lower case letters? It should be keyed in exactly as it was set.

- Is your account disabled due to administrative issues?

- Are cookies enabled on your browser?

'You can reset your password by clicking on the "Forgot Password" link on the login page. Follow the instructions to reset your password.

You may also access all your current and previous courses on the ODeL dashboard on login.

Locate or search for the desired course (you can click ''My courses' menu link) and click on the course name. 

IMPORTANT : Only courses available in the current semester are listed on the my course menu. From this semester 3 - 23/24, all units registered for in the student portal will appear in also lead to your enrollment for the course on the ODeL portal.

Once you are enrolled in a course, it will appear under "My courses" any time that your are logged into that Moodle site.

NB: -  If your teacher has given you an enrollment key,  you may search for the course on the current semester courses, click on it and enter the enrollment key when prompted, and then  click Enroll me in this course.

'My Courses' block if it has been added to the page you are on
Go back to the homepage (see below) and then use the main course block (if it has been added!)

'Use the navigation bar at the top left of the page or the button at the very bottom of the course

'If you are not already enrolled in a course you can search for it by name and description.

Course Content

Once logged in to the ODeL portal, navigate to your course dashboard, where you'll find all the relevant course materials, including lectures, readings, and assignments.

You have probably clicked on the hide icon. To reveal all of the other weeks / topics you need to click on the Show All icon which you will see in the right margin of the week / topic. 

You can also use the drop-down icon underneath the displayed week / topic to jump to a hidden section.

Although course materials are primarily accessed online through the ODeL portal through the browser you may download certain resources for offline viewing as permitted by your instructor.

Better still, You may access the content offline if you have  access via the moodle app and have downloaded the entire or part of course.

Emails/Notifications

You will receive notifications via email and within the ODeL portal regarding course announcements, deadlines, and other important information.

Yes, you can customize your notification preferences within the ODeL portal settings to receive notifications via email, on-site messages, or both.

  • Chances are that your email address in your profile is either wrong or disabled. 
  • It could also be that you are not subscribed to the forums that are generating emails. 

E-mails/ notifications are an essential part of the way Moodle works. They are used to keep you up to date with what is going on. If you wish to reduce the amount of emails you get you could:

- Edit your profile and change your e-mail settings to digest
- Unsubscribe from non-essential forums (although they are there for a reason!)
- Disable your e-mail address in your profile although this is not recommended and may go against in house rules.

Assignments & Grades

To submit assignments, navigate to the respective course module or assignment section within the ODeL portal. Follow the instructions provided by your instructor for submission guidelines.

This is either because:

- The assignment has now closed.
- The assignment is not yet open.
- You already uploaded something and the settings prevent re-submissions


Generally, common file formats such as PDF, Word documents, or PowerPoint presentations are accepted for assignment submissions. However, always check your course instructions for any specific format requirements.

There are many ways you can access their feedback :

- The most common method is by simply going to the same place where you uploaded the work. 

- Another common method is to follow the link in the recent activity block (if the teacher has included it on the course). 

- Another method would be to access the grade book and then follow the link for the required assignment. 

- Depending upon how the assignment was set up, you may receive an email when it has been marked with a direct link to the feedback..

'Don't panic! 

The Moodle gradebook takes into account unmarked and unsubmitted work. In other words, you start with zero and as you progress through the course and complete graded activities the percentage will steadily rise.

Quizzes

Quizzes can be accessed from the course dashboard or designated quiz section. Click on the quiz title to begin, and follow the instructions to answer the questions.

Quizzes may have time limits set by the instructor. Review your quiz instructions for details on timing. Depending on the course policy, you may or may not be allowed to retake quizzes.

That depends upon what you want to do ....

You might exceed the quiz time limit.

This should never happen, because the count-down timer should submit the quiz automatically when time expires, and then the Moodle server should process you submission promptly. 

However, if the server is overloaded and running slowly, your responses may not be processed until after to 'too late' cut-off time, and so you will not receive marks for those questions.

Support

Before reaching out for support, you are encouraged to visit the odel support page and review/use the self-help options provided. If the issue is irresolvable on your end you may contact our support teams using the various means provided.

For technical assistance, contact our ODeL/IT support teams at --- You can't use shortcodes inside element ---. They can help troubleshoot any issues you may encounter while using the ODeL portal. 

If the issue relates to accessing course materials, you are advised to contact your course lecturer. 

Yes, academic support is available through your course instructors, who are accessible via email or virtual office hours. Additionally, the ODeL department provides support services to assist you throughout your academic journey.

Extra Resources

'Access to additional resources and library materials may vary depending on your course requirements and institution's resources. 

You can typically find links to library databases and other resources within your course modules or through the university library website.

 
Last modified: Monday, 15 April 2024, 12:15 PM