Ops: Teachers and TAs

Assigning instructional staff to courses is a critical operational task. Moodle provides two distinct roles for teaching staff. Choosing the right role ensures that staff have the tools they need without risking accidental deletion of course content.

1. Understanding Roles: Teacher vs. TA

Before assigning a user, you must decide on their level of access.

Role	Moodle Term	Capabilities	Best Used For...
Lead Teacher	Teacher	• Edit Content: Can add/delete assignments, quizzes, and files. • Grade: Can grade students. • Settings: Can change course settings and enrolment keys. • Enrol: Can add other users.	• The Professor or Instructor creating the course. • Curriculum designers. • Head Tutors who need full control.
Teaching Assistant (TA)	Non-editing teacher	• Grade Only: Can view submissions and enter grades. • Interact: Can post in forums and reply to students. • Restricted: Cannot delete materials or change course layout.	• Tutors responsible for marking. • Guest lecturers. • Administrative observers.

⚠️ Important: If you are unsure, always start by assigning the Non-editing teacher role. It is safer because they cannot accidentally delete course materials.

2. How to Assign Teachers/TAs

You assign staff using the same interface as student enrolment, but with a different role selection.

1. Navigate to the specific course.
2. Click the Participants tab.
3. Click the Enrol users button.
4. Select users: Search for the staff member's name or email.
5. Assign role:
   • Select Teacher for full access.
   • Select Non-editing teacher for TAs.
6. Click Enrol users.

3. Changing a Role (Promotion/Demotion)

If a TA needs to become a full Teacher (or vice versa), you do not need to remove them. You can edit their role in place.

1. Go to the Participants list.
2. Find the staff member.
3. In the Roles column, click the Pencil icon ✎.
4. To Add a Role: Click the dropdown arrow and select the new role (e.g., adding "Teacher").
5. To Remove a Role: Click the X next to the old role (e.g., removing "Non-editing teacher").
   • Note: A user should usually have only one role, not both.
6. Click the Save icon 💾 (Disk) next to the dropdown to confirm changes.

4. Common Scenarios

Scenario A: The "Content Designer"

• **Situation**: A staff member needs to upload files and set up quizzes but will not be teaching the students directly.
• **Action**: Assign as Teacher. They need editing rights to build the course.

Scenario B: The "Grader"

• **Situation**: A PhD student is hired to grade essays and answer forum questions.
• **Action**: Assign as Non-editing teacher. They do not need to alter the assignment settings or due dates.

Scenario C: The "Observer"

• **Situation**: A manager wants to check if the course is running smoothly but shouldn't touch anything.
• **Action**: Assign as Non-editing teacher. This gives them visibility into hidden items and grades without the risk of breaking the course.