Dashboard Overview¶
Your Personal Learning Hub in PulseLMS¶
The Dashboard is your central command center in PulseLMS. It provides quick access to your courses, upcoming activities, messages, and important notifications.
Table of Contents¶
- Dashboard Layout
- Course Overview
- Timeline
- Calendar
- Recently Accessed Courses
- Private Files
- Customizing Your Dashboard
- Dashboard Blocks
Dashboard Layout¶
The Dashboard is organized into several key areas:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Navigation Bar [User] │
├───────────────┬─────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │ │
│ Navigation │ Main Content Area │
│ Drawer │ │
│ │ ┌─────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ - Dashboard │ │ Course Overview Block │ │
│ - My Courses │ │ │ │
│ - ... │ └─────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │ │
│ │ ┌─────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ │ Timeline Block │ │
│ │ │ │ │
│ │ └─────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │ │
└───────────────┴─────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Key Areas¶
| Area | Description |
|---|---|
| Navigation Bar | Site navigation, search, notifications, messages, user menu |
| Navigation Drawer | Quick links to dashboard, courses, and site areas |
| Main Content | Configurable blocks showing your information |
| Block Region | Additional blocks (right side on wider screens) |
Course Overview¶
The Course Overview block is the primary feature of your dashboard, showing all courses you're enrolled in.
View Options¶
Click the view selector to change how courses are displayed:
| View | Description |
|---|---|
| Card | Visual cards with course images |
| List | Compact list format |
| Summary | Cards with course descriptions |
Filtering Courses¶
Use the dropdown filter to show:
| Filter | Shows |
|---|---|
| All | Every course you're enrolled in |
| In progress | Active courses (between start and end dates) |
| Past | Courses past their end date |
| Future | Courses that haven't started yet |
| Starred | Courses you've marked as favorites |
| Hidden | Courses you've hidden from view |
Sorting Courses¶
Sort your courses by: - Course name - Alphabetical order - Last accessed - Most recently visited first - Short name - By course code
Course Actions¶
Hover over a course card to access: - Star - Mark as favorite - Hide - Remove from default view - Access - Go to the course
Starring Courses¶
To star a course: 1. Hover over the course card 2. Click the star icon 3. The course now appears in your "Starred" filter
Hiding Courses¶
To hide a course from your default view: 1. Hover over the course card 2. Click the three-dot menu 3. Select "Hide from view" 4. Access hidden courses via the "Hidden" filter
Timeline¶
The Timeline block shows upcoming activities and deadlines from all your courses.
Timeline Views¶
| View | Description |
|---|---|
| Sort by dates | Chronological list of upcoming items |
| Sort by courses | Grouped by course |
Timeline Filters¶
| Filter | Description |
|---|---|
| All | All upcoming activities |
| Overdue | Past-due items needing attention |
| Next 7 days | Due within the week |
| Next 30 days | Due within the month |
| Next 3 months | Longer-term deadlines |
| Next 6 months | Extended view |
Activity Types in Timeline¶
The timeline shows: - Assignments - Submission deadlines - Quizzes - Open and close dates - Forum posts - Due dates for graded forums - Events - Calendar events - Any activity with a deadline
Taking Action¶
Click any timeline item to: - Go directly to the activity - View details and requirements - Submit or complete the activity
Calendar¶
The Calendar block provides a monthly view of events and deadlines.
Event Types¶
Events are color-coded:
| Color | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | Course | Activity deadlines, course events |
| Red | Site | Site-wide announcements |
| Yellow | Group | Group-specific events |
| Green | User | Personal events you've created |
Calendar Navigation¶
- Click arrows to move between months
- Click a date to see that day's events
- Click an event to view details
Adding Personal Events¶
- Click on a date in the calendar
- Select New event
- Fill in event details:
- Event title
- Date and time
- Duration
- Description
- Repeat options (if applicable)
- Click Save
Exporting Calendar¶
- Click the calendar settings icon
- Select Export calendar
- Choose format (iCal)
- Import into external calendar apps
Subscribing to Calendars¶
- Click calendar settings
- Select Manage subscriptions
- Add external calendar URLs
- Calendars sync automatically
Recently Accessed Courses¶
This block shows courses you've visited recently, providing quick access to continue where you left off.
Features¶
- Shows last 3-10 courses accessed
- Displays time of last access
- One-click navigation to course
Accessing Recent Courses¶
Simply click any course in the list to return to it immediately.
Private Files¶
The Private Files block provides access to your personal file storage in PulseLMS.
Using Private Files¶
- Click Private files in the dashboard
- Upload files using drag-and-drop or file picker
- Organize with folders
- Access from any course
Storage Quota¶
Your private files have a storage limit set by administrators. Check your usage: 1. Go to Private files 2. View quota indicator at the bottom
Using Files in Courses¶
Private files can be used in: - Forum posts - Assignment submissions - Any activity accepting file uploads
Customizing Your Dashboard¶
Enabling Customization¶
- Click Customize this page button (if available)
- The page enters edit mode
- Make your changes
- Click Stop customizing this page
Rearranging Blocks¶
- Enter customization mode
- Drag blocks by their title bar
- Drop in desired location
- Changes save automatically
Removing Blocks¶
- Enter customization mode
- Click the delete icon on the block
- Confirm removal
Note: Removed blocks can be re-added later.
Adding Blocks¶
- Enter customization mode
- Open the block drawer
- Select a block to add
- Position as desired
Resetting Dashboard¶
To restore default layout: 1. Enter customization mode 2. Click Reset page to default 3. Confirm the reset
Dashboard Blocks¶
Standard Blocks¶
| Block | Description |
|---|---|
| Course Overview | All enrolled courses |
| Timeline | Upcoming activities and deadlines |
| Calendar | Monthly event calendar |
| Recently Accessed Courses | Quick course access |
| Private Files | Personal file storage |
| Online Users | Who's currently online |
| Latest Badges | Recently earned badges |
Optional Blocks¶
Depending on site configuration:
| Block | Description |
|---|---|
| Starred Courses | Favorite courses only |
| Learning Plans | Competency-based learning |
| Mentees | Users you mentor |
| RSS Feeds | External content feeds |
| HTML | Custom content |
Block Settings¶
Many blocks have configuration options: 1. Click the gear icon on the block 2. Adjust settings 3. Save changes
Dashboard Tips¶
For Students¶
- Check the Timeline daily - Never miss a deadline
- Star important courses - Quick access to current work
- Use the Calendar - Export to your phone for reminders
- Hide completed courses - Keep your view clean
For Instructors¶
- Monitor Timeline - See what students see
- Check Recent Courses - Quick access to active courses
- Use Calendar - Add events for office hours
- Review Online Users - Know who's active
Productivity Tips¶
- Set browser bookmark to Dashboard
- Enable email notifications for important deadlines
- Review Dashboard at start of each day
- Keep courses organized with stars and hides
- Use filters to focus on current work
Mobile Dashboard¶
On mobile devices, the Dashboard adapts: - Blocks stack vertically - Navigation via hamburger menu - Touch-friendly interactions - Swipe between views
Troubleshooting¶
Courses Not Appearing¶
If a course is missing from your dashboard: 1. Check the filter (might be set to "Starred" only) 2. Look in "Hidden" courses 3. Verify you're enrolled in the course 4. Contact the instructor or administrator
Timeline Empty¶
If no items appear in Timeline: 1. You may have no upcoming deadlines 2. Try different date filter 3. Check if activities have due dates set
Calendar Not Showing Events¶
- Check event type filters
- Verify you're enrolled in relevant courses
- Check the correct month
Can't Customize Dashboard¶
Customization may be disabled by administrators. Contact your site administrator if needed.
Keyboard Navigation¶
Navigate the Dashboard efficiently:
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
Tab |
Move between blocks |
Enter |
Activate selected item |
Arrow keys |
Navigate within blocks |
Esc |
Close open menus |
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