Add Twitter Widget to Moodle

A quick and easy way to add a twitter widget is to copy and paste the widget codes into Moodle’s HTML block but where does one start. Here is a quick guide on how to get what you need without much effort. These steps are also useful for those looking to add Twitter Widget to their website or blog such as WordPress or Blogger.

Step 1: Customise Your Twitter Widget

Go to http://twitter.com/about/resources/widgets.

Click on My Website to for the type of widget to grab then choose Profile Widget.

Customise your profile widget by going through the different tabs on the side bar starting with Settings > Preferences > Appearance > Dimensions

We recommend checking the tick box for auto width under Dimensions. You may click on Test settings at any time to preview the options taken. Once finished click Finish & Grab Code button. Select and copy the codes.

2. Add the Twitter Widget codes to Moodle’s HTML block

Login to Moodle and choose the page you would like your Twitter widget to appear. This could be the front page or a course page.

Turn on editing mode and add a HTML block. Once added, click on edit icon (hand icon) to edit the HTML block.

You may leave the Title field empty. Change to HTML editing mode by clicking on <> button for its content. Paste the code into content box and save your HTML block. Don’t worry if it does not appear to load on the side bar. Simply turn editing off and you should see the Twitter widget.

Adding Twitter Widget to WordPress Blog

Now for WordPress users, follow these simple instructions to get the Twitter widget onto your sidebar.

1. Follow Step 1 above then in a new window, login to WordPress as an administrator

2. Click on Appearance > Widgets

3. Depending on the type of theme used, there should be place holders for Sidebar and Footer

4. Add a Text widget by dragging and dropping the widget into the place holder

5. Copy and paste the code into a new added Text widget then click Save button. Title is optional.

View your WordPress blog to look at your ‘Freshly Pressed’ Twitter Widget.

We hope this simple tutorial will help those looking to add a Twitter Widget to their Moodle VLE.

As more and more schools are starting to use Twitter as means of communicating with parents and students, why not take this to the learning environment.

The second part of the tutorial shows steps to add a Twitter Widget to WordPress site. This is particularly useful if the WordPress theme used does not have a Twitter Widget for its Sidebar built in.

The fact is, both the Moodle block and Text widget (in WordPress) supports pure HTML codes allow for the integration of codes generated from Twitter itself.

We hope you find the article useful. Share this on Twitter and Facebook.

Author: Samuel J Tan

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