HTML Block — User Guide

The HTML block is a flexible block you can add to course pages, the dashboard, or other block areas. It shows custom content: either free-form text/HTML that you type or paste, or a template (e.g. welcome card, announcement alert, quick links, video player). Teachers and managers add and configure the block; learners see the result. This guide explains how to use it as an end user.

Who can use it?

Role	What they can do
Learners	View the block content on the page. They cannot add or edit the block.
Teachers / Managers	Add the HTML block to a course or dashboard, edit its title and content (template or text/HTML), set dimensions and options, and (if available) create and manage custom templates in the Template Builder.
Users (My learning)	If allowed by your site, users can add an HTML block to their own dashboard (My learning).

Where does the HTML block appear?

The block can be added to:

Course pages — In the block columns (e.g. left or right side) when you turn editing on and add a block.
Dashboard / My learning — When your site allows blocks there and you add an HTML block.
Other pages that support blocks (e.g. category, site home), depending on site settings.

You do not open a special URL; you add the block from the “Add a block” menu on the page where you want it.

Adding the HTML block (teachers / managers)

Go to the course or dashboard where you want the block.
Turn editing on.
In the block area (e.g. “Add a block”), choose HTML. The new block appears with a default title (e.g. “(new HTML block)”).
Click the gear icon (or “Configure”) on the block to open its settings.

Configuring the block content

In the block configuration you can choose:

Block title — Shown above the block. Leave blank to hide the title.
Select Template — Choose a ready-made template (e.g. Welcome Card, Announcement Alert, Info Box, Contact Card, Countdown Timer, Quick Links, Image Gallery, Video Player) or a custom template you created. When a template is selected, the block shows that template’s layout and styling. The content editor below is optional when a template is active.
No template — Leave “Select Template” on “No template (use content editor)”. Then use the Content editor to type or paste text and HTML. You can format text, add links and images, and embed media as the editor allows.
Block dimensions (if available) — Set width and height (e.g. Auto or custom values) and content overflow (visible, auto, hidden, scroll) to control how the block looks.
Additional CSS classes (if available) — Add extra CSS classes for theming.

Click Save changes to apply. The block will immediately show the template or the content you entered.

Templates

Templates are pre-designed layouts. When you select one:

The block displays that layout (e.g. a welcome card with gradient, an announcement banner, quick links grid, or video player).
Built-in templates are provided by the site. Your site may also offer custom templates created by administrators or other users in the Template Builder.
If your role has access, you can open Manage Templates or Template Builder to create, edit, duplicate, or delete custom templates. Those templates can then be chosen in the “Select Template” dropdown when editing an HTML block.

What learners see

Learners see the block in the sidebar (or wherever it was added) with:

The title (if you did not leave it blank).
The content — Either the chosen template (with its text, images, links, or interactive elements) or the text/HTML you entered in the content editor. They cannot change the content.

Use the block for welcome messages, announcements, quick links, contact info, embedded videos, or any custom HTML your site allows.

User journey (overview)

flowchart LR A[Turn editing on] --> B[Add HTML block] B --> C[Configure block] C --> D{Content type} D -->|Template| E[Select template] D -->|Free text| F[Use content editor] E --> G[Save] F --> G G --> H[Block visible to learners]

Tip: To hide the block title, leave the “Block title” field blank. To quickly try different looks, choose a template first; you can switch to “No template” later and use the content editor instead if you prefer plain HTML.