This guide is designed to aid new teaching staff at the University on the ARK Learning Management System located at ark.divinity.edu.au.
It is written based on Moodle 4.1 functionality which the University upgraded to in December 2023.
Introducing ARK
ARK is the University of Divinity’s Learning Management System located at ark.divinity.edu.au. ARK is an online software solution “used in all courses and units of study as a means of supporting and enhancing student learning and facilitating access to learning materials.”1
On visiting the ARK page, you will be prompted to login.
Username and Password
The login credentials for ARK are the same as your login for Paradigm and the Library Hub.
For instructions on changing or resetting your password visit the Login and Password Guide or follow the links below the login form.
2 - The User interface
Learn how to navigate the ARK user interface and access user settings.
This document is an introduction to the ARK user interface. It is applicable to all staff and students of the University.
Navigating ARK
Screenshot of left navigation menu.
On first login, users are given a guided tour of the interface. This tour can be viewed again by clicking the ‘Reset user tour on this page’ link at the bottom left of the site.
The left navigation menu is collapsible. You can expand and collapse it by clicking on the three stacked horizontal lines in the top left corner. From the left navigation:
Dashboard will take you to the Dashboard which shows you a grid or list of units you are enrolled in, quick links to site announcements, library resources and support, a timeline of tasks to complete and items you have recently accessed.
Under My units are units you are enrolled in.
A navigation menu top right when logged in has quick links to other University sites. Resources links to Library Hub and the Style Guide. Support links to the Support Site and Support Forum. College Links links to the College Website and College Library.
A user menu top right when logged in give you access to useful ARK pages and settings. You can edit your profile and preferences from there, enable student view and log out of the site.
You can access messages and notification from the icons at the top right.
3 - Add profile picture
How to add a Profile Picture on ARK
This document explains how to add a Profile Picture on ARK and is applicable to all students of the University and staff teaching at the University.
Adding a profile picture will help people recognise you when you participate in activities on ARK such as forums.
Step 1: Login to ARK using your login email and password.
Step 2: Click on your name in the top right corner.
Step 3: Click Profile from the drop down menu.
Step 4: Under the heading ‘User details’, click Edit profile.
Step 5: Scroll down until you see the heading User picture.
Step 6: Click the Add… button. The button is an icon of a piece of paper.
Step 7: Click the Choose file button to Upload a picture from your computer.
Step 8: When you have located the picture you wish to upload, click on it.
Step 9: Click Upload this file.
Step 10: When you are done updating your profile, be sure to press the Update profile button at the bottom of the page to save your changes.
4 - About ARK
Key information about ARK software and further help resources.
ARK runs on Moodle software. In December 2023, the University upgraded from Moodle version 3.9 to Moodle version 4.1. Outside of this documentation, there are two authoritative sources of help for using Moodle:
MoodleDocs 4.1 - MoodleDocs is the extensive documentation site for Moodle with granular instructions on all functions of the software. (When using MoodleDocs, make sure that the help document matches the version of ARK. As of December 2023, ARK is using Moodle 4.1).
Moodle Academy - Moodle Academy provides a self-paced online learning program for using Moodle including certification. Parts of this Getting Started guide are based on Moodle Academy courses.
Moodle Pedagogy
Moodle is designed on a social constructionist pedagogy. In short, social constructionism holds that we learn best when we construct meaning for ourselves in dialogue with others.
Moodle aims to achieve this by providing Resources and Activities. Resources are materials that the student is presented by the instructor and Activities are materials that the students interact with in some way, either by themselves or collaboratively with other learners.
Visit MoodleDocs to learn more about the Philosophy and Pedagogy of Moodle.
