Course-specific workspace

MyCourses is a Moodle-based learning environment (version 4.5), which can be accessed with Aalto- or HAKA-account. MyCourses is integrated with the study information system Sisu: course workspaces are created automatically based on the data from Sisu. Students and teachers receive workspace membership (role) based on the data from Sisu.  

Each course implementation has its own workspace. You can find your courses in MyCourses from the list of My Own courses in the upper row. 

MyCourses imports course information from Sisu, including the course name, calendar events (such as lectures and exercises), and user details for both students and teachers.

The workspace initially includes just one section and an Announcements area. Teachers have the flexibility to customize the workspace according to their preferences. The course workspace is versatile, enabling announcements, discussions, material sharing, assignment management, and grading. Course evaluations are conducted within MyCourses, and overall grades can be transferred to Sisu.

If you're unable to access your workspace after logging in, verify that you are registered as the course teacher in Sisu. If you are a course assistant and cannot access the workspace, please contact the responsible teacher of the course.

Students are assigned a student role in the workspace once they have registered in Sisu and their registration has been approved. 

If you can access MyCourses but cannot locate your course workspace, please contact Teacher Services. We will verify that the workspace has been created based on the data from Sisu.

Explore: 

• MyCourses learning environment introduction video, in English (7 min)
• Study the basics of using MyCourses independently, duration approx. 2-3 hours:
  Course: MyCourses basics self-study course 2024 |

More information:

• Sisu instructions for teachers: frontpage|Aalto

How to log in

https://mycourses.aalto.fi/

Log in to MyCourses using your Aalto-account. The system can be accessed with accounts from all Finnish universities and higher education institutions (so-called HAKA-account).

Forgotten password? → password.aalto.fi

It is not possible to create local accounts in MyCourses. Under certain conditions, external users can be granted guest credentials from Aalto University. 

Browser requirements

We recommend keeping your browser up to date. We regularly test MyCourses on Safari, Firefox and Internet Explorer.

The current version of Moodle in MyCourses is 4.5 (starting from 6/2025).

Read more: https://moodledev.io/general/releases/4.5

Roles and content visibility

User must have a role in the workspace in order to participate in activities (discussions, tasks). By default, Aalto/HAKA users can see the contents of workspaces, but they cannot participate in activities or see discussions or notifications, for example. 

Roles in MyCourses are typically automated based on Sisu. Participants can also be added manually to the MyCourses workspace or via self-registration key in exceptional cases. 

Teachers can view the Participants list, which includes students and teachers, sorted by roles, groups, and last visit time. This list is not visible to students.

The participants list can be accessed from the menu on the Main course page. 

Teachers can restrict access to the workspace content.

Non-logged-in user or Guest 

A guest is a non-logged-in user, i.e. "anyone"

• The guest does not have a role in the workspace and cannot participate in activities or discussions.
• Guest access is no longer the default setting in new workspaces (since 2024). However, the teacher can allow guest access: Participants -> Enrolment methods -> drop-down menu  -> Guest access, enable the eye icon.
   

Logged-in Aalto / HAKA user (authenticated user) 

• A logged-in Aalto or HAKA user can view all workspaces and materials that are not restricted in visibility, but they cannot participate in activities or discussions.
• Read more: Restricting content visibility only for students of the course 

Course workspace roles

Student

• A student is someone enrolled in the course and receives this role through registration in Sisu.
• Students can engage in activities such as submitting assignments and participating in discussions.
• Teachers can view students on the Participants list, along with their roles and any group memberships.
• A student's role is suspended if they cancel their registration for the course after the registration period has ended or if they discontinue the course in Sisu.
• Read more about registrations in Sisu: Sisu instructions for teachers: frontpage | Aalto University

Teacher

• The teacher's role is assigned through Sisu.
• Teachers can modify the workspace and evaluate assignment submissions.
• It is also possible to add this role manually in MyCourses.

Teacher (MC)

• This role is equivalent to the teacher role, but it is added manually in MyCourses.  (The standard Teacher role can also be manually added in MyCourses and used in place of the Teacher (MC) role).
• The Teacher (MC) can modify the workspace and evaluate assignment submissions.
• Note: The Teacher (MC) role does not have access to course feedback or certain activities, like FeedbackFruits.

Non-editing teacher 

• In this role, the teacher can evaluate assignments but is unable to edit the workspace.
• The role can be added in MyCourses.
   

Course assistant (workspace assistant)

• This role has the same rights as the teacher but is added manually in MyCourses and can be used, for example, when preparing the course workspace. 

Category assistant

• The category assistant has editing rights for all courses in the category (school or department level).
• The role is granted upon request with the approval of the school or department head. The role is intended for service staff who may be responsible for course support functions.