Course Calculator block for Moodle

block_course_calculator is a Moodle block plugin that provides a calculator directly in the block region. It is useful on course pages and activity pages where learners need a calculator without leaving the current Moodle page.

Features

• Per-block mode selection: Basic or Scientific
• Keyboard and mouse input
• Windows Calculator inspired behaviour in Basic mode
• Scientific functions such as powers, square root, factorial, trigonometry, logarithms and constants
• Five-row calculation history
• Memory actions: MC, MR, M+, M-
• Readable grouped number display for large values
• Copying from the display preserves a plain numeric value without visual grouping spaces
• Dot decimal output for Moodle quiz answer compatibility

Requirements

• Moodle 4.5 through 5.2

Installation

Install the plugin using Moodle's standard plugin installation process:

1. Log in as an administrator.
2. Go to Site administration > Plugins > Install plugins.
3. Upload the plugin zip package.
4. Follow Moodle's installation and upgrade steps.

After installation, turn editing on and add the Course Calculator block to the required course or activity page.

Configuration

Each block instance can be configured separately.

• Calculator mode: Basic or Scientific

This allows one page to use a simple calculator while another uses the scientific layout.

The calculator always displays and copies decimal values with a dot separator, for example 1.1428571429. This is intentional: Moodle quiz answer validation can depend on the active language pack, and dot decimals are the safest output format when answers may be pasted into quizzes using different interface languages. The calculator still accepts comma decimal input from the keyboard and pasted values.

Recommended use

This plugin is intended for situations where the calculator needs to remain visible while the learner is working on another activity. For quiz usage, make sure your quiz layout is configured to show blocks during attempts.

Automated testing

The plugin includes Behat acceptance tests covering the main user flows in both calculator modes.

Current automated coverage includes:

• basic calculations
• grouped number display
• dot decimal output
• C, CE and DEL
• percentage calculations
• memory actions
• scientific square root
• scientific functions and constants using calculator buttons
• block visibility on a quiz activity page
• history rendering

Example Behat command:

vendor/bin/behat --config /path/to/behat.yml --profile=chrome blocks/course_calculator/tests/behat/calculator.feature

Development notes

• The block is implemented with Moodle ES modules compiled to AMD
• No external calculator libraries are required
• The calculator does not use JavaScript eval

License

GPL v3 or later