Making sure you've got editing turned on, scroll down the course main page and look for the Blocks Add... block, usually under the last block on the right-hand side of the page:

2. Click on Add... and select HTML from the list. Moodle will add a new HTML block to the page:

3. To configure the new HTML block, click on the Configuration icon:

4. ... and you're taken to the Configuring an HTML block page. Give your new block a title and then add in your content. When you're done, press the Save changes button. Here's my new welcome message (including an animated GIF):

5. But a welcome message is no good hiding down in the bottom right-hand corner of my course main page. Let's move it to the top left using the Move left and Move up icons:

6. Click on the move icons and I can get my message positioned just where I want it:

We've added a new HTML block to the course main page to provide a welcome message to our students. Any HTML can be added in there. What...