course.php

<?php
/**
 * Ned SideBar block page. Dummy blank page to display course context block
 */

// Include required files.
require_once(dirname(__FILE__) . '/../../config.php');

global $DB, $PAGE, $OUTPUT;

// Gather form data.
$courseid = required_param('courseid', PARAM_INT);

// Determine course and context.
$course = $DB->get_record('course', array('id' => $courseid), '*', MUST_EXIST);

// Set up page parameters.
$PAGE->set_course($course);
$PAGE->requires->css('/blocks/side_bar/styles.css');
$PAGE->set_url(
    '/blocks/side_bar/course.php',
    array(
        'courseid' => $courseid,
    )
);

$context = context_course::instance($course->id);
$PAGE->set_course($course);
$PAGE->set_context($context);
$title = $course->shortname . get_string('pagetitle', 'block_side_bar');
$PAGE->set_title($title);
$PAGE->set_heading($title);
$PAGE->navbar->add($title);
$PAGE->set_pagelayout('standard');

// Check user is logged in and capable of grading.
require_login($course, false);

$blockmanager = $PAGE->blocks;
$blockmanager->add_region('content');
$blockmanager->load_blocks(true);

// Check if block instance does not yet exist
$gsexists = false;
foreach ($blockmanager->get_regions() as $region) {
    foreach ($blockmanager->get_blocks_for_region($region) as $block) {
        if ($block->instance->blockname == "side_bar") {
            $gsexists = true;
        }
    }
}
if (!$gsexists && !$blockmanager->is_block_present('side_bar')) {
    $blockmanager->add_block('side_bar', 'content', -10, 0, 'blocks-side_bar-course');
}

// Start page output.
echo $OUTPUT->header();
echo $OUTPUT->custom_block_region('content');
echo $OUTPUT->footer();