If you are familiarizing yourself with the Brightspace Learning Environment from D2L, here's a helpful document that may benefit you as you get started!

HOW TO USE BRIGHTSPACE (D2L) EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

What tools do I need?

- For the most part, you only need a computer with reliable internet.

- If you intend to do any web conference meetings or record videos you will also need a webcam and a microphone. A headset is helpful but not required.

- If you need to share a document, post the digital file in your course shell. If it's a paper document, image, etc. you can capture a picture with a phone and share the image in your shell. If you need to share a physical document in a web conference meeting you can show it via the webcam or capture a picture with your phone and share it using the share screen feature of your software.

Access D2L

- Go to your schools direct link to your D2L account. This is the most direct way. Bookmark it.

 Find your courses

- In the "my courses" widget on the home page select Spring 2020 to display your current courses. Select one of the courses to access it.

Creating content and modules

- When you first access a course you will be on the course homepage.

- From the course homepage, click on “Content” in the navigation bar.

- On the left, under “Table of Contents” is a box where you can type the name of a module. After you enter the name of the module (use meaningful, topical titles like “Unit -    The Solar System” or “Week 9 - The Civil War”) press “enter”.

- Here are detailed instructions for Creating a New Module.

- Once you have at least one module you can begin to upload content.

- Click the blue button for “Upload / Create” and then select the type of content you wish to add. For example, to upload a file, click “Upload a File”. To link to a website, click “Create a Link”. To link to a video, click “Video or Audio”.

- Here are detailed instructions on using the Content Tool to add materials.

Create opportunities for student engagement with the content, each other and you.

- Once you have content in your course, students will need instruction on what to do with it, how to engage with it, what they are expected to learn and how they will demonstrate their learning. Some examples include:

-  Writing a reflection of some sort that is turned in to you for evaluation and feedback.

-  Giving students a task such as finding examples of something related to what they are learning and sharing them in a discussion.

-  Asking students to create a model to demonstrate something or to use a metaphor to explain something. These can be turned in to you or shared with the class in a discussion.

- To “assign” these types of activities, create a file in “Content” with the directions (see below). Please note that the "Assignments" tool in D2L is poorly named as it is for students to submit work to you, NOT for you to assign work to them.

Create or add a file to a module

- Select the module you want to add a file to.

- Click the blue “Upload / Create” button.

- Select “Create a File”

- In the window that opens, give the file a title (be descriptive).

- If you wish to use a template, select one from the drop down next to the title. The “Blank_Page_No_Banner” template is a good option. It will have basic formatting that will help make the page readable.

- In the text box, add the information you wish to include in the file.

- Click “Save and Close” when finished.

- Here are detailed instructions for Creating a Topic, which is what D2L calls content items.

Add discussions (this is where students can interact and share)

- The “Discussion” tool in D2L is where students can interact with each other and with you. It is best thought of as an interaction space as much more can happen here than just discussing things.

- Before students can interact in the Discussion tool, you have to create at least one Forum and one Topic. You only need one Forum. A Forum can have multiple Topics.

- Click the link for “Discussions” on the navigation bar.

- Click the blue “New” button and select “Forum”.

- Title the Forum with a descriptive title like “Weekly Discussions” or similar then click “Save and Close”.

- Click the blue “New” button again and this time select “Topic”.

- In the dropdown for “Choose a Forum” select the forum you just created.

- Add a title. Be sure to use something meaningful and descriptive (e.g. Your Thoughts on the Crash Course Video, or Sharing Your Model Solar System, etc.)

- Add directions. BE SPECIFIC. Clearly describe what you want students to do. Use descriptive criteria. Say things like “identify one thing from the video you found confusing and discuss why it was confusing to you.” Or, “after recording your video of your model solar system, share the link to your video.” Next, describe HOW students should engage. For example, “read the replies of your peers and find at least one that described something that was confusing to them that YOU understood. Now do your best to help your classmate understand. Explain it to them.”

- Review your directions. Are they clear and detailed? What questions might students have? Edit your directions to try to address those questions.

- DO NOT say “post once, reply twice” as that is much too vague.

- Once you have finished editing click the “Save and Close” button at the bottom.

- Here are detailed instructions for Getting Started with Discussions.

Communicate with students

- It is extremely important that you communicate with students to let them know what’s going on.

- If possible, discuss with them in class about how to find their online course shell, what to look for, how you plan to communicate with them, etc.

- Send email to students through D2L.

• Click on the Classlist and then check the box next to the students you want to send email to.
• Click the hyperlink for “Email” above the list of names.
• A new window will open where you can compose and send your message.
• Here are detailed instructions for using the Classlist.

- Post an announcement on the course homepage.

• Click the link for “Course Home” on the navigation bar.
• In the left column you should see the “Announcements” widget.
• From the dropdown menu click “New Announcement”.
• Here are detailed instructions for creating Announcements.
  • It is highly recommended that you post at least one new announcement and/or send an email each week to keep students informed as well as to summarize what they learned last week and what to expect for the coming week.