CETL Blog

D2L 10.6 Feature Changes

At the end of April, Camosun College’s D2L was upgraded to version 10.6.  Here are some of the highlights!  If you have any questions about the changes, contact us at desupport@camosun.ca

Note that there are also some exciting changes to the Rubrics tool which will be covered in a separate post at a later date.

Content

  • Use Set a default path (from a Module’s drop-down menu) to set a default storage folder in Manage Files for any files you upload to that Module.
  • When dragging and dropping files directly into a Module on the main Content page (i.e., not using the upload file box), you now have the option to Select a destination folder (in Manage Files) for your files.
  • Use Add Video or Audio (under the New menu) to add a link to the URL (or Embed code) for a media piece which will then appear in the Module’s topic listing. NOTE: we still recommend that a media piece be embedded in a new Page so that you can include context around it.

Copy Course Components

  • When selecting course components to copy from one course to another, select Include Associated Files to automatically copy files (saved in Manage Files) linked to the component in question.

Discussions

  • There is now a bulk delete option for topics and forums (choose Delete under the More Actions menu).

Dropbox

  • You can now track and restore deleted submissions (e.g., if an instructor accidentally deletes a student’s submission) from the Submission Log.
  • You can now delete a Dropbox using a Dropbox’s context menu instead of just by selecting Delete in the More Actions menu.

Gradebook

  • In the Enter Grades area, a closed eye now shows in the Final Calculated Grade column when the Final Calculated Grade is hidden/not released. Note that this feature is not available for Final Adjusted Grade (if the Final Calculated Grade is hidden, so is the Final Adjusted Grade).

Groups

  • For the self-enrollment options:
    • A Self-enrollment expiry date option has been added, with the additional option to have D2L automatically enroll unenrolled students in groups after the set date.
    • Students can now see the names of students in the groups before they enroll by clicking on the Members column link.
    • Students can unenroll themselves from one group and enroll in another if they want to (before the expiry date, if one has been set).

HTML Editor

  • The Paste from Word option has been removed from the HTML menu.  You can now copy and paste directly from Word.

News

  • In the News Tool, under the More Actions menu, there is now a Restore function that you can use to recover deleted News items (as opposed to the Restore function in a News item’s drop-down menu which is to restore Dismissed items).

Quizzes

  • You can now delete a Quiz using a Quiz’s context menu instead of just by selecting Delete in the More Actions menu.
  • In the Restrictions tab, under Timing, Late behavior/submissions options have wording changes to clarify functions:
    • Quiz is flagged as late, but student can continue working.
    • Quiz is flagged as late, and student is prevented from making further changes.
    • Quiz is flagged as late, but student can continue working. Quiz will be automatically scored as zero after the specified time limit.
  • In the Restrictions tab, if you have enabled Respondus Lockdown browser for the overall quiz, you are given the option for it to be NOT enabled for Special Access cases (in the Add Users to Special Access area).

D2L Tool Tip of the Week: Publishing feedback for all students at once

This tutorial is designed for faculty who have previous experience using the Dropbox tool in D2L and will cover the steps involved when you wish to publish all student feedback for a Dropbox activity at one time.  For further information, please contact desupport@camosun.ca for assistance.

Steps

  1. Go to the Dropbox tool in your course.
  2. Click on the dropbox you want to see submissions for
  3. Select all the students in the table
  4. Click Publish Feedback
  5. Click Yes

 

D2L Tool Tip of the Week: Adding Links to Library Resources in the HTML Editor

This tutorial is designed for faculty who have previous experience using the HTML editor in D2L and will cover the steps involved with adding licensed library e-resource permalinks into the HTML editor. For the purposes of this tutorial, we will work in the Content tool.  For further information, please contact desupport@camosun.ca for assistance.

Thanks to Gwenda Bryan and Patsy Scott in the Camosun Library for helping me with this tutorial!!

Steps

  1. Go to the Content tool in your course.
  2. In the Table of Contents box, click on the title of the Module to which you wish to add your library resource links.
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  7. Go to the Camosun Library website and search for the article you wish to link to in D2L. (For more information on permalinks, persistent links and stable URLs, go to the Camosun Library’s Libguides (http://camosun.ca.libguides.com/c.php?g=92275&p=1238057)
    1. If your licensed library e-resource has a permalink (or persistent link/stable URL) option:
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    2. If your licensed library e-resource does NOT have a permalink option, contact Camosun Library staff for help.
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Things to remember

DO NOT use the Quicklink à URL option to add permalinks to the HTML editor in D2L.

It’s a good idea to test the link once you have Published or Saved as Draft to ensure that it works, and that it opens the page/document you wish it to open.

Privacy: what’s the least I need to know if I’m using online tools in my teaching?

You want students to blog, work in groups on a wiki, sign up for publisher materials, complete assessments on a fantastic new website that is perfect for your subject matter. Sounds great, but before planning too far in advance, there are some important considerations to keep in mind, one of which involves protecting the privacy of your students.

I’ll avoid going into much detail on the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) – you can read more about it at http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/96165_00.  Instead I am going to give you the basics of how FIPPA could affect what kinds of online tools you can use, and how you can use them in your teaching.

In brief, FIPPA requires that personal information, specifically that of your students, be stored and accessed in Canada only. Therefore, if you wish to utilize third-party, web-based tools that are, for example, running on servers residing in the United States to support your teaching (e.g., social-media tools), there are certain things you need to consider before asking students to use them to complete a course-related activity.

Assuming you already know if the tool you wish to use is on an American server (how to find this out is a topic for another post), AND that students will need to provide personal information in order to use the tool, then you need to consider:

  1. Is the activity mandatory (e.g., is it a required assessment component of the course?)
  2. Is the activity optional (i.e., can students easily complete it without using this tool?)

In either case, you need to provide your students with notice: notice of what activity they will be completing, the tool to be used, what personal information they will be required to provide and why, how the tool’s providers could use the information, etc.

If the activity is mandatory, however, in addition to notice, you must receive informed consent from your students (a written and signed form). If a student does not wish to sign the informed consent form, then you, as the instructor, must provide that student with an alternative to the activity so that they are not penalized for their refusal.

Finally, we also recommend that you provide your students with general information on how to protect their privacy when using third-party, web-based tools.

To find out more about FIPPA as it relates to the use of web-based tools in teaching and learning, go to BCcampus’ Privacy and Security site (http://fippa.bccampus.ca/), specifically the Privacy Guidelines for Instructors PDF (http://www.bccampus.ca/files/2013/08/PrivacyGuideforUsing3rdPartyWebTechnologyinPublicPost-SecondaryCoursesRevisedFeb2011.pdf).

If you are a faculty member at Camosun College, you can also talk to an eLearning instructional designer who can help you determine if the tool(s) you wish to use are compliant with FIPPA, or if you will need to provide your students with notice and/or an informed consent waiver. An instructional designer can also provide you with a notice and/or a waiver template that you can adapt for your own use, and help you prepare a privacy and technology tips sheet for your class.

Note that Camosun College will soon be revising its privacy policy. Updates on this revision will appear in future blog posts.

Reference:  Privacy Guide for Using 3rd Party Web Technology in Public Post-Secondary Courses (PDF, Feb. 2011), BCcampus:  http://www.bccampus.ca/files/2013/08/PrivacyGuideforUsing3rdPartyWebTechnologyinPublicPost-SecondaryCoursesRevisedFeb2011.pdf

D2L Tool Tip of the Week: Deleting Modules and Topics

This tutorial is designed for faculty who have previous experience using the Content tool in D2L, and will cover the steps involved when you wish to delete Modules or Topics in the Content tool.  For further information, please contact desupport@camosun.ca for assistance.

Steps

  1. Go to the Content tool in your course.
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Things to Remember

If you are going to want to re-use the activities or files linked to the Module or Topic you are deleting, make sure to select the FIRST option in the Delete pop-up window!

Also note that it is NOT recommended that you delete other D2L activities (e.g. Surveys, Quizzes, Dropbox, etc.) through Content.  Delete specific activities in their tools!

eLearning Workshops this week

There is still time to register for January eLearning D2L Workshops.  If you can’t attend, or don’t see what you’re looking for, contact desupport@camosun.ca to arrange for a consult with an instructional designer!

Here’s what is on the roster this week:

Using the Content Tool in D2L

Gain hands-on practice on using the Content tool in D2L.  In addition to being given an overview of the content tool, participants will also learn to organize and manage their course files (in the Manage Files area) and how to add modules and topics.

Creating Quizzes in D2L

Learn how to master the Quiz tool in D2L! This workshop will explore ways to create, customize and grade quizzes. We’ll also tackle creating randomized Quizzes and how to effectively set up your questions in the Question Library.

Register from the eLearning website at http://web.camosun.ca/cetl/content/elearning-winter-2016-workshops

D2L Tool Tip of the Week: Copy and Paste from Word into the HTML Editor

This tutorial is designed for faculty who have previous experience using the HTML editor, and will cover the steps involved with copying and pasting content from a WORD document into the HTML editor as part of a new News Item in the News Tool.  For further information, please contact desupport@camosun.ca for assistance.

Steps

  1. Open the HTML editor in whatever tool you are working in. For the purposes of this tutorial, we will work in the News tool.
  2. In the HTML editor, select Paste from WORD
  3.  Copy and paste your text from WORD into the box that opens
  4. Click Update to add text to the HTML editor
  5. Reformat text as needed, and Publish

Things to remember

Don’t copy and paste content from WORD into the HTML editor if the content is complex, for example if your WORD document contains tables or complicated formatting.  If the tables and formatting in your WORD document are vital, add the WORD document as an attachment (if you are in the News tool, for example) or directly as a Topic File (if you are in Content).

eLearning Winter 2016 Workshops Start This Week!!

Don’t miss out!   eLearning D2L Workshops for Winter 2016 start this week.

Here’s what is on the roster this month:

Getting Started with Desire2Learn (D2L)

Designed for new instructors and/or beginners to our learning management system, Desire2Learn (D2L), this workshop will provide participants with an overview of the essential teaching tools available in D2L, and how courses are set up and supported through eLearning Development and Support Services at Camosun College.  Whether you are looking to supplement your face-to-face classes, transition from using a basic course website, or simply want to learn more about how to enhance your current teaching methodologies with using D2L, this session has a little something for everyone. Come explore the possibilities!

Setting Up and Managing Your Gradebook in D2L

This hands-on workshop will focus on setting up your D2L Gradebook from start to finish. Please bring your course outline (or a breakdown of your assessment items) to the workshop if you wish to build your own Gradebook.

Managing your D2L Course

This workshop will provide an overview of how to administer your D2L courses by managing and customizing navigation bars and homepages, copying course component from one course site into another, and using other admin tools in D2L.  In addition, participants will learn how courses are set up and supported through eLearning Development and Support Services at Camosun College.

Using the Content Tool in D2L

Gain hands-on practice on using the Content tool in D2L.  In addition to being given an overview of the content tool, participants will also learn to organize and manage their course files (in the Manage Files area) and how to add modules and topics.

Creating Quizzes in D2L

Learn how to master the Quiz tool in D2L! This workshop will explore ways to create, customize and grade quizzes. We’ll also tackle creating randomized Quizzes and how to effectively set up your questions in the Question Library.

Managing Assignments Using the Dropbox

The Dropbox tool enables students to submit assignments online while streamlining the grading process for instructors. This workshop provides hands-on practice creating, managing and grading assignments using the assignment in-line viewer.

Register from the eLearning website at http://web.camosun.ca/cetl/content/elearning-winter-2016-workshops

D2L Tool Tip of the Week: Setting Final Adjusted Grades

This tutorial is designed for faculty who have previous experience using the Grades tool in D2L and will cover the steps involved when you wish to set the Final Adjusted Grades in your gradebook.  For further information, please contact desupport@camosun.ca for assistance.

Steps

Step 1:  Setting the Adjusted Final Grade to be the Final Grade Released in the Settings area

  1. Go to the Grades tool in your course.
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  6. Click Close to return to the Grades area.

Step 2:  Adjusting your Final Grades so that you can release them to the students

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  7. Click Cancel to return to the Enter Grades area.

Things to Remember

Note that after you save your Final Grades area changes, you will have to click on the Cancel button to return to the Enter Grades area.

D2L Tool Tip of the Week: Releasing Final Grades

As we near the end of the term, I thought this might be a useful little tutorial for you to bookmark.

This tutorial will cover the steps involved when you wish to release your Final Grades to your students, and is designed for faculty who have previous experience using the Grades tool in D2L.  For further information, please contact desupport@camosun.ca for assistance.

Steps

  1. Go to the Grades tool in your course, and make sure you are in the Enter Grades area.
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Things to Remember

Make sure you have entered the grades for all assessments, for all students before releasing the final grades to everyone.  You can also select individual students to release final grades to if you wish.

Note that after you save your Final Grades area changes, you will have to click on the Cancel button to return to the Enter Grades area.