Content Basics

Directions on content basics in D2L

Audience

Faculty

Question

I have questions on the content area in D2L. Where do I go for FAQ's?

Answer

The Content area is where you will post and organize learning materials for your students. Items may include a syllabus, handouts, assignments, supplemental readings, etc. Content material can range from basic text to multimedia files.

 

Strategies for Structuring Content

Advanced planning will save you considerable time in constructing your online course. After you determine your learning objectives and assessment strategies, select content and activities that support your learning objectives.

1. Determine materials and resources for use in the online class

Make a list of the materials and resources you want to make available to students in Content. You may want to consider the following:

• What existing course materials do you already have?
• Do you need to locate new and/or additional course materials?
• Does the online format allow you to add resources that you could not easily incorporate into your face-to-face course?
• Are some resources currently in a format that needs to be converted for online use?

2. Organize course content

Content is the primary location for course documents including the syllabus, schedule(s), course materials, assignment instructions, lectures, multimedia, and other materials. Course content is organized by modules and submodules. Use Appendix A to help organize your content.

A standard format for creating modules is by Weeks or Units (i.e. Week 1 Unit 1, Week 2 Unit 2, etc.), and then include everything the student needs in each module.

For the topics in each module, be consistent in the information included and in the order it is listed so that students know where to look for resources in each unit. Convert materials to a digital file format before you begin.

 

Create a Module

Content in D2L is organized by modules, sub-modules and topics. Modules (and sub-modules) provide headings for each unit of the content. Creating a module is the first step in creating course content and a module must be created before you can add topics.

1. In your course, select Content on the Navbar
2. Select the Add a module text box at the bottom of the left frame

 

3. Enter the name of your first module, such as Week 1 Unit 1, in the box
4. Select Enter on your keyboard to save the module
5. Continue creating your additional modules in the standard format you have chosen

To add a sub-module

1. Select the Module name to open it
2. Scroll to the bottom of the right frame
3. Select the Add a subtitle module text box and enter a sub-module name

 

4. Select Enter on your keyboard to save the sub-module

 

Create Content Topics

Topics are the substance of your course. You can upload files (Word docs, PowerPoint files, PDF files, etc.), create links to webpages or course activities, and create new files directly in Content.

Upload Files

1. Select a Module in the left frame
2. In the right frame, select the Upload/Create button
3. Select Upload Files to upload content you have already created

• Select My Computer, and then select Upload to choose a file you have stored on your computer
• Select Course Offering Files to add a link to files already in your course
• Select OneDrive Files to access files stored on OneDrive

4. Once you are in the location of the file, select the document name to add it to your content
5. Select Add

Add MediaSpace Videos

1. Select a Module in the left frame
2. Select the Add Existing Activities button
3. Select Kaltura Media
4. Locate the video you want to add, and select the Embed button to the right of the video

 

Create Website Links

1. Select a Module in the left frame
2. Select the Upload/Create button
3. Select Create a Link
4. Enter a Title
5. In a separate browser tab, go to a website and copy the URL
6. Return to D2L and Paste the URL into the box
7. To open the link in a separate window, check the Open as External Resource box
8. Select Create

 

Restricting Content

If you want to create Forums or Topics in your course, but you are not ready for students to see them, you can add date restrictions, or hide them. If you hide a Module, all Topics in the Module are also hidden.

1. Add date restrictions to a Module
   1. Select a Module
   2. In the right frame select the add dates and restrictions text
   3. Select Add start date, or Add end date
   4. Select your date/times
   5. Select Update
2. Add date restrictions to an individual Topic
   1. Select the arrow next to the Topic name and select Edit properties in place
   2. Select add dates and restrictions
   3. Select Add start date, or Add end date
   4. Select your date/times
   5. Select Update
3. Hide a Module
   1. Select a Module 
   2. Use the visibility icon to toggle the status from Visible to Hidden

 

4. Hide an individual Topic
   1. Select the arrow next to the Topic name and select Edit properties in place.
   2. Use the visibility icon and then toggle the status from Visible to Hidden

 

Restricting Content to Sections (or Groups) within a Course

When students are added to D2L shells, they are enrolled into “sections.” If you have two or more sections combined in a single course, you can use release conditions to restrict content based on section enrollment. In addition, if you have manually created “Groups” in your D2L course (such as Discussion groups), you can restrict content to groups.

1. Add a Release Condition to a Module
   1. Select a Module 
   2. Select add dates and restrictions 
   3. Under Release Conditions, select Create
   4. For Condition Type, select Section enrollment (or Group enrollment)
   5. Select a section (or group)
   6. Select Create
2. Add a Release Condition to a Topic
   1. Select the arrow next to the Topic name and select Edit properties in place
   2. Select the add dates and restrictions text
   3. Under Release Conditions, select Create (if you have already created this release condition in the course, you can click Browse and then select the condition)
   4. For Condition Type, select Section enrollment (or Group enrollment)
   5. Select a section (or group)
   6. Select Create

 

Re-order and Delete Modules and Topics

Reorder Modules or Topics

1. Hover over the 3-bar icon to the left of the module name
2. A 4-sided arrow will appear
3. Select and hold down the arrow to drag and drop the module to the desired location

Delete a Module or Topic

1. Select the name of the module in the left frame
2. Select the arrow next to the module name in the right frame
3. Select Delete Module

Delete a Topic:

1. Select the name of the module in the left frame
2. Select the arrow next to the topic name in the right frame
3. Select Delete Topic