Course Content

Add a module

1. 1. Select the "Add a module…" box.
   2. Enter a name for the module in the input-text box.
   3. Hit return (or enter) on the keyboard.

Set module status

1. 1. By default all modules are set to "Visible."Select Content on the navigation bar.
   2. Go to a module from the Table of Contents.
   3. Select the eye icon. 
   4. Select the toggle to set the module to "Hidden." 

Add a submodule

1. 1. Select the module where the submodule should be created.
   2. Select the "Add a submodule…" box.
   3. Enter a name for the submodule in the input-text box.
   4. Hit return (or enter) on the keyboard.

Add a description to a module or submodule

Add a description to a module, submodule, or items within modules (called "Topics") in the Content area to provide context and specific instructions for learners. Descriptions appear below a module or topic title. 

A module description will be visible when viewing the entire table of contents, or when the module is selected and open. A submodule description is only visible when the submodule is selected and expanded.

1. 1. Select the module or submodule for which the description will be added.
   2. Select the Add a description… text. A text box will expand beneath the module title.
   3. Enter the description in the text box. Use the text box editing pane to style the description text or to add media (See the HTML Editor guide for more information.).
   4. Select the Update button within the text box. The text box will close and the entered description will appear below the module title.

Add a description to a topic

1. 1. When a description is added to a Topic, it will be visible when viewing the module the Topic is in, but the description will not appear when viewing the entire Table of Contents.
   2. Select the dropdown arrow next to the Topic title.
   3. Select Edit Properties In-place. 
   4. Select "Add a description…"
   5. Enter the description in the text box.
   6. Select the Update button within the text box.

1. 1. Go to a module in Content.
   2. Select the Upload/Create button.
   3. Select Upload Files from the dropdown menu. 
   4. The Add a File pop-up window will open. Select the Upload button to locate the file or drag the file from the computer desktop and drop it within the dotted box.
   5. Select the Add button.

Add links to external websites

1. 1. Select Content on the course navigation bar.
   2. Select the module or sub-module where the link needs to be added.
   3. Select the Upload/Create button. 
   4. From the dropdown menu select Create a Link. 
   5. In the pop-up window enter text for the link in the Title field. To meet standards for users with disabilities, do not use a long URL as the link text to show.
   6. Enter or paste the web address in the URL field. If pasting the URL, make sure that "http://" does not appear twice at the start of the URL.  
   7. Select the Open as an External Resource checkbox. If this option is not selected, the link will not work in most browsers.
   8. Select Create.  

Add links to other parts of the course site

1. 1. Select Content on the course navigation bar.
   2. Select the module or sub-module where the link needs to be added.
   3. Select Existing Activities.  
   4. From the dropdown menu, select one of the tools listed.  
   5. In the pop-up window, select the activity that needs to be inserted.  

Create a new page

1. 1. Go to the module where the new page will be added.
   2. Select Upload/Create.  
   3. A dropdown menu will appear. From the dropdown menu select Create a File. 
   4. In the Create a File page, enter a title in the top textbox.
   5. Enter content in the main textbox. 
   6. Select  Save and Close.

Use a Template

1. 1. There are a number of templates available for instructors to add and edit, depending on the purpose of the new page.
   2. Click on Settings in the upper right hand corner.
   3. Under Content Authoring check the Enable HTML Templates box.
   4. Click Change Path.
   5. Find Shared Files > Brightspace HTML Templates.
   6. Click Select Path and Save.
   7. To create a new page select Upload/Create.  
   8. A dropdown menu will appear. From the dropdown menu select.
   9. Create a File. 
   10. Enter a title.
   11. Select Select a Document Template.
   12. Choose a template from the list.

There are 3 types of dates in D2L:

• • Start Dates modify when a student can view or access content in a module or topic. Students will see that a module or topic exists, but they cannot access it if the Start Date has not yet occurred.
  • Due Dates specify when a student should complete materials in a module. The dates will appear in the course Calendar and students will be able to see and access materials with a Due Date after the date has passed.
  • End Dates restrict access to modules, topics, or items. They remove all access once the date has passed. (End Dates are not often recommended for Content modules or topics, as they affect the entire class access to course materials.)

Set dates for a module

Dates for a Content module specify when a module is available for access, will become unavailable from access, or when its expected completion is due. Any dates set will be displayed beneath the module title, and the module name and set date(s) will also display on the Calendar widget on the Course Homepage.

Setting Start Dates and End Dates at the module level controls the access of not only the module, but also all of the topics within that module.

1. 1.  Go to the Content.
   2. Navigate to the desired module.
   3. Select "Add dates and restrictions… " to display settings options.
   4. Choose the desired type of date to apply (Start Date, Due Date, and End Date) by selecting the respective text:  "Add start date...", "Add due date...", or "Add end date...".  
   5. Enter the time and date restriction desired by either using the calendar and dropdown selectors, or by entering text.  For any date type, both a date and a time are required. 
   6. Select the Update button to apply the selected date restrictions. Any dates set will be displayed below their respective module title in the Table of Contents. If a module is selected, all set dates will be displayed beneath the module title on the page.

Set dates for a topic

1. 1. Select the dropdown arrow next to the topic title to reveal its settings options.
   2. Select Edit Properties In-place.  
   3. The topic properties will expand below the topic title. Select "Add dates and restrictions…"
   4. Several settings options will be displayed. Select the date restriction option to be set:  "Add start date...", "Add due date...", or "Add end date...".
   5. Date and time options will expand below the item title.  Enter the desired time and date by either using the selectors or by entering text. Both a date and a time are required in order to apply the setting.
   6. Select the Update button to apply the date restrictions: the date will be displayed below the topic title. 
   7. Note: To reset or remove a date and time set on either a module or a topic, simply select the date setting to expand the date options. From the date options, either select a new date restriction, or select X  next to the date and time options to remove the date setting completely. Select the Update button to apply changes.

Hide a module from student view

1. 1. To hide a module from student view, set its status to Hidden. This will conceal the module and make all of its topics completely invisible to students.
   2. Select the module to be set to Hidden.
   3. Select the eye icon to reveal the toggle.
   4. Select the toggle to change the module to Hidden. The module status will now be hidden until its status is changed to Visible.

Hide a topic from student view

An individual topic within a module can also be hidden or visible.

By default, all new content topics are visible. Select the Bulk Edit to open visibility options for all topics in a module.

1. 1. Locate the topic to be set to Hidden.
   2. Select the eye icon to reveal the toggle.
   3. Select the toggle to change the topic to Hidden.
   4. Select Done Editing to save changes.

Delete modules or submodules

1. 1. Select Content on the course navigation bar.
   2. Select the module that needs to be deleted.
   3. Select the dropdown arrow next to the module name.
   4. From the dropdown menu, select Delete Module.
   5. In the pop-up window select an option for deletion:
      
      • Remove the module and all nested modules and topics from Content but keep all associated files and activities in the course: Selecting this option will delete the module and the topics in it from the Content area, but any files or activities linked to it (e.g., submission folder, discussion topic) will not be deleted.
      • Permanently delete and remove all nested modules, topics, and all associated files and activities from the course (not recommended):  All associated files and activities will be deleted from the course.  This is irreversible.
   6. Select the Delete button.

Delete individual topics

1. 1. Select Content on the course navigation bar.
   2. Select the module that contains the topic that needs to be deleted.
   3. Select the dropdown arrow next to the topic name.  
   4. Select Delete Topic from the dropdown menu.
   5. In the pop-up window select an option for deletion:
      • Remove the module and all nested modules and topics from Content but keep all associated files and activities in the course: Selecting this option will delete the module and the topics in it from the Content area, but any files or activities linked to it (e.g., submission folder, discussion topic) will not be deleted.
      • Permanently delete and remove all nested modules, topics, and all associated files and activities from the course (not recommended):  All associated files and activities will be deleted from the course.  This is irreversible.
   6. Select the Delete button.

Delete all content items

Note: If you have copied the course from a previous semester, you can use the course rest tool to clear everything and start over.  This will delete more than just content.

1. 1. Select Content on the course navigation bar.
   2. Select the Table of Contents module
   3. Select the dropdown arrow next to the topic name.  
   4. Select Delete All Modules from the dropdown menu.
   5. In the pop-up window select an option for deletion:
      • Remove the module and all nested modules and topics from Content but keep all associated files and activities in the course: Selecting this option will delete the module and the topics in it from the Content area, but any files or activities linked to it (e.g., submission folder, discussion topic) will not be deleted.
      • Permanently delete and remove all nested modules, topics, and all associated files and activities from the course (not recommended):  All associated files and activities will be deleted from the course.  This is irreversible.
   6. Select the Delete button.

 

Completion Tracking is a feature that allows students to monitor progress while completing a course. It also allows the instructor to monitor whether students are visiting topics in a course. Completion tracking can be set for individual topics or entire modules. 

For every module or topic, a completion type must be assigned:

• • Required: Automatic—Topics will be marked as complete when the student does something in D2L, like view a file or post to a discussion. (See the Completion Tracking Appendix below for a full breakdown of how this works for different types of content.)
  • Required: Manual—Students will see a checkbox next to the topic, which they must manually click to mark the item as complete.
  • Not Required—No completion tracking will be monitored.

Set completion tracking for an individual tTopic

1. 1. Select the two dashes for the individual topic. 
   2. A list of completion tracking options will appear with a check next to the currently active option. The default is Not Required. Select a new completion type. 

Set completion tracking for the entire content area or module

1. 1. Select Table of Contents or a Module.
   2. Select the dropdown arrow next to the title of the Module or Table of Contents.
   3. Select Set All Completion.
   4. In the popup window, select a completion type.
   5. Select the Update button.