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D2L Tutorials

Select one of the menus below to access just-in-time video and PDF how-to-guides for NLU's teaching and learing technologies, including Brightspace by D2L.

If you need support fixing an issue in your live course. please contact the NLU Help Desk. Please have your NLU ID# or your user id, plus 5-digit CRN for your course.

You can request an empty D2L course shell using our D2L Course Shell Request form, and you can request a course copy using our D2L Course Copy Request form.

 Please note: if you are having trouble selecting the menus below, you may be using a browser that is blocking content. To unblock content, look for a gray shield on the left or right side of the browser bar at the top of your page. Use the dropdown menu on the shields to allow blocked content.

The following resources were designed to not only introduce you to the NLU Online Campus (Desire2Learn), but also to help you succeed as an online instructor. 

  • Faculty D2L Orientation
    The NLU Online Campus orientation shows you how to log into the system, set up your personal preferences, and navigate your online course content.

Tutorials

Ready your computer and browser

To verify your computer’s browser and settings are configured to work with D2L, log into NLU's Online Campus, on the D2L homepage, click the “System Check” link to perform a system check to verify your computer’s browser version, browser settings and display settings.

Login to D2L

Set up Your Profile and Preferences

Video: Set up your Profile (2:03)‌
Video: Set your Account Preferences (1:45)

Manage Brightspace Notifications Time

Video: Brightspace notifications  (1:49)

Additional D2L Support & Resources

Link: NLU Learning Technology Blog
Link: D2L Brightspace Community Website 

If you need assistance with D2L, you can call the NLU Helpdesk 24 hours a day, 7 days a week toll free at 1-866-813-1177 or at extension x4357 if you are on campus.

D2L is constantly being updated! Information about the most important changes are linked below. For more information about recent D2L enhancements please visit the NLU Academic Computing Blog at: http://nluacademiccomputing.blogspot.com/.

  • Daylight - The NLU Online Campus implemented D2L's bright, modern, mobile-friendly "Daylight" interface. Only the visual presentation has truly changed; functionality is the same. Here are resources to aid your transition to this new look and feel.

Video: How to Change the Course Image (2:17)

    • Dropbox Tool Name Change - Beginning Winter 2016 the "Dropbox" tool will become the "Assignments" tool. Same tool, different name.

      Video Playlist: D2L Assignments Tool

If you need assistance with D2L, you can call the NLU Helpdesk 24 hours a day, 7 days a week toll free at 1-866-813-1177 or at extension x4357 if you are on campus.

The following tutorials will guide you in the tasks associated with managing a course in D2L, from copying a past term course into a new term, to how to activate your course for student viewing at the start of the term, we've assembled this comprehensive list of tutorials to assist you in activating your D2L course. 

Make Your Course Active/Inactive

Video: Making Your Course Active (1:34)‌

Copy a Course

PDF: Copying a Course

Upload a Syllabus

PDF: Uploading a Syllabus

Manage Course Dates

Video Playlist: ‌Manage Dates in D2L 

Create Calendar Items

Video: Create a Calendar Event (1:58)‌

View Your Course as a Student

Video: View Course as a Student (0:29)

If you need assistance with D2L, you can call the NLU Helpdesk 24 hours a day, 7 days a week toll free at 1-866-813-1177 or at extension x4357 if you are on campus.

The following tutorials will guide you with the tasks associated with building a course in D2L. From building your course content to building an assignment dropbox, we've compiled the following list of comprehensive tutorials to assist you in the building process.

Tutorials

Building a Gradebook

Video Playlist: Grades Tool for Instructors

Building Content

Video Playlist: Content Tool for Instructors

Inserting Links to External Resources (e.g., library resources, websites, videos)

Video: Add a Link to an External Page in a Content Page
Video: Link to an External Resource in D2L
Video: Create a Video Topic

Building Assignments

Video Playlist: Assignments Tool For Instructors

Building Discussions

Video Playlist: Discussion Tool for Instructors

Building Rubrics

Video Playlist: Rubrics Tool for Instructors

Building Quizzes

Video Playlist: Quizzes Tool for Instructors

Building D2L Groups

This Excellent playlist will bring you up to speed with important changes to the Brightspace Groups tool. Please note that NLU instructors create groups, not sections. Sections are created in Banner. Most NLU courses offerings have only one section.

Video Playlist: Groups and Sections for Instuctors

Other Building Resources

Video Playlist: Build Accessible Course

Video: Build Mathematical Elements with the Equation Editor

If you need assistance with D2L, you can call the NLU Helpdesk 24 hours a day, 7 days a week toll free at 1-866-813-1177 or at extension x4357 if you are on campus.

The following tutorials will guide you in the tasks associated with managing a course in D2L. From communicating with students using D2L email, to tracking student progress, these resources will help you run your class effectively.

Tutorials:

If you need assistance with D2L, you can call the NLU Helpdesk 24 hours a day, 7 days a week toll free at 1-866-813-1177 or at extension x4357 if you are on campus.

The following resurces will guide you in using some of the more advanced and external tools offered through D2L. From creating and sharing videos with Panopto, to assessing student's work with Tutnitn plagerism detection, we've compiled the following list of resources to assist you.

Tutorials:

If you need assistance with D2L, you can call the NLU Helpdesk 24 hours a day, 7 days a week toll free at 1-866-813-1177 or at extension x4357 if you are on campus.

General D2L FAQ's: 

Q:  When should I open a help desk ticket?

A:  Faculty should enter a help desk ticket for any D2L support issues, including: technical issues, error messages, broken links, login problems, and questions and/or concerns. In the event a help desk support member cannot assist in your D2L question or issue, they will escalate the issue to the LITS technical support team so we can assist.  Please be sure to use the help desk for requesting this kind of support rather than sending a direct email in the event that the individual you are contacting is not in the office.  A help desk ticket will go to all LITS D2L support staff members. The NLU help desk is available 24x7, at 1-866-813-1177. When you call we suggest having your 5-digit CRN on hand, and be sure to let the technician know that your course uses Desire2Learn. 

Q:  Where can I find information about Instructor D2L Training at NLU?

A:  Throughout the year LITS is offering a variety D2L training opportunities including: specialized D2L training, and open labs for individual assistance. We also have a schedule of open labs which is posted to the NLU Online Campus D2L Homepage (Announcements) and on our LMS Faculty Support page titled  (D2L) Faculty Training Calendar.

Q:  Why did I get an error message when responding to a student email in D2L? (Error “Recipient can't receive/you are not authorized to send email externally”).

A:  The reason D2L issues this error message is that you are attempting to email an external (nl.edu) email address rather than a D2L email address. D2L mail does not allow users to send messages to external email addresses. To email students in D2L, you should use the student’s internal D2L email address. An easy way to ensure you are emailing students D2L email is to use the “Classlist” tool in D2L, check off the recipient’s names and the system will automatically select the internal D2L addresses. 

Q:  How can I share my course (or portion of a course such as a rubric) with another instructor? 

A: You can share can share a D2L course or individual course components such as Rubrics, Quizzes, and Content with others by creating an export file. In your D2L course go to the “Course Administration” area to create the export. For a quick guide to creating a course export in D2L visit the LITS YouTube Channel here:  http://www.youtube.com/user/oittutorials 

Q: What Internet browser should I use with D2L?

A:  D2L updates their supported browser list frequently, so we recommend running a D2L system check to ensure your browser is fully supported? To run a system check, login to the NLU Online campus, and click the "System Check" link to see if your browser is fully supported. 

Q: How do I submit final grades if I’m teaching in D2L?

A: Faculty must enter final term grades into Banner for students. If you wish to also post final grades in D2L you can but all faculty are to post final grades for students in Banner by the end of term deadline (typically one week after the last meeting date).

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