D2L Semester Checklist

Submitted by jfalkofske on November 19, 2009 - 4:13pm

 

FILES (documents)
Note: Not all students own Microsoft Word, and Microsoft documents such as Word and PowerPoint can cause problems for students in D2L due to security warnings and pop-up blockers.  We recommend that any "view only" documents be saved in the Adobe Reader .PDF format.  A free plug-in from Microsoft is available to save documents as a PDF file from any MS Office 2007 program.
        1. Word Files
Save all Word documents in the PDF format.  Exception:  Do  not convert any Word files which are homework templates which students need to fill out and submit as an assignment.
  2. PowerPoint Files
Save all PowerPoint documents in PDF format using the OPTIONS to publish HANDOUTS (either 3 slides per page or 6 slides per page).  This format is directly viewable in D2L and can be printed without wasting paper (students who otherwise would print 1 slide per page).
  3. Naming of Files
Use mixed case without spaces when naming files.
(e.g.  ResearchPaperRubric.pdf, Week02Discussion.pdf, Week09UnitOverview.pdf). 

If you are copying the same course content to separate course shells in D2L (one for each section), uniquely name syllabi and course schedule documents to avoid accidentally overwriting those documents during Course Copy Components.
(e.g.  SyllabusMgmt310Sect03.pdf, CourseScheduleMgmt310Sect03.pdf, SyllabusMgmt310Sect07.pdf, CourseScheduleMgmt310Sect07.pdf).
NEWS
  1. Include a Welcome notice with a brief overview of the class and the instructions for how students should get started in the course ("Click on Content in the navigation bar above and read through the documents linked in  the Course Information and also the Week 01 headings.").

It also is recommended to post an appropriate photo of the instructor and a brief instructor biography.
  2. Weekly messages should be posted as reminders of upcoming deadlines.

(e.g.  "This week, read through the documents in the Week 03 heading, post the homework assignment to the dropbox titled Changing Attitudes and Changing Beliefs, and take Quiz 04 - Learning in the Cyber Age.  Also - you should have posted your initial comments by Wednesday to the discussion on Susie's Challenge and then make at least three follow-up posts to your peers by Saturday. ")
  3. Other announcements and opportunities you wish to share with students (conferences, articles, broadcasts) can be posted in the news area as well.  It might be useful to make these as separate posts - so that when you copy items to the next semester, you can easily flag them for deletion (and still keep the weekly assignment notices).
CONTENT
Note: Modules are the "headings" and Topics are the links to the content (stored in Manage Files area).
  1. Create a "Getting Started" module
The module should appear at the top of the Content area and include the following topics links:
  • A complete syllabus
  • A class schedule separate from the syllabus with the topics of study, dates, activities, and assignments (with due dates).
  • Technology and other tips for getting started
  • Instructions for any other "getting oriented" activities to the course (quiz about syllabus, introduction discussion, etc.).
  2. Create additional Content Modules and Topics for the class.

Suggested options are:

Weekly-Based Topics-Based Activity Based
Getting Started
   Syllabus
   Class Schedule
   Tips for Success in this Class

Weekly Content
  Week 01
    ....
  Week 02
    ....
  Week 03
    ....

Optional Resources and Links
   ...

 Getting Started
   Syllabus
   Class Schedule
   Tips for Success in this Class

Topics of Study
  (topic 01 name)
    ....
  (topic 02 name)
    ....
  (topic 03 name)
    ....

Optional Resources and Links
   ...

 Getting Started
   Syllabus
   Class Schedule
   Tips for Success in this Class

Readings and Practice Activities
  (topic 01 name)
    ....
  (topic 02 name)
    ....
Assignments and Grading Rubrics
  (assignment 01 name)
    ....
  (assignment 02 name)
    ....

Optional Resources and Links
   ....
  3.  Carefully Name each Module and Topic to ease copying to future terms.

To make it easier to copy content to future course shells - try to avoid including specific dates (use "weeks" instead) or other time-sensitive specific titles ("Seasonal Flowers" - rather than "Springtime Flowers").  This will allow you to quickly copy materials to future semesters without having to edit each item.
  4. Refer Students to Class Schedule for Due Dates to reduce content editing in future terms.

To make it easier to copy content to future course shells -- try to avoid putting deadlines inside assignment instructions, and instead refer students to the Class Schedule document to get the deadlines.  If all the activities students need to complete are in the schedule -- the course assignment instructions can be written in a generic fashion -- easing the reuse of the course in future terms.
DISCUSSIONS
Note: Forums are the "rooms" and the Topics are the conversations within a room.  You must have at least one Forum before you can add a topic.
  1. Create a "Class Communications" Forum and an "Introduce Yourself" topic
Students should be encouraged to introduce themselves to other members of the class.  Further, students could be encouraged to upload a small photo or small image which they feel represents who they are (giving them practice using the editing and attachment tools in the Discussions).
  2. Create a "Questions and Answers" Topic under the Forum "Class Communications"
Students should be encouraged to post questions in the Discussion area (rather than sending emails to the instructor) -- so that all students get the benefit of the question and answer.
Also, in many cases, the other students might answer the question before the instructor sees it -- getting the student with the question back on track more quickly (and the instructor only needing to write "That's correct!  Thanks for helping (student name)."
GRADES
Note: Categories are types of graded assignment, while Item is the graded assignment.
  1. Determine and Create the Categories.
It is helpful to organize the list of assignments in the gradebook.  The two most common structures of "categories" are to group by Type or to group by Time. 
Group By Type: Most classes will have a variety of assignment types.  Some categories you may wish to establish are Exams, Quizzes, Weekly Homework, Major Assignments, Attendance, Labs, Clinicals, and Off-Site On-The-Job assignments.
Group by Time:  Most classes will have points-earning activities each week.  In this organization, the Categories are by Week (Week 1, Week 2, Week 3... ). 
  2. Set up the Gradebook Items
Connecting Discussions, Quizzes, and Dropbox items to the gradebook is easier when the gradebook already has an item.  Setting up the full gradebook in one section also makes it much easier to set up other sections of the coruse -- since the entire gradebook structure can be copied to the other course sections. 
DROPBOXES
  1. Set up a Practice Dropbox
A practice dropbox should be set up to ensure that a student's computer can upload a file to D2L before the first assignment is due.  This allows the student time to work through any technical difficulties, and it also helps the instructor verify that the students are all set to upload files when it is time for assignment grading.

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