Mastering D2L Brightspace at Metro State University: A Comprehensive Guide
Metro State University utilizes D2L Brightspace as its digital learning environment, aiming to enhance and drive learning for students. This article provides a comprehensive tutorial on navigating and utilizing D2L Brightspace effectively at Metro State University.
Introduction to D2L Brightspace
D2L Brightspace is a digital learning environment that can enhance and drive learning for students. Academic Technology Services supports students in D2L Brightspace.
Accessing Necessary Tools and Resources
As a Metro State University student taking online classes, access to a computer with a reliable internet connection is essential. While owning a personal computer isn't mandatory, regular access is crucial to complete weekly coursework. While devices like Chromebooks or iPads might not suffice for all tasks, Metro State offers alternative solutions.
Virtual Lab
Metro State's Institutional Effectiveness and Technology provides technology support and services across campus. For students who lack adequate computing resources, the virtual lab offers a valuable solution. This digital service enables students to remotely access a Metro State computer, granting access to software like Adobe Creative Cloud and others, regardless of location. A tutorial video demonstrates how to access the lab. Important: Do NOT save anything to the Virtual Lab, as it does not save files long-term.
Computer Check-Out
Metro State has computers available through check-out through the library on a first come, first served basis.
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Microsoft 365
Instructors may require you to submit assignments using software you do not have. Microsoft 365 is provided to our students, which gives access to software such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint (You can even install Microsoft 365 on your mobile devices, though these are not always the best for completing schoolwork or accessing your online courses). Students can download and install the suite on their personal devices and make use of these programs.
Key D2L Brightspace Tools for Students
D2L Brightspace offers a suite of tools designed to facilitate learning and communication. Understanding these tools is key to success in online courses.
Discussions
Instructors use the Discussions tool in a course to encourage students to share thoughts on course material with their peers.
Assignments
Instructors use the Assignment tool to see students' submission times, download assignment submissions, and return submissions with grades and feedback. Create an Assignment submission folder in D2L Brightspace utilizing the Turnitin integration. This may help reduce plagiarism and increase academic writing skills of students. If you are having trouble with submission of assignments, posting of discussions, or trouble taking a quiz, we are here to support you and glad to answer your questions.
Quizzes
Instructors use the Quizzes tool enables to create and manage points-measured assessments.
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Grades
Students use the Grades tool to check your grades on assignments and tests. Students can see your individual grades and comments, as well as class averages and feedback. D2L does not release the grades to students without faculty action. The Final Calculated or Final Adjusted grades are only visible to students inside D2L Brightspace when the faculty has released the grades.
Class Progress
The Class Progress tool provides a dashboard view of all student activity in a course. Students can view their own progress while faculty can view that of any student. Note that information in the Class Progress tool may not reflect all student effort, such as work done in the physical classroom, in the community, on 3rd party platforms, or on materials that were downloaded or accessed outside of D2L Brightspace. The course progress tool is not a substitute for the syllabus and schedule provided by the instructor and may not reflect all course activity that will be expected or completed. For example, faculty may add content or alter visibility of quizzes during the semester.
Utilizing Kaltura MediaSpace and Zoom
Kaltura MediaSpace acts as a media server for much of MinnState. Storing videos and Zoom recordings. Zoom is a web conference solution provided by Minnesota State for use by faculty, staff, and students. This tool is simple to use and works well at delivering features that faculty wish to use in an online collaborative solution. Zoom has the ability to record the session.
Understanding VoiceThread Integration
VoiceThread is a cloud based, multi-media tool for asynchronous conversation, collaboration, and presentation. For students, your instructor will provide a link to a VoiceThread presentation or activity within a class. You may happen to search the web for "VoiceThread" or go to voicethread.com via some other means. The site may not know you are from Metro State. Create a non-graded VoiceThread activity by selecting Individual VoiceThread, Course View, or VT Home page. Create a graded VoiceThread assignment by selecting Assignment Builder.
VoiceThread Links and Course Copies
VoiceThread links are set up automatically when a course is copied in D2L, even if the original course belongs to a different instructor. A new instance of the original VoiceThread is created, including any associated grade items. It works best if the entire course is copied. The instructor should check all VoiceThread links to make sure they were copied correctly and that any assignment details and settings are still correct.
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Types of VoiceThread Links
- Individual VoiceThread - should open a single VoiceThread.
- Course View - should open a view showing all VoiceThreads currently in the course and allow the instructor or students to add VoiceThreads to share only with that class.
For all assignment types, check the gradebook to ensure points are correct and the item is set up as intended. Note that for assignments, if you want to edit the actual VoiceThread or the assignment settings, you must edit the assignment in D2L. Trying to edit such a VoiceThread as a VoiceThread, e.g. from your VoiceThread home, will result in an error message that the VoiceThread is not found. Don’t select the three, stacked, horizontal lines in this case.
Addressing Legacy VoiceThread Links
VoiceThread links created prior to spring 2023 were created using a legacy method and do not work anymore. If you select a VoiceThread link in your course and see the error message “Unsupported Signature Method. Please contact VoiceThread support,” as in the screenshot below, delete the link and replace it using the current method.
Student Expectations with VoiceThread
The most important thing is to understand what the instructor expects. In some cases, a VoiceThread assignment merely means clicking on and viewing a VoiceThread your instructor created, like watching a video or viewing a PowerPoint presentation. In others, you make be asked to view and leave comments. In some classes, instructors create assignments where you are expected to leave a required number of comments and then click a 'Submit' button. You might even be asked to create a VoiceThread of your own and submit it.
VoiceThread Accessibility
VoiceThread audio and video comments made by Metro State users will be captioned automatically shortly after creation, typically in about 3 minutes. Edit captions on your central media and comments to make sure they are accurate and accessible to everyone. To edit captions on a slide with audio or video as the central media, select the "CC" button in the lower right, then select "Edit Captions". (If "Edit Captions" is not present but "Add Caption File" is, the automatically generated captions may not be completed yet. Edit captions using the caption editor. You may need to scroll down to the end of the captions to access the "Save" button.
Troubleshooting VoiceThread Sign-In Issues
If users are told to sign in to D2L when they open a VoiceThread link, it probably was shared with a direct link instead of by following the instructions above. Or a student might have shared it, such as in a discussion post or as part of an assignment submission. This can be confusing because the link might work for some and not others depending on whether they are already signed in. To avoid this, faculty should always use the method above to add VoiceThread content and interactions to D2L. Open an existing link that faculty added using the instructions above. This will sign in the user.
Important Notes for Faculty
- FACULTY: D2L Brightspace has a purge cycle that can delete your content without recourse. We recommend you export your content each semester.
- FACULTY: There are multiple ways to set up grades in D2L’s grade book.
- FACULTY: This article explains the nuances of the options in D2L Brightspace's Groups tool.
- FACULTY: Instructors can automate communications and monitoring for students based on activities or lack thereof.
- FACULTY: Use Manage Dates to quickly and efficiently modify dates for any given course.
- FACULTY: The Manage Files tool is the file management solution in D2L Brightspace.
- FACULTY: Sometimes having a list helps students understand the content and assignments and how to tackle them.
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