Desire2Learn: Version 10.1 Updates and Changes

Overview

According to the company, that learning environment has been updated with these features:

• Video Note allows the user to use a webcam and then drop a video into the course content;
• Universal Drag and Drop File Upload simplifies the addition of files into course content from external sources (such as the user's desktop);
• The ability to create new material, such as assignments, quizzes, and discussions inside content without having to do it from within a popup or navigating to another function;
• Inline document conversion and rendering for Microsoft Office and PDF files;
• A beefed up HTML editor that allows for insertion of audio and video in place;
• Quicker access to restrictions and date management;
• A new class progress dashboard to provide student progress at a glance for instructors; and
• A revamped User Progress function that improves on visualizations and streamlined navigation among users, courses, and tools.

The first time you log into Desire2Learn 10.1, you will notice some user interface changes that have changed from version 10 to 10.1, while other tools are brand new.

Highlights – Content

Instead, they have been moved to new locations in 10.1. However, all of the same

tools are still accessible. Along the left is a tab that contains Course Overview,

Bookmarks, Upcoming Events and Table of Contents which cannot be removed.

 

 

 

A. Publish/Draft: You can now choose to mark your item as Published or Draft.

Students will not see Draft items. Note that files can now be dragged and dropped

from your desktop directly to the module. You can do multiple files at one time.

 

B. New Page Display and Scrolling: Once you click on an item to view it, the item

takes over the entire page and the left-hand menu is removed. Now the entire page

scrolls for greater usability of your content.

 

 

 

 

 

C. Document Viewing: Microsoft Word and PDF files can now be opened in your

browser without the need for downloading. However, you still have the option to

download files to your computer.

 

 

 

 

Highlights – Table of Contents

 

This tab displays all your course modules and content items. You can now add a

variety of items right in Content. Use the Table of Contents dropdown to access

the Manage Files and Course Builder tools. There is no View Content tab since

what you see and what the student sees will be the same in the Table of Contents

area.

 

 

From the Table of Contents tab you can select Add Learning Object (LOR –

also see page 20). Copy Course Components takes you directly to the

Import/Export/Copy tool to allow you to copy something from another course

you belong to. See below for descriptions of the New and Add Activities

dropdown menus.

 

 

 

Along the left column you will see your modules listed along with the number of

items the module contains. Clicking on a module name will display a list of the items

in the module on the right.

 

 

 

Clicking on the three-line icon on the left allows you to drag and drop the module in

another location in the Table of Contents. This works with items within the

module as well.

 

To create a new module you click Add a module button, which is found at the

bottom of the Table of Contents column on the left. It converts to a text box that lets

you type the module name in directly. The ability to Add a description gives you

the ability to create text and images at the module level.

 

 

 

A. New Module: On the right will appear a page which lets you set properties and add

items to the module. Click on the dropdown menus or the text such as Add a

description or Add restrictions to view more options.

 

 

B. New Items: From the new dropdown you will still be able to upload files, add files

from the Manage Files tool, create a new HTML document or link. New in 10.1 is the

ability to create a new Dropbox, Quiz or Discussions directly from the content

area. You will give the new item a name and description and then be able to set

properties for it. There may be other properties you will need to set in the Dropbox,

Quiz, or Discussions as you did before in 10.0. New to this screen is the ability to

view student submissions and grades. Clicking the pencil icon next to any item title

allows you to edit the title directly on that page.

 

 

 

 

C. New Activities: It is now easier to Add Activities to your modules. Click the Add

Activities dropdown and select an item. A popup window allows you to choose an

activity to insert. If you have not already created the item, links allow you to create it

at this time. The exception is Forms to work with ePortfolio. You must create those

in the Forms tool.

 

Highlights – Discussion

 

Discussions: Discussion display has been reorganized to make it easier to

distinguish a Forum from a Topic. Topics are now indented under the Forum and

display in a different color background. In the Classlist > View Progress, Discussions

for each student it now displays a count of posts authored and replied.

 

 

Highlights – Dropbox

 

Dropbox: The Dropbox has been enhanced to include multiple availability dates

 

including Start Date, Due Date, and End Date. This allows students to submit

assignments late if you setup an end date in advance.

 

 

 

Highlights – Video Feedback

 

Video Feedback: In addition to recording audio feedback, you now have the

option to Record Video to leave student feedback.

 

 

 

 

Other

 

Automatic Completion: New in 10.1 is the ability to set Automatic Completion

tracking on items in your content. You can set automatic, manual or no. Reports are

available under User Progress. This determines which items have been visited by a

user. For some activities, automatic tracking requires users to participate in a chat or

discussion, submit a file or form, or complete an assessment such as a quiz or survey

before completion is successful.

 

 

Automatic Completion – Completion Status: New at the bottom of each page

is a list of the items in the current module and their completion status. Instructors

 

 

and students can click the progression arrows or the name of the content item to

progress to the next item.

 

 

 

User Progress: Similar to the new content area, user progress has been simplified

and reorganized in order to make it easier for instructors to track their student’s

progress within the course.

 

There are now two views: Class and User progress. Summaries are visible on one

page. Filters allow you to display data you choose.

 

From the Assessments menu, select User Progress. You will see a list of all users

and their progress with respect to Content, Objectives, Logins and Grades. On

the grades bar, hovering over each bar provides additional details for the grades.

Classlist: From the Classlist, select View Progress for a student. A summary

and nine progress indicators are used. Click a report name in the left menu to display

student data for that indicator. In the Settings menu you can choose which

indicators to display. When viewing Grades, hovering over each bar at the top

provides additional details for the grades.

 

HTML Editor: The HTML editor looks different. The icons have moved and

dropdown menus offer more options. The sources icon and expand page are now on

the bottom right and look slightly different.

 

 

 

 

Insert Stuff: In the HTML editor the Insert Stuff option allows you to choose

Webcam. This allows you to use your computer’s webcam to create a video to

embed in the item you are creating.

 

 

Upcoming Events: Under the Content tab, these are created by the system. If you

have events connected to the calendar they display here under the Upcoming Events

tab. The Course Schedule tab will display any dates for available items or other

deadlines you have set on your content.

 

Course Overview: Under the Content tab, this is great for welcome materials,

orientations, syllabus and any other information you might put in a Getting Started

module. You can click Add a description to open an HTML editor. You can use the

Add an attachment from the dropdown menu or you can drag files from your

desktop and drop them in the box to add to your overview.

 

 

 

Breadcrumbs: When Breadcrumbs are also now available at the top of the page to

allow you to move around your content.

 

Bookmarks and Module Navigation: When a user creates a bookmark of a

course page, the list is kept under the Bookmarks tab on the Content page. You

can use Previous and Next to move through the module.

 

 

Admin Tools: You now have easy access to your Admin Tools on the minibar from

anywhere in the course. Click the widget icon to the right of your name in the right

corner of the minibar.

 

ePORTFOLIO

 

ePortfolio is a personal portfolio tool for storing, organizing, reflecting on and sharing

items that represent student learning. Students can include documents, graphics,

audio files, videos, presentations, course work and more to demonstrate

improvement or mastery in a certain area.

 

A personal notification dashboard lets the user set up instant notifications via SMS or

email on a mobile device to be connected to newsfeed updates.

 

 

 

Students and faculty can decide what items to include in portfolios, how to organize

them, and whom you want to share them with. Peers, mentors, potential employers,

and others can be granted permission to view items, edit items, see or add

comments, and see or add assessments depending desired feedback.

 

ePortfolios provide a great way for students to create and share professional

presentations!

 

 

Learning Object Repository

A Learning Object Repository (LOR) is an online library for storing, managing, and

sharing your learning resources (learning objects) across multiple courses. For

example, a learning object might be an article, a quiz, a presentation, an image, a

video, or any other kind of document/file that you use to create course content and

learning materials for online learning.

 

The benefit is that, when you publish your learning objects to a Learning Object

Repository, you are able to classify and organize them, making them easily

searchable for others. For example, you can classify learning objects according to

defined learning standards or goals. You can also review, rate, and provide feedback

on learning objects to ensure high quality online resources. You can update your

resources in one location, but share them to many different places.

 

To have a LOR created, contact the Distance Learning Services Help Desk at:

1-800-500-1554.

 

 

 

Adobe Connect

Adobe Connect integration will be coming soon after the upgrade. Please check

back to help.d2l.msu.edu for the latest updates and feature information.

 

 

Kaltura Mediaspace

 

Kaltura Mediaspace integration will be coming soon after the upgrade. Please check

back to help.d2l.msu.edu for the latest updates and feature information.

 

 

 

http://mediaspace.msu.edu/