Desire2Learn Messages from the FacTS Center
With successful fall and spring pilots, we are gearing up for our full conversion from ANGEL to D2L this fall. During the summer, the FacTS Center staff has been conducting workshops and creating documentation to help us all have a smooth transition. As with ANGEL we are able to merge course sections in D2L. Workshops are available throughout August, providing several opportunities for faculty to get hands on experience and have questions answered. In addition, the FacTS Center staff, in the basement of the Tower, is available during the day to answer any questions you have. Here are some more details.
D2L Course Merges
As with ANGEL, we are able to merge multiple sections or cross-listed courses into one section in D2L, eliminating the need to post the same material multiple times. To request a course merge, send a message to helpdesk@canisius.edu . In your request, include course titles, course IDs including section letters, and CRNs. Because the process is a bit more complex than with ANGEL, please allow 3 business days for the merge to be completed.
D2L Documentation and User Groups
The D2L Users Group for Faculty is linked on your Homepage when you login to D2L. You can also access it here:Desire2Learn. Arranged by topic, there are many short videos that demonstrate how D2L features work. Note, in particular, there is a Checklist for the semester Start. There is a similar Users Group for Students to which you may want to direct your students.
FacTS Center Workshops
Workshops and Boot Camp are scheduled for August. You can register at: https://surveys.canisius.edu/workshops.aspx
Boot Camp: Boot Camp is designed for those who want to get the full view of important D2L features in a compact time frame. The two-day format combines instruction and lots of hands on time with the goal of having a course set up and ready to run at the end.
• Wednesday and Thursday, August 13 and 14, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Individual workshops: These three workshops allow you to space out workshops in more sizable time slots. They include instruction and hands on participation for the most used course components and will get you ready for the fall.
Introduction and orientation: provides an overview of D2L, how to navigate, set up announcements (News in D2L) and calendar events, and how to use email
• Monday, August 18, 9:30 a.m.
• Thursday, August 21, 9:00 a.m.
• Friday, August 22, 2:00 p.m.
• Friday, August 29, 1:00 p.m.
Content and Discussion: allows you to set up your course content by uploading documents, web links and more, with start dates and due dates.
• Monday, August 18, 10:30 a.m.
• Thursday, August 21, 10:00 a.m.
• Friday, August 22, 3:00 p.m.
• Friday, August 29, 2:00 p.m.
Grades and Dropboxes: set up your gradebook according to your own schemes, and set up Dropboxes to collect and grade assignments
• Monday, August 18, 2:00 p.m.
As always, if you have problems or questions you can contact the FacTS Center staff or the ITS Help Desk.
Submitted by: Estelle Siener, director of academic computing, ITS
