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Instructor Support & FAQ

Instructor Support & FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

 

FAQ about Access to D2L and Online Technology

I'm a new instructor.  How and When will I receive my PSC Email and D2L login information?

Information about Email access....  Your D2L account will become active once you are assigned a course on WebAdvisor; if you need access to D2L before then, inform your department coordinator, dean, or Online Learning.

When will my courses for next semester be on D2L?

Courses will be loaded into D2L approximately four weeks before the start of the semester. If you do not see your classes on D2L after this time, check your course schedule on WebAdvisor to make sure you are listed as the instructor. If you are not listed as the instructor, contact your department. If you are listed as the instructor but don't see your course on D2L, contact Online Learning.

FAQ about Student Enrollment and Support

How will students be enrolled/removed from my courses on D2L?

Enrollment additions, changes, or withdrawals are made through WebAdvisor and Colleague by Enrollment Services and academic advisors.  Enrollment additions, changes, or withdrawals made on WebAdvisor or Colleague will be appear on D2L the following morning.  Contact Enrollment Services for questions about class rosters and student enrollment.  Contact Online Learning if students are registered in your course but do not appear in your D2L course list.

When will my students be able to access my course on D2L?

Student D2L accounts are created the day after they register for a course.  Initially, students can access only the main D2L Home area.  Students will have access to specific courses on D2L:

  • When the instructor makes the course "active."
  • On or after the "Course Start Date" (which is the first day of the term) for that D2L course.

View instructions here on how to make a D2L course active and adjust the start date.

What should I do if a student cannot see my course on D2L?

  • Verify that the student is enrolled in the course - check your D2L Classlist and contact Enrollment Services for questions.
  • Verify that the D2L course is "active" and that it is after the "Course Start Date" - view instructions here and contact Online Learning for support.

Where can students find help with D2L?

FAQ about D2L Tools

Do I need to use D2L for my courses?

Every PSC course has a D2L course shell whether or not you use it.  You can use D2L to post the syllabus, make announcements, provide instructional content (such as PowerPoints and readings), collect assignments, administer exams, conduct discussions, provide assignment feedback, post grades, generate data for program assessment purposes, and much more.

How do I activate my courses on D2L - ie, make a D2L course available to students?

Students cannot access a course on D2L until it is made "Active."  To make the course active, view instructions here, or follow these steps:

  • Go into the course, click Instructor Resources, then Edit Course.
  • Select "Course Offering Information."
  • Add a checkmark next to "Course is Active," then Save.

How do I copy content from a previous semester into the current semester?

  • Follow these instructions to copy a whole course or portions of an existing course.  You must have access to both D2L courses in order to copy content.  Instructors often ask permission before copying content from another instructor's course.
  • Contact Online Learning with a request to copy content.  Please include the specific course numbers and semesters and a specific list of the content you would like to copy.

What should I do if students cannot access a Discussion?

  • Verify that the discussion questing or prompt is posted on a Discussion Topic, not on a Discussion Forum.  (What's the difference?)
  • Verify that the Discussion Topic is placed in a Discussion Forum - view instructions here.
  • Verify that the Discussion Forum and the Discussion Topic are not hidden to students - view instructions here.
  • Check accessibility and lock dates on both the Discussion Forum and the Discussion Topic - view instructions here.
  • Provide a direct link to the Discussion Topic by posting it within the course module or in an announcement - view instructions here (look at Section 3).
  • Contact Online Learning for more support.

How do I publish a quiz or exam score to the D2L Gradebook?

  • First, the quiz or exam must be on D2L or on a platform that is integrated with D2L - contact Online Learning for more information if you are using an external platform through a textbook publisher.
  • There has to be a "Grade Item" for the quiz or exam on the D2L Gradebook - view instructions here on how to create a grade item (see Part 3).
  • The quiz or exam needs to be connected to the grade item - view instructions here on how to connect assessments to a grade item.
  • Enable quiz settings so it can be graded automatically and posted to the gradebook - see instructions for settings here.
  • After doing all of these, go to the quiz grading area (click the down-arrow next to the title of the quiz, select Grade), add a checkmark next to the student's name (or select all), and click "Publish Feedback."
  • You could also manually enter quiz or exam grades into the D2L Gradebook.
  • Contact Online Learning for more support. 

How do I post an Assignment score to the D2L Gradebook.

  • There has to be a "Grade Item" for the Assignment on the D2L Gradebook - view instructions here on how to create a grade item (see Part 3).
  • The Assignment needs to be connected to the grade item - view instructions here on how to connect assignments to a grade item.
  • Grade the assignment on D2L, Turnitin, or an external platform that is connected to D2L.
  • In the Assignment grading area, click on the name of an Assignment, add a checkmark next to the student's name (or select all), and click "Publish Feedback."
  • You could also manually enter Assignment grades into the D2L Gradebook.
  • Contact Online Learning for more support. 

How do I give a student access to a quiz or exam after the deadline?  Or, how do I give a student an accommodation (such as extended time on an exam) as specified by the letter I received from the Office of Disabilities? 

FAQ about Other Instruction Technology Platforms

How do I share a recorded Google Meet session with my students?