Desire2Learn 8.3
The Course Home Page: An Overview
When using Desire2Learn, you will be working extensively from the Course Home page. Through this page, you can access course content, discussions, quizzes, grades, and several other tools. To access the Course Home page, once you log in, in the My Eau Claire Courses widget, you will be presented with a list of the courses you are enrolled in. Each link leads to that course's homepage.
Widgets
On the Course Home page, several items may be present. The items contained within separate windows are referred to as widgets, such as News and My UW-Eau Claire Resources.
Welcome Box
Allows you to adjust your Preferences, Homepage, Profile as well as view your Progress and Locker.
Bookmarks
Allows you to create bookmarks to Content items.
My UW-Eau Claire Resources
Displayed in this widget is a list of resource and help links.
News
Important course announcements, such as due dates, are displayed in this widget. This widget also contains the Search feature.
Course Tools
The instructor can choose which tools are available and has the option of renaming Tools on the Navigation bar. The Course Tools are located on the Navigation bar. Descriptions of each are discussed below. For more information on customizing tools, refer to Customizing Course Tools.
Articles
Allows the instructor to share articles with students. Included in this feature is the ability to manage the article page layout and sections, as well as assign articles to specific sections.
Chat
Allows you to exchange information with class members and the instructor(s) in real time. Clicking CHAT displays a list of chat rooms available to the course. You can enter a chat room or create your own. Also refer to Working with Chats.
Checklist
Allows the instructor to create checklists for students to view.
Classlist
Displays the names and email addresses of the instructor(s) and students enrolled in the course. Users highlighted with a yellow background are currently online. Users with a white background are currently offline. Here you will also find tools that allow course members to submit information for a profile or a website.
Content
Contains course-specific modules and topics. Topics may be in HTML format or consist of multimedia, such as PowerPoint slide shows. Clicking a module or topic link allows you to navigate through detailed information one topic at a time. For more information, refer to Managing Course Content.
Course Home
Returns you to the Course Home page.
Discussions
Takes you to the Forums & Topics List pane, where you can read messages of classmates and post your own messages on a specific topic. Also refer to Working with Discussions.
Dropbox
Contains folders for uploading files for the instructor to view, when available. Also refer to Working with the Dropbox.
Email
Takes you to a new email page, where you can compose a new message. Also refer to Sending Email in Desire2Learn.
FAQ
Allows the instructor to compose a set of FAQs. The students can then browse the FAQs, or view them by category.
Grades
Displays grades received on assignments and quizzes. Specific statistics and comments associated with each item may also be available.
Glossary
Allows the instructor to create a glossary of terms pertaining to the appropriate course which students can then view.
Groups
Allows the instructor to create a designated number of groups of a designated size. The instructor can then enroll the students manually, or the students can enroll voluntarily.
Journal
Provides a place for students to keep personal or course journal entries.
Links
Contains links relevant to the course. Clicking on a link will bring you to a web page to view information for the course. Also refer to Working with Links.
Locker
Works similarly to your H: drive by allowing you to upload and create files and folders.
Quizzes
Provides access to quizzes, when available. Also refer to Taking Online Quizzes.
Schedule
Allows the instructor to edit the course calendar, which the students can then view.
Surveys
Allows the instructor to create, administer, edit, copy, view, and delete course surveys. For more information refer to Creating Surveys.
