Desire2Learn 8.3

Course Tools: An Overview

There are a number of tools in Desire2Learn that can be used to enhance the course. The tools available are determined by the instructor; the instructor may also rename the tools if they wish. In this document, the course tools are described with their default names. For more information, refer to Customizing the Navigation Bar.

Tool	Description
Articles	This feature allows you to view news articles posted by the instructor.
Chat	Chats allow users to converse with more than one other user at a time. They are synchronous (i.e., live, real time) discussions. This area allows you to enter Chat and begin chatting or view previous sessions (archives) of the Chat. For more information, refer to Chat Options.
Checklist	This feature is a way to highlight important aspects of the course as a visual guideline for students to determine the needs for completing the course.
Classlist	This feature keeps track of users enrolled in the course. It is also valuable as a way of finding which users are currently online.The Classlist tool also allows users to share information about themselves using the Profile or Homepage tools.
Content	This feature allows the instructor to post content related to the course. Students may download files such as PowerPoint presentations to complement the course. For more information, refer to Publishing Course Content.
Discussions	This area provides the instructor with the ability to view, add, modify, or remove forums and discussion topics. Students can read and post messages. For more information, refer to Setting Up Discussions.
Dropbox	This feature gives the instructor the option to allow students to submit their work online. Students can upload their work in the Dropbox and the instructor can view it at his or her discretion. For more information, refer to Working with the Dropbox.
Email	The email feature provides an easy method to email course participants. You can automatically address email to course members or instructors directly from the Address Book. Email generated through Desire2Learn is delivered to the email address recorded within Desire2Learn. For more information, refer to Sending Email in Desire2Learn.
FAQ	This feature allows an instructor to publish a list of frequently asked questions related to the course content or policies.
Glossary	This feature allows instructors to create a course glossary. The glossary can be used to make key terms related to the course available to students. For more information, refer to Creating a Course Glossary.
Grades	This feature is an immediate feedback option to let students know their progress in the course. For more information, refer to Working with Grades.
Help	Allows the user to access help documentation created by Desire2Learn.
Import/Export/Copy Components	Allows the instructor to import, export, or copy existing course components. This is beneficial in creating a new D2L course without having to start from scratch.
Journal	This feature allows instructors to keep track of ideas and information they might want to use in class. NOTE: This tool is only visible to the instructor.
Links	Adding links allows instructors to use information from outside of Desire2Learn to complement the course content. For more information, refer to Working with External Links.
Locker	This tool provides an additional storage area for files. Files in this area can be made public or kept private. This is useful when working at multiple workstations.
News	This feature allows the instructor to post items that all students can see. Posting news is an ideal way to inform students about upcoming events, due dates, or corrections. For more information, refer to Working with News.
Pager	This tool allows you to send instant messages to other contacts online. For more information, refer to Working with the Pager.
Quizzes	This feature allows instructors to evaluate students online. Different question formats can be applied and modified. For more information, refer to Creating a Quiz.
Schedule	The Schedule (calendar) provides a central location for course and personal events, such as add/drop periods, exams, and personal appointments. For more information, refer to Using the Schedule.
Surveys	This feature allows the instructor to collect instant feedback from students. This monitors trends and opinions of the users. The surveys can be collected anonymously. For more information refer to Creating a Survey.