Here is a series of relevant short instructional videos for commencing the semester when it comes to D2L Brightspace Learning Environment.
If you are thinking about requesting the courses you teach in the Fall, these videos can be a refresher for setting up your courses ahead of time.
Image credit: minnesota.qualitymatters.org
Minnesota Online Quality Initiative continue with their series of webinars. The upcoming professional development series focus on Quality Matters standards, as well as the interventions for stereotype threats. You can register here for the final four webinars of this year.
Good news is that the group is almost done with their Spring schedule, so we are looking forward to learning more and bringing these to our St. Cloud State faculty.
A big thanks to the MOQI group for providing free, short, and relevant professional development sessions.
Our team recommends the MnSCU D2L Brightspace Service Desk. You can always find small details you were probably thinking about at some point. Here is another great tip on surveys:
Q: How can an instructor reset an in-progress survey attempt in a D2L Brightspace course?
A: Instructors can reset (i.e. delete) an in-progress attempt from the survey’s Statistics page. Follow instructions here.
Here is another useful tip for instructors on how to get the statistics on their quiz questions.
Q: What statistics are available for quiz questions in a D2L Brightspace course?
A: Learn about quiz statistics and common questions at FAQ #1601.
Below is a brief overview in tables taken from the MnSCU D2L Brightspace Service Desk:
Statistics by Question Type and Question Collection:
Are statistics available for:
| Question Type | Average Grade | Standard Deviation | Discrimination Index | Point Biserial |
| T/F | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes* |
| M/C | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes* |
| M/S | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Matching | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Ordering | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| LA | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| SA | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| MSA | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| FIB | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| 2+2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| x10 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
* Note: There can only be one answer worth 100%; all other answers must be worth 0%.
Are statistics available for questions:
| Question Condition | Average Grade | Standard Deviation | Discrimination Index | Point Biserial |
| In Random Section** | No | No | No | No |
| In Folder Section | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| In Root section | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Has Randomized Responses | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
* Note: any questions that are contained in a Random folder DO NOT produce item analysis statistics.
Image credit: minnesota.qualitymatters.org
All MnSCU faculty and staff are welcome to register for different D2L Brightspace and SIG (Special Interest Group for Learning Spaces & Instructional Technology) webinars.
There are a few that repeat so you can choose a date that works better for you. With the final one in September: D2L Brightspace Advanced: Checklist Tool
to the final one in October: SIG Webinar: Time-Saving Tips for Stressed Out Instructors there is a gamut of helpful one-hour sessions for instructors and staff of our MnSCU institutions. We will keep you posted on more events sponsored by MOQI as well as add these webinars to our calendar!
We bring you another great tip with detailed instructions on how to start a private online discussion with individual students.
Q: How can faculty have a private online conversation with each student in a D2L Brightspace course?
A: It is possible to set up an individual discussion with each student by creating groups of one member. It takes some time to set up, because each group and discussion needs to be renamed, but is worth it if you want to have an ongoing conversation with individual students that is stored within the course.
Detailed instructions are offered here within the MnSCU D2L Brightspace Service Desk.
Attention instructors!
A quick way to find really short and concise videos on any feature of your D2L Brightspace course can be found here.
If you are interested in a specific feature, you can quickly search (e.g. discussions, dropbox, calendar, assessment, quizzes, chat, classlist, etc.).
Also, when you log in to your D2L, in the right upper corner you will have a box named “Instructor Help” which has the link as well.
