External Learning Tools in D2L

Learning Objects - Blogs, Journals and Wikis

Step 1:  

• Adding a Wiki or Blog in D2L 

Step 2:  

• Creating a Blog 
• Creating a Journal
• Creating a Wiki 

Step 1: Adding a Wiki, Blog in D2L

1. Log in to Desire2Learn. 
2. Click on the appropriate course link in the My Courses area.  
3. Click on "Content" in the red navigation bar. 
4. On the Manage Content page, click on the "New Topic" button ( ). 
5. On the New Topic page, click on the "Quicklink" link ( ). 
6. On the New Topic page - Quicklink page that loads:  
1. Using the Parent Module drop-down, select the appropriate module. 
2. In the Title box, type a title for the Wiki, Blog, or Journal link. 
3. (Optional) In the Short Title box, type a shortened form of the title. 
4. Locate and click on the Quicklink button ( ) that is to the right of the URL box. 
5. The "Insert a Quicklink" window appears:  
1. Use the Category drop-down to select the "External Learning Tools" option. The Link Details section of the window will update. 
2. Use the External Learning Tools drop-down to select "Campus Pack: Blogs and Wikis" option. 
3. Click on the Insert button. 
6. Click on the Save button. 
7. Click on the Manage Content button to return to the Manage Content page. 

Assessment in D2L:  

Once the link has made in the D2L platform, instructors will need to create the blog or wiki within the Learning Objects area.

Special Note: If instructors lose their place while in the Learning Objects platform, go the top of the Learning Objects platform page and click on the course link or go back to the Content area of your course within D2L and click on the assignment link. Clicking on that link will take instructors back to the homepage and access to blogs and wikis that have been created.

Creating a Blog

1. Navigate to the Content area of the course and click on the link that was just created in the first step.
2. In the Content widget, click on the Add Content button
    
    
3. Choose the type of object to create, by clicking on the Blog object title.
4. Blog option 
   
    
1. Add a title to the Blog by clicking on the title of the object.
2. Enter a title for the Blog and a description if desired.
3. Private Blog - choose the One Per Person option, choose student check box, then click on the Add button. 
   
   The Blog appears. Note: The entire Blog is considered an assignment and is unavailable to students until the instruction makes it available by clicking on the Click here to make available link. 
   
   
    
1. Choose the desired settings for the private Blog:
1. Click on the Assignment Template link to change the look and feel of the assignment that students see. 
1. Click on the Settings link to change the description, image and color of the assignment template.
2. Click on the Widgets link to add widgets such as Voting – Allows viewers to vote on Content and Ratings – Allows viewers to rate content and view the aggregate rating, if desired.
3. Click on the Attachments link to view uploaded content such as Word files.
2. Click on the Assignment Settings link to change the Title, Description, Instructions, Image and Theme of the Blog.
2. To read students Blog posts, click on the Student name in the Active Assignments box. 
   
   
   
   
   
    
4. Whole Class or Group Blog 
1. Enter a Title, Description and choose the Single Copy option for a class blog or the One Per Group for a small group Blog.
2. Click on the Add button.
3. Choose the desired settings for the Blog by clicking on the individual links located at the top of the blog page (Subscribe, Export, Settings, Permissions, Widgets, Assessment, Attachments, Recycle)
   
   
    
1. Subscribe – Allows the instructor to receive periodic emails that summarize the latest activity on the Blog.
2. Export – Allows the instructor to export the blog as a stand-alone website, a single web page or an importable archive.
3. Settings – Allow the instructor to change the Title, Description, Availability, Image (must be 96 x 96 pixels) and the Theme (colors) of the Blog.
4. Permissions – Allows faculty alter the permissions of the Blog.
1. Special Notes  - As a default, only your class has access to the Blog you create.  The default for each tab is set so that Viewers and authors can read any entry. To modify the settings click on the Customize Link on each tab of the Permissions page (Viewer and Authors)
2. To create a private blog 
1. Viewer’s Tab – Uncheck “View Any Entry” under the Viewer Role Permissions box. Click on the Save button.
2. Author’s Tab – Uncheck “View Any Entry” under the Viewer Role Permissions box and the View History of Any Entry under the Author Role Permissions section.
1. To further limit student access to the Blog – deselect the Export Blog and Copy Blog options.
2. Click on the Save button located at the bottom of the page.
5. Widgets - Allows instructors to add functionality to the Blog. The default widget is the Viewer comments widget.
1. For a private Blog under Viewer Feedback,
1. Select the second option, “Viewer Feedback – Viewers can leave private feedback for Authors (and Owners) to read. Viewers cannot see feedback left by others.
2. Click on the Tags option under the In Use tab.
1. Select the “Authors Tags – Only Authors can read and apply tags. (Note: The Tags title under the In Use tab will change to read “Author Tags”)
3.  Click on the Click on the Save button to save your selections.
2. Other Widgets available for use:  
1. Voting – Allows viewers to vote on Content.
2. Ratings – Allows viewers to rate content and view the aggregate rating.
6. Assessment – Provides a log of Blog activity for instructors.
7. Attachments – Displays a list of uploaded attachments for instructors such as images or Word documents.
8. Recycle – Allows the instructor to remove all contributions from people in specific roles.  (Not used, courses are newly created every semester.)

Creating a Journal

1. Navigate to the Content area of the course and click on the link that was just created in the first step.
2. In the Content widget, click on the Add Content button
    
    
3. Choose the type of object to create, by clicking on the blog or wiki object title.
4. Journal option 
   
    
1. Add a title to the journal by clicking on the title of the object.
2. Enter a title for the journal and a description if desired.
3. Private Journal 
1. Enter a Title, Description and choose the Single Copy option.
2. Click on the Add button.
3. Choose the desired settings for the journal by clicking on the individual links located at the top of the journal page (Subscribe, Export, Settings, Permissions, Widgets, Assessment, Attachments, Recycle)
   
   
    
1. Subscribe – Allows the instructor to receive periodic emails that summarize the latest activity on the Journal.
2. Export – Allows the instructor to export the Journal as a stand-alone website, a single web page or an importable archive.
3. Settings – Allow the instructor to change the Title, Description, Availability, Image (must be 96 x 96 pixels) and the Theme (colors) of the Journal.
4. Permissions – Allows faculty alter the permissions of the Journal.
1. Special Notes  - As a default, only your class has access to the Journal you create.  The default for each tab is set so that Viewers and authors can read any entry. To modify the settings click on the Customize Link on each tab of the Permissions page (Viewer and Authors)
2. To create a private Journal 
1. Viewer’s Tab – Uncheck “View Any Entry” under the Viewer Role Permissions box. Click on the Save button.
2. Author’s Tab – Uncheck “View Any Entry” under the Viewer Role Permissions box and the View History of Any Entry under the Author Role Permissions section.
1. To further limit student access to the Journal – deselect the Export Journal and Copy Journal options.
2. Click on the Save button located at the bottom of the page.
5. Widgets - Allows instructors to add functionality to the Journal. The default widget is the Viewer comments widget.
1. For a private Journal under Viewer Feedback,
1. Select the second option, “Viewer Feedback – Viewers can leave private feedback for Authors (and Owners) to read. Viewers cannot see feedback left by others.
2. Click on the Tags option under the In Use tab.
1. Select the “Authors Tags – Only Authors can read and apply tags. (Note: The Tags title under the In Use tab will change to read “Author Tags”)
3.  Click on the Click on the Save button to save your selections.
2. Other Widgets available for use:  
1. Voting – Allows viewers to vote on Content.
2. Ratings – Allows viewers to rate content and view the aggregate rating.
6. Assessment – Provides a log of Journal activity for instructors.
7. Attachments – Displays a list of uploaded attachments for instructors such as images or Word documents.
8. Recycle – Allows the instructor to remove all contributions from people in specific roles.  (Not used, courses are newly created every semester.)

 Creating a Wiki

1. Navigate to the Content area of the course and click on the link that was just created in the first step.
2. In the Content widget, click on the Add Content button
   
   
    
3. Choose the type of object to create, by clicking on the wiki object title.
4. Wiki option 
   
   
    
1. Add a title to the wiki in the Title textbox.
2. Enter a description for the wiki, if desired.
3. Choose the Single Copy option to create a wiki for the entire class, One Per Group for small group projects or One Per Person for single-user wikis. 
4. Click on the Add button. The wiki area appears.
5. Choose the desired settings for the wiki by clicking on the individual links located at the top of the blog page (Subscribe, Export, Settings, Permissions, Widgets, Assessment, Attachments, Recycle)
   
   
    
1. Subscribe – Allows the instructor to receive periodic emails that summarize the latest activity on the blog.
2. Export – Allows the instructor to export the blog as a stand-alone website, a single web page or an importable archive.
3. Settings – Allow the instructor to change the Title, Description, Availability, Image (must be 96 x 96 pixels) and the Theme (colors) of the blog.
4. Permissions – Allows faculty alter the permissions of the Blog.
1. Special Notes  - As a default, only your class has access to the blog you create.  The default for each tab is set so that Viewers and authors can read any entry. To modify the settings click on the Customize Link on each tab of the Permissions page (Viewer and Authors)
2. To create a private blog 
1. Viewer’s Tab – Uncheck “View Any Entry” under the Viewer Role Permissions box. Click on the Save button.
2. Author’s Tab – Uncheck “View Any Entry” under the Viewer Role Permissions box and the View History of Any Entry under the Author Role Permissions section.
1. To further limit student access to the Blog – deselect the Export Blog and Copy Blog options.
2. Click on the Save button located at the bottom of the page.
5. Widgets - Allows instructors to add functionality to the Blog. The default widget is the Viewer comments widget.
1. For a private blog under Viewer Feedback,
1. Select the second option, “Viewer Feedback – Viewers can leave private feedback for Authors (and Owners) to read. Viewers cannot see feedback left by others.
2. Click on the Tags option under the In Use tab.
1. Select the “Authors Tags – Only Authors can read and apply tags. (Note: The Tags title under the In Use tab will change to read “Author Tags”)
3.  Click on the Click on the Save button to save your selections.
2. Other Widgets available for use:  
1. Voting – Allows viewers to vote on Content.
2. Ratings – Allows viewers to rate content and view the aggregate rating.
6. Assessment – Provides a log of blog activity for instructors.
7. Attachments – Displays a list of uploaded attachments for instructors such as images or Word documents.
8. Page List – Provides instructors with a listing of all pages in the wiki.
9. Recycle – Allows the instructor to remove all contributions from people in specific roles. (Not used, courses are newly created every semester.) 
6. Add Pages to the Wiki 
   
   
    
1. Click on the Add New Page button to a page to the wiki.
1. Enter a title for the page and click on the Continue button. The new wiki page appears.
2. Enter content in the Text area, then click on the Save or Save & Exit button.
   
   
    
1. To Edit a page, click on the Edit link.
2. To View the page history, click on the History link
3. To Lock a page, click on the Lock link, if available.
4. To Delete a page, click on the Delete link.
2. To change the order of pages click on the Edit link next to the word Pages. 
3. Click on the Edit link to edit a wiki page.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
    
4. Click on the Save button after completing the work on the page.