Getting Started with D2L Brightspace for Instructors

Below are resources for getting started with D2L Brightspace as a faculty member or instructor.

About D2L Brightspace

What is D2L Brightspace?

D2L Brightspace, is the official learning management system at Minnesota State University, Mankato. You can use D2L Brightspace to:

• keep track of grades
• publish due dates,
• organize your course materials
• create quizzes
• email your class list
• and more

Log in with your StarID and StarID password to find your course(s).

Log in to D2L Brightspace

 

Course Access and Admin

• All your courses are automatically added to your D2L Brightspace account about two months prior to semester start, log in to find them.
• Teaching multiple sections of the same course or have a combined undergrad and graduate offering? Request a grouping/merger of two or more courses to make coordination and communication easy. 
• Click the link below to learn how to complete administration tasks, such as copy materials, merge/group courses, add a Teacher's Assistant, and more.

Course Access, Deletion, & Updates

 

Frequently Used Resources

• Request a grouping/merger
• Add a TA or co-instructor
• Copy course materials to another course
• Export course materials
• Inactivate unused courses
• Save courses from inactivation or deletion

Frequently Asked Instructor Questions

 

Training Videos

Get Started Video Playlist

This 12 minute playlist of captioned videos will help you get started with D2L Brightspace.

Getting Started Playlist

The playlist includes:

• Navigate D2L Brightspace [video, 1:49 minutes]
• Manage courses [video, 2:02 minutes]
• Set notification preferences [video, 1:50 minutes]
• Update the instructor profile widget [video, 2:09 minutes]
• Add personal pronouns [support article]
• Email/print your class list [video, 3:20 minutes]

 

Instructor Essentials Video Playlist

This 15 minute playlist of captioned videos will help you with Instructor Essentials.

Instructor Essentials Playlist

The playlist includes:

• Upload or update a syllabus file in Content [video, 2:12 minutes]
• Assignments Due Dates [video, 2:09 minutes],
• Content Due Dates [video, 2:11 minutes],
• Discussions Due Dates [video, 2:48 minutes],
• Quizzes Due Dates [video, 1:45 minutes].
• Quick and simple Grades set-up [video, 3:45 minutes].

 

Assessments Video Playlist

This 10 minute playlist will help you create a variety of assessments in your course.

Assessments Playlist

The playlist includes:

• Create Assignments [video, 1:39 minutes],
• Create Discussions [video, 3:38 minutes]
• Create Quizzes [video, 4:51 minutes]

 

Grades Video Playlist

This 20 minute playlist of captioned videos will help you get the most out of grades.

Grades Playlist

Playlist includes:

• Quick and simple Grades set-up [video, 3:45 minutes] and see this support article to Add Feedback to Grades [webpage].
• Understanding Grades [video, 2:44 minutes]
• Create a Grade Category [video, 2 minutes] and Grade Item [video, 2:03 minutes]
• Add Grade Associations with Assessments/Learning Activities [video, 4:38 minutes]

 

Course Design: Teaching from Content Video Playlist

This 28 minute playlist of captioned videos will help you create an effective and efficient course design.

Teaching from Content Playlist

The playlist includes:

Introduction and Organization. Start building your course:

• Intro to Teaching from Content [video, 4:28 minutes]
• Create and Manage Modules [video, 3:48 minutes]

Content, Activities, and Assessments. Add content:

• Upload or update a File in Content [video, 2:12 minutes]
• Upload/Create Links, Webpages, Videos [video, 3:29 minutes]
• Link to Assignments, Discussions, Quizzes [video, 1:48 minutes]

Welcoming Students to Learning. Welcome and engage students:

• Start Here Module [video, 5:29 minutes]
• Welcome Announcement [video, 2:45 minutes]
• Create and Manage Annoucements [video, 3:22 minutes]