5. D2L Course Shell Setup and Layout

Build the course in D2L, focusing on organization, consistency, and clarity. It is strongly recommended to build the entire course prior to the first day of the course to allow time to reflect and review the course as a whole.

Before the Course Starts

5.1 Provide a Start Here/Getting Started module.

5.2 Ensure the D2L course layout is logical, organized and consistent. Use weeks, modules, units to organize materials.

5.3 Place all materials needed for a week/module/unit in one location (i.e. the Week 1 folder contains all materials needed to complete Week 1).

5.4 Set up the D2L course shell to mirror existing course documents (i.e. Concourse Syllabus, Course Schedule), and to allow students to make connections between course documents and materials.

5.5 Set up the D2L gradebook with all graded components of the course, ensuring items in the gradebook have titles and points that align with corresponding items in other areas of the course.

5.6 Set the D2L gradebook to Release Final Calculated grades so students can track their progress from the start.

5.7 Set the D2L gradebook to “drop ungraded items” to show students their current grade based on the graded items to date.

5.8 Ensure all information in the D2L course shell is accurate, including instructor information, dates, course materials, etc.

5.9 Review the D2L course shell for duplicated content, broken links, and outdated materials.

5.10 Label optional/supplemental course content and materials.

5.11 Review course materials for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB), Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and Accessibility.

5.12 View the course from a student role to ensure the desired items are available or unavailable to students.

5.13 Verify the course does not exceed the 700MB Course Size Limit Procedure.