Category Archives: Desire2Learn

TED Tips – Issue 3:  Canvas Migration Update at the University of Wisconsin Whitewater

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Last week we started to explore the difference between an LMS (Learning Management System) and a DLE (Digital Learning Environment).  One of the key strategic observations is that the UW-System is in the process of migrating from Desire2Learn (D2L) to Canvas Instructure as the main tool “hub”.  The emphasis is on creating a seamless, consistent, and accessible student experience.   Having said that…what does that mean for the University of Wisconsin Whitewater?  What should you expect this fall and what do you need to know?   How do you get help and support to meet your instructional needs throughout this migration?  This week’s “TED Tip” hopes to answer some of those questions.

Image:  “Migration” by Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Alpha Stock Images

Do we have to migrate to Canvas?

Yes.  All UW-System schools (except for Madison) are in the process of moving to the Canvas platform.  Madison has already been using Canvas.  This migration project is managed by the UW-System, with input from individuals on each of the campuses.  This does not diminish your academic freedoms; it provides a common platform for delivering content throughout the UW-System.

When does the migration affect us?

The migration process is already well underway.  Fall 2018 is the first semester that Canvas is available to use for your courses.  Spring 2019 is the last semester that Desire2Learn will be available.   Starting in Summer 2019, all courses will be required to use Canvas. Existing content stored in D2L will be accessible to instructors through Spring 2020 for migration.

For Fall 2018 and Spring 2019, you can choose what platform you want to deliver your courses.  Having said that, the choice of platform makes a lasting impact on students. As we examined last week, one of the goals of the UW-System supports a consistent Digital Learning Environment.  Because we are moving towards building this long lasting and supported environment for students, The University of Wisconsin Whitewater strongly encourages you to develop freshman-facing courses in Canvas.  This should make things easier for new students, by limiting their need to learn both Canvas and Desire2Learn.  It is possible that you will have courses in D2L and Canvas; it is possible that students will be taking courses in both D2L and Canvas.

Some courses, departments, and/or colleges may have other specific transition requirements.  If you are unsure, it is always helpful to double check.

What other help is available?

The Learning Technology Center (LTC) has been offering a variety of services to help prepare you to teach in the fall in Canvas.  Look for a series of in person, hands-on workshops.  Some are offered remotely via webinars.

If you are just getting started in Canvas, a “Canvas Hands-On Introduction” workshop is the place to start.  These introduction workshops cover the basic functions and core tools in Canvas.  These are great if you have never used Canvas.   They are interactive and provide the opportunity to ask questions along the way.

“Canvas Construction Zones” are hands-on, workshops in computer labs specifically focused on transitioning content from D2L to Canvas.  The construction zones use a course complexity application tool to help estimate the time of work you will need to put into setting up your course in Canvas.

“Canvas Deep Dives” are more in depth explorations of how to leverage specific tools or topics, often exploring various options to best meet the needs of your teaching.  These are more advanced workshops but cover fundamentals like grading in Canvas, leveraging the syllabus and calendar tool, providing feedback, and creating new content in canvas.

Colleges may also offer additional Canvas training opportunities.  For example, the College of Business and Economics, has its own Canvas Training program.  Check the University of Whitewater Event Sign up tool for additional training opportunities.  Finally, there are also a series of asynchronous recorded workshops that can help acclimate you to the environment and get address specific needs you may have.

You are not alone!

In addition to the workshops and trainings, the LTC has college-specific faculty peer mentors available to help provide assistance with the Canvas Transition.

The peer mentors are available to:

  • Help answer transition questions.
  • Provide training information and resources about the Canvas platform.
  • Work to understand different ways that Canvas can be leveraged for enriching teaching and learning.

Additional Services and Support

Canvas itself has a more robust technical support service line that includes 24 / 7 toll free hotline and live online chat interactions.  These can be reached from the Canvas 24/7/365 Support website for basic how-to questions.

This weeks TED tip covers a lot of territory regarding the status of the Canvas Migration project, the training and support opportunities available, and where to find assistance and support.  Next week we’ll focus more closely at one of these important tasks:  how exactly DO I convert my D2L course to Canvas.

– Ted Witt
Teaching, Learning, and Technology Consultant

RESOURCES:

Canvas Migration Website:  http://www.uww.edu/icit/ltc/canvas-portal

Canvas Training Videos:  http://www.uww.edu/icit/ltc/canvas-portal/training

Course Complexity App: http://dl.uwsa.edu

Want to learn more about Canvas? Join the LTC at one of our online or face-to-face workshops this summer! Signup at: http://go.uww.edu/ltc-workshop-signup

University of Wisconsin Whitewater Event Sign-up tool: https://my.uww.edu/signup/Home

Peer Mentors:  http://www.uww.edu/icit/ltc/canvas-portal/peer-mentors

In Depth UW System support for the Course Content Migration: https://www.wisconsin.edu/dle/implementation/teams/uwsa-workstreams/course-content-migration/

D2L eGrading Process Available for Fall 2017

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The D2L eGrading process is now available for the Fall 2017 semester. This process allows instructors to transfer final grades from their Desire2Learn Gradebook directly to their WINS Grade Roster.

If you prefer step by step documentation, that can be found at: WINS eGrading Overview.

If you have any questions or concerns with the eGrading process, please contact UW-W Desire2Learn Support.

Call for Proposals: LTDC Virtual Conference

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Virtual-ShowcaseThe UW System Learning Technology Development Council (LTDC) Showcase 2015 will be held virtually April 9-10, 2015. Faculty, teaching staff and learning technology support staff – please join us and submit a proposal to present or facilitate by January 30 February 13, 2015! Proposals may be submitted at the following website: Virtual Showcase 2015

This virtual conference offers an opportunity for sharing your successes and challenges in teaching with technology. This conference will provide you with the opportunity to virtually connect with other practitioners and requires neither travel expense nor a significant time commitment.

All presentations will be conducted virtually with technology training and orientation available prior to the conference. The presentations will be approximately 30 minutes in length with 15 min Q&A following. Proposals are sought in the following six general categories:

  1. Innovative Approaches (Hot Topics) – Tell us about how you’re working and teaching. Are mobile applications a part of your learning and knowledge portfolio? How have you taken traditional teaching and enhanced it through an innovative approach? Can you share a successful case study?
  2. Engagement of Students – How are your students connecting with each other and you? What works now or what do you expect might be a future method of engaging students? Can you share a successful case study?
  3. Faculty Development – How are you supporting your faculty? Are you facilitating learning communities? How are you engaging faculty to try new approaches to teaching and learning? Do you have a successful case study to share?
  4. “How To” and Resources – Do you have a skill to share? Have you created a wonderful set of resources for faculty and students? We’re interested in successful case studies; what can you share?
  5. Best Practices – Are you using a particular learning technology (or set of technologies) and know through evaluation that it definitively engages students and promotes learning?
  6. Emerging Topics – Do you have a proposal that doesn’t quite fit into the other topics?

We look forward to learning more about your teaching and learning experiences!  If you have any questions contact the Learning Technology Center.

 

Register Today! LTDC Virtual Showcase

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LTDC LogoThe UW System Learning Technology Development Council (UWS LTDC) is pleased to announce our virtual showcase to be held on April 10-11, 2014 from 8:45 am – 3:45 pm.

Visit the session schedule and register today!

Inspiring keynote presentations by Dr. Alec Couros, University of Regina, and Dr. Gardner Campbell, Virginia Commonwealth University, will kick off each day of the showcase. Faculty and staff from UW System campuses will share their innovative uses, best practices, how-to’s and much more on a variety of learning technologies that span classroom, blended and online topics.

For more information, visit the conference website at: http://uwsltdcshowcase.wordpress.com

D2L Training Scheduled for January 17

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The Learning Technology Center is pleased to IMAG0364invite faculty and instructional staff to “D2L Day,” a series of hands-on sessions held on Friday, January 17, 2014 from 9:00 AM to 4:45 PM in Hyland 3101.

This D2L Winterim Workshop includes breakout sessions featuring a special session on the latest D2L upgrade to version 10.1 (the upgrade is to take place on January 8 – 9, 2014) and focuses on specific D2L tools such as quizzes and discussions.  Sessions will include a variety of hands-on “How To” activities, tips, best practices, and new strategies to effectively use D2L in your classroom.

Participants may now register for the all-day workshop or for individual sessions using the signup tool. The workshops are listed under “iCIT-LTC Training”. If you have any questions about this workshop, please contact the Learning Technology Center.

D2L Ignite Regional User Forum – November 8

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ignite2013

On Friday, November 8, 2013, the first regional conference in Wisconsin to be hosted by Desire2Learn will take place at the Sheraton Madison Hotel in Madison, Wisconsin.

Similar to the annual D2L Fusion User Conference, this regional event provides an opportunity for teaching faculty, staff, and those interested in exploring technology in teaching and learning to attend “locally” without incurring a lot of travel expenses and time commitment.  It will be a great venue for sharing, networking, and exchanging ideas with your colleagues from other regional campuses. Topics will focus on a variety of aspects of pedagogy and teaching with technology both directly and indirectly related to D2L.  The UW System is co-sponsoring this event and assisting in planning the program.

Registration and session details can be found at:
WI D2L Ignite User Forum – registration deadline is Nov 1.

“Save the Date” and Call for Proposals!

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Please save the date for the first ever Desire2Learn Wisconsin Regional User Forum to be held Friday, November 8, 2013, from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm at the Sheraton in Madison, WI.

Join with other D2L users from across the state for a day of collaboration and discussion on how eLearning is being used in Wisconsin to enhance teaching and learning.  The day will include D2L led training sessions and discussions, as well as presentations by instructors on their tips, tricks, strategies. and best practices.

Visit the Desire2Learn Ignite website to “Save the Date” and to submit your proposal to present at the conference.  Presentation proposals are due Friday, September 6, 2013 http://geturl.uww.edu/1ma

FUSION 2013 – D2L Users’ Conference

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Instructional faculty and staff are invited to register and attend FUSION 2013, Desire2Learn Inc.’s annual users’ conference.

The FUSION conference is attended by individuals in various roles and there are multiple tracks for many presentations that are designed specifically for each role. Sessions are largely classroom style and are presented by attendees as well as Desire2Learn staff. There are also poster sessions, hands-on sessions for attendees to actively participate in learning, focus groups, and in-depth roundtable discussions.

This year’s FUSION is being held in Boston, Massachusetts on July 15th through the 17th. For more information and to register, please visit the Desire2Learn FUSION conference website.

D2L ePortfolio Showcase Event at UW Madison – June 22

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Whether you are new to the topic of ePortfolio or an advanced user, please join your colleagues for a one day event focusing on the use of the D2L ePortfolio (eP)! All UW-System faculty and instructional support staff are invited to attend an eP showcase to be held at UW-Madison’s Union South where faculty and staff will share their experiences and best practices in leveraging the D2L ePortfolio tool.

The keynote speaker for this event, Dr. Trent Batson, Executive Director of AAEEBL, will discuss “Deep Learning and ePortfolios.” Also joining the showcase is Angus Chan, the Director of D2L’s eP and Learning Object Repository development group. Angus will discuss D2L ePortfolio 4.0 new features, and he will also lead a “listening session” with attendees to learn about suggested changes and enhancements to eP that UW System users would like to request.

The program will also include subject-matter roundtables and panel sessions on various eP implementation topics. The Showcase will provide excellent networking, sharing, and collaborative opportunities to engage with members of the University of Wisconsin D2L eP community.

Please visit the following page to learn more about the showcase presenters and topics: http://geturl.uww.edu/1e1

Space is limited. To secure a spot for the event, please register prior to June 8, 2012, at http://geturl.uww.edu/1e0

Please contact the LTC (ltc@uww.edu) if you have questions about the eP Showcase!