TED Tips – Issue 4: From D2L to Canvas

The Canvas Migration process is well underway.  We looked last week at some of the details and training opportunities to help understand the migration process.  This week’s TED Tip examines some options to get a course from D2L into Canvas.

While UW-Whitewater strongly encourages freshman-facing courses to be offered in Canvas (specific departments and colleges may have other requirements), from Fall 2018 through Spring 2019, you can choose either D2L or Canvas for your courses.

If you want to offer your course in D2L for students, you will need to complete the normal D2L “Course Request Process”.  You may have used this process before.  In D2L, by default, courses are not created until requested.

Canvas, however, automatically creates courses for you; there will no longer be a separate course request process.   Be advised, while these courses are automatically created (and WINS enrollments and course integrations will take place), these are blank placeholder courses.  You still need to import or create content and set up the course normally.  Additionally, while these blank courses help get you started – they will remain inaccessible until you actually “Publish” them.  You can find the publish command in the “Course Status” area in upper right corner from the Home screen inside each course.  Even though the course creation process and enrollments will happen automatically, you still will have to choose to “Publish” that course to make it available.

How do I get my content into Canvas?

You can create content directly inside of Canvas.  A transition like this a great opportunity to review learning objectives, update learning activities, and evaluate assessment effectiveness.  The move from one platform to another is a great opportunity to start fresh to create the best possible student experience we can. Striving for continuous improvement increases quality.

It is also possible to import existing content from D2L to canvas.  As with all moves, a good tip is to clean up existing files and content before the move.  It is recommended to go into the “Edit Course” section inside of D2L and then purge unneeded materials through the “Manage Files” command.

Once we are ready to migrate, the Course Complexity Application is a great resource.   WINS courses from Winter 2016 through Winter 2018 that are associated with your D2L account will show up with a complexity rating.  This complexity rating provides an estimate of time needed to fix your course inside Canvas.  Not everything transfers easily.  For example, grade categories or weighted grade items do not transfer into Canvas; you will have to spend time setting up new categories or configuring your gradebook in Canvas.  Quizzes and pools of randomized quiz questions are other common items that will require your attention in Canvas.  Every course is different, but the estimates provide a good gauge of time.

How Do I Export and Import Content?

The Course Complexity Application provides an “Export course from desire to learn” command that will start the process.  Alternatively, you could work from inside of D2L directly and from the edit course option, select the “import/export/copy components” command.  This is the same place command you may have used to copy from one section of a course to another.

After you have started to create an export from either place, select the course materials.  This ultimately creates a zip package export of your course.  Save or rename this zip file appropriately.

Next, go to Canvas.  Select your specific course and then choose the “Import Course Content” command from the “Settings” button.  Select the content type select “D2L export .zip format”.   Then choose the zipped file package you created in the last step.  Select all content.  When ready, you can then click import to move content into your course.   The processes of importing from one format to the next may take some time.  A video walkthrough is linked from the resources section if you are looking for a more visual step by step guide to this process.

After import, Canvas will provide an Issue List.  Canvas flags content that did not import easily as an issue.  You may need to rebuild some content.  You may need to reconfigure some tests.  You may need to double check the gradebook.  Another tool to review is the “Validate Links” command from setting option in canvas.  Like Issues, this will generate a list of broken links inside your Canvas course that you can use to update and review.

Whether you have created the content in Canvas for the first time or imported it from D2L – it is a good practice to review and proofread your new course before your publish it.

What other help is available?

The Learning Technology Center (LTC) continues to provide workshops.  Look for “Canvas Hands-On Introduction” for beginners, “Canvas Construction Zones” for hands on step by step migration, and “Canvas Deep Dives” for more in depth looks at specific tools and concepts.  Canvas also has a 24 / 7 toll free technical support service line including phone, chat, and email options Canvas 24/7/365 Support.

Next week I want to welcome you a bit more to the LTC and introduce you to some of the services and people that can help you explore ways to enhance student learning.

– Ted Witt
Teaching, Learning, and Technology Consultant

RESOURCES:

Video:  Moving a Course from D2L to Canvas

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

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

Link Validator reference: https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-12770-4152476605

Detailed Course Content Migration documentation: UW System Course Content Migration Documentation

D2L course request site:   http://my.uww.edu/d2lrequest

Saturday Learning Technology Center Instructional Development Event

LTC_Logo_Text_750px

The LTC is offering an all day Saturday event focusing on instructional development! The event kicks off with D2L support and training in the morning, and then continues in the afternoon with classroom technology exploration.

Join us as early as 8:00am for D2L support focused on us directly supporting you and your specific D2L needs.  Get all of your questions answered, and stay until your problems are solved!

After lunch, feel free to join us as we head out to a real classroom on campus and play with the tools you will have available to you in your instructional space.

Saturday Event Schedule
*sessions subject to change based on instructor needs.

8:00 – 10:00am Staff available for 1:1 appointments with instructors
10:00 – Noon D2L basics help
1:00 – 2:00pm Staff available for 1:1 appointments with instructors
2:00 – 3:00pm Classroom technology training
3:00 – 4:00pm Staff available for 1:1 appointments with instructors

 

Register here!
If you have additional questions or concerns regarding this event,  please contact the UW-W Learning Technology Center.

D2L Winter Workshops, January 11-12, 2016

DSC_3956The Learning Technology Center is pleased to invite faculty and instructional staff to the D2L Winter Workshop series, a series of hands-on sessions held on Monday and Tuesday, January 11-12, 2016 from 1:00-4:00PM in Hyer 210.

This D2L Winterim Workshop series includes breakout sessions on D2L tools, such as Quizzes, Discussions, Dropbox, and Content.  These will include a variety of hands-on “How To” sessions for all levels of D2L users. Each session will be “hands on” and include some tips and tricks for attendees to become D2L power users.

All faculty and instructional staff are welcome.  Registration is recommended, but walk-ins are welcome.  There is no stipend associated with this workshop series.

Program Summary:

If you have any questions about this workshop, please contact the Learning Technology Center.

Online Teaching Bootcamp, January 13-15, 2016

DSC_3940New to online teaching?  In need of some additional ideas for your online class?  The Learning Technology Center is pleased to announce the first annual Online Teaching Bootcamp.

This program will be held January 13-15, 1:00-4:00 pm each day.  It will be a mix of demonstration, hands-on practice, and discussion, geared to address the most common concerns in online teaching.  All faculty and instructional staff are welcome.  Registration is recommended, but walk-ins are welcome.  There is no stipend associated with this workshop series.

Program Summary:

  • January 13: Hands-On D2L
  • Hyer 210, 1:00-4:00 pm
  • Signup:  https://my.uww.edu/signup/Event/Details/14471 
    • The basic layout of D2L
    • Arranging content into modules
    • HTML editor
    • Moving from Microsoft Word to D2L
    • Discussions—basics
    • Dropbox—Basics
    • Grades
  • January 14: Online Assignments
  • Hyer 210, 1:00-4:00 pm
  • Signup:  https://my.uww.edu/signup/Registration/Details/14472 
    • Creating, facilitating, and grading discussions
    • Creating and grading papers, posters, presentations, and other common assignments
    • Quizzes
    • Online gradebooks
    • Tools external to D2L: Blogs, wikis, Google Drive

If you have questions about this, or any other LTC resources, feel free to contact us:  ltc@uww.edu

D2L Training Scheduled for January 15

DSC_3940The Learning Technology Center is pleased to invite faculty and instructional staff to “D2L Day,” a series of hands-on sessions held on Thursday, January 15, 2015 from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM in McGraw 19B.

This D2L Winterim Workshop includes breakout sessions on D2L tools, such as Quizzes, Discussions, Dropbox, and Content.  These will include a variety of hands-on “How To” sessions for all levels of D2L users. Morning sessions will cover the basics of the most commonly-used tools, and afternoon sessions will cover each tool in more detail as well as discuss some lesser-known tools. Each session will be “hands on” and include some tips and tricks for attendees to become D2L power users.

Participants may 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.

Turnitin Instructional Videos Available

turnitin_logoThe Learning Technology Center (LTC) has created a new video tutorial series on Turnitin covering Originality Check (In Desire2Learn and turnitin.com), GradeMark and PeerMark. These videos are designed to help guide instructors through the basics of using Turnitin.

The video playlist is available below and can be found on our YouTube channel.

Additional information is also available in our documentation space:

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

Orientation Workshops: August 21, 2014

Come join us on August 21, 2014 for two workshops by the Learning Technology Center.

ClassroomOnline Teaching: A Primer
August 21, 2014
9:30 – 10:30 AM, UC 259B

Many of the basic principles of teaching are universal; however, the online learning environment has some specific challenges for students and instructors. This session will address these challenges, explore the basics of online course design, and give practical suggestions to make the online learning experience better for both you and your students.

Evaluating Online Student Group Work
August 21, 2014
11:00 – Noon, McGraw 115

Group work can be a valuable experience for students, but evaluating group work can be a challenge for any instructor. This session will explore common issues and concerns regarding evaluating online student group work, models for group work, and some simple tools for getting started with group assessment. Specific tools include the D2L Dropbox, D2L Rubrics, and PeerMark.

To register for these sessions, please sign up at:  http://signup.uww.edu.  Seating is limited.

If you have any questions regarding these sessions, please contact the UW-W Learning Technology Center.

Save the Date: Flipped Classrooms

ClassroomJoin your colleagues Chris Henige, Beth King, and Katrina Liu as they share their experiences with flipped classes.  This session is scheduled for February 11, 2014, from 1:00 – 2:00 pm, in the University Center, room 259.

Typically, “flipping” is considered to be the practice of using video segments to disseminate content-rich lessons outside of the classroom, thereby allowing classroom time to be used for interaction and hands-on activities.  However, the flipped classroom model can take many forms and may also involve a wide variety of technologies and methodologies.  Join your UW-Whitewater colleagues as we consider what it means (and does not mean) to “flip” a classroom and discuss the potential benefits and pitfalls of this practice.

Reserve your seat today at https://my.uww.edu/signup/ under LEARN Center.

This event is sponsored by the Learning Technology Center (LTC) and the LEARN Center.

LTC Winterim Workshop, D2L Training: January 17

The Learning Technology Center is pleased to D2L Winterim Workshop D2L Traininginvite 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.

View the D2L training schedule here:  D2L Traing Schedule, January 17

Participants may now register for the all-day workshop or for individual sessions using the UW-W 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 Training Scheduled for January 17

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.