Thursday, July 23, 2015

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If you want to be alerted to updates to our blog, you can subscribe via RSS feed. Over at the top of the right hand column, you can subscribe to our posts, the comments posted on them, or both. When you subscribe, you will receive emails alerting you to new posts, comments, or both! 

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Friday, July 17, 2015

Copy Course Components - Include associated files

This update makes it easier and faster for instructors to include associated files when copying components from one course to another. Previously, instructors had to select Course Files as well as Content in order to copy all associated files and prevent broken links. 

Now, when instructors use the Include associated files feature, D2L imports all files associated with selected course components to the new course. Users can select which content modules to copy rather than having to copy them all.

When the box is checked, all course files associated with the course component are copied to the new course.
Links and images in copied files remain intact. In addition, for content topics and modules, the feature analyzes HTML, HTM, and CSS files to retrieve any files referenced within them, such as embedded images, media, JavaScript, and CSS files. All these files are also copied, maintaining links and styles.

At this time, only direct links to files are processed. A D2L Quicklink is not processed. Instructors must manually select assignments, discussion topics, and content outside the course to copy any items associated by Quicklinks. A warning alerts users to what files did not copy.

See the list below for components and files included in the new feature.
      • Content
        • Overview description
        • Module and topic descriptions
        • Topic files
      • Question Library
        • Sections - messages, comments, feedback
        • Questions - question text, answer options, feedback, and hints
      • Quizzes
        • Sections - messages, comments, feedback
        • Questions - question text, answer options, feedback, and hints
        • Description
        • Introduction
        • Page header and footer
        • Submission view message
      • News
        • Content
      • Dropbox
        • Instructions
      • Discussions
        • Forum and topic descriptions
      • Surveys
        • Sections - messages, comments, feedback
        • Questions - question text, answer options, feedback, and hints
        • Description
        • Submission message
        • Page footer
      • Self Assessments
        • Sections - messages, comments, feedback
        • Questions - question text, answer options, feedback, and hints
        • Page header and footer

Overdue assignments list added to the Course Schedule view

The Upcoming Events tab in Content has been renamed to Course Schedule. A new Overdue tab now appears in the Course Schedule view.

The Overdue tab only appears in the Course Schedule area when course activities are past the due date

Students can view a list of overdue assignments in the new Overdue tab in the Course Schedule view of the Content tool. Course activities that have a due date appear automatically in the Overdue list as soon as the due date passes. Only activities with an end date later than the due date (or no end date) appear in the list, to ensure that learners have time to complete the overdue activities. 

Learners can access an overdue activity directly from the list to complete it. Once the activity has been completed, it disappears from the list, and when all overdue items are completed, the Overdue tab disappears from the Course Schedule view.

The Overdue tab conveniently lists all overdue course tasks in one place so learners can more easily manage their time and workload. Overdue activities are sorted by most to least overdue.

Upcoming Events view renamed to Course Schedule view

The Upcoming Events view in Content has been renamed to Course Schedule.

a screenshot of the left hand navigation panel in the Table of Contents in a BOLT course displaying the new Course Schedule menu item

You can click on the Course Schedule menu item to show any important dates in the course.

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Welcome to the BOLT Blog

Hello and welcome to the BOLT blog. 

The Instructional Media and Design Center wants to make sure you know what's going on and being updated in BOLT.

We have created this blog in response to an instructional technology survey. An overwhelming number of respondents indicated that they would like to be able to subscribe to updates so here we are.

This blog will detail updates to BOLT and any other BOLT related information you need.

Thank you for stopping by and don't forget to subscribe if you want updates when we post!