A Guide to D2L Brightspace

for Students & Parents/Guardians

Table of Contents

• An Important Note
• Logging in to D2L Brightspace
• The D2L Brightspace YCDSB Homepage
• Entering a Teacher’s D2L Classroom
• Overview of a D2L Classroom
• Viewing Class Content
• Viewing Class Widgets
• Submitting an Assignment
• Using the Brightspace Portfolio
• D2L Brightspace Technical Support

An Important Note

D2L Brightspace is the online Virtual Learning Environment sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Education.

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Teachers use D2L Brightspace to make a fully customizable virtual learning environment for their class. D2L Brightspace uses digital learning tools within the virtual classroom environment. These tools help students learn or review key concepts, stay organized, show what they have learned, submit assignments, track their achievement, and communicate with others.

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It is important to note that virtual classrooms on D2L are fully customizable and therefore not every D2L class will look the same. Teachers are able to customize the layout, icons, features, tools, etc. of their classroom so every class will have its own personalized features, and may not have the same interface as another.

Logging in to D2L Brightspace

Step One: Using your web browser, navigate to ycdsb.elearningontario.ca

Step Two: When prompted, sign in using your board @ycdsbk12.ca Google account and password

Step Three: Follow the prompts and you will land at the YCDSB D2L Homepage

If you are unsure of your board Google account or password, click here for expanded instructions

The D2L Brightspace YCDSB Homepage

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#2 - Elementary and Secondary resources for students can be found here.

#3 - D2L support and YCDSB help desk support links are found here.

#4 - Emails, Instant Messaging, and Notifications are shown in this area.

#5 - Students should link their @ycdsbk12.ca Google account with their D2L account here. This allows them to upload files from their Google Drive easily. Instructions for this can be found here.

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#1 - The ‘My Courses’ area; students find their classes here. Elementary students should choose 2526 and students in secondary should choose 2526Sem1 or 2526Sem2. Choose 2526SS for summer school. Student class(es) are then shown below.

Entering a Teacher’s D2L Classroom

To enter a teacher’s classroom on �D2L Brightspace, navigate to the �‘My Courses’ area.

Step One:

• Elementary students should filter their classes by clicking ‘2526’
• Secondary students should filter their classes by clicking ‘2526Sem1’ or ‘2526Sem2’
• Summer School students should filter their classes by clicking ‘2526SS’

Step Two:

If a teacher has activated their D2L classroom, and a student is enrolled in their class, it will then appear in the area below. Clicking on the desired class tile will bring you into the teacher’s D2L Brightspace Classroom.

Overview of a D2L Classroom

Once in a teacher’s D2L Classroom you will be presented with an image similar �to that shown on the left.

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The numbers labelled showcase:

#1 - The class ‘NavBar’; students can click the icon links here to get to different class areas and use different class tools.

#2 - Class Announcements from teacher(s) are posted here. Check this area daily for instructions, activities, and news.

#3 - Important dates (due dates, schedules, etc.) may be found here on the Class Calendar.

#4 - Teachers may post class activities or assignments on the Activity Feed. You may be able to comment on the posts if you need to.

#5 - Class content is organized and kept here.

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Viewing Class Content

To view class content, click on the “Content” icon from the class NavBar (if available) or click through the “Content Browser” widget placed on the main class page (if available).

�You will then be directed to the “Content” or “Lessons” area within the class. Here, teachers may have organized materials, resources, content and assignments into folders for you to view, interact with, and help with your learning.

Viewing Class Widgets

Some D2L Classrooms may not use the Content tool. Instead, teachers may be presenting activities, resources, and materials using ‘widgets’ throughout their D2L class page.

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Widgets are custom made ‘boxes’ or ‘areas’ on a D2L page that may contain content, links, images, etc. for students to read, view, or interact with.

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By scrolling through a D2L class, you will see the available widgets and the content within them.

Submitting an Assignment

1. Teachers may use Assignment dropboxes as a way to receive student work. �To submit an assignment, click on the “Assignments” icon from the class NavBar.
2. You will then be directed to the “Assignments” area within the class. Here, you will find a list of all class Assignments/ Dropboxes. Click the desired Assignment.
3. You will then be directed to the desired Assignment page. From here, you can see Assignment details and provide attachments. Students are able to: attach files from their computer, attach files from their Google Drive �(if they have linked their account), write comments, record audio, or record a video.
4. Once you have attached the desired components, click Submit to finish the submission process.

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Using the Brightspace Portfolio

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Some teachers may be using the Brightspace Portfolio with their classes. The portfolio tool allows students to document and curate �their work in an online portfolio.

1. To use the Portfolio tool, click “My Portfolio” on the class NavBar.
2. Click the desired classroom portfolio.
3. Click “Add to Portfolio”
4. You will then be prompted to upload a file from your computer or Google drive. You will have the option to record a verbal reflection or a typed one.

Please note: the Brightspace Portfolio App is also available for download (on iOS devices and Android) to use with this classroom tool.

D2L Brightspace Technical Support

D2L Brightspace provides 24/7 support through the Brightspace Community online database of Frequently Asked Questions, technical support documents, and more. Find this and more at community.brightspace.com. �

Students and parents/guardians can contact D2L Brightspace technical support by phone 24/7 at 1-877-325-7778.

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Students and parents/guardians are also able to submit any technical related issues regarding D2L Brightspace to help.ycdsb.ca/vle and a member from the YCDSB IT department will be in touch.

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For any questions/concerns that are not technology related, please direct them to your child’s teacher.

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For any other queries regarding D2L Brightspace, please contact the Technology Enabled Learning and Teaching (TELT) Consultants at paul.palma@ycdsb.ca and angela.carone@ycdsb.ca.