An introduction to the Content Tool in D2L.

1. Presented by Jordan Epp, M.Ed
Instructional Design Faculty Candidate, June 21, 2013

2. 1 Describe the ContentTool.
2 Locate the ContentTool within your course.
3 Summarize the basic components of the
ContentTool.
4 Distinguish between the variousTopic
options.
5 Create and populate a newTopic using the
ContentTool.

3. The ContentTool in D2L will allow you to easily create,
upload, edit and organize the learning material within your
online or blended course.This material or content will help
your students achieve the established learning outcomes for
your course. The ContentTool can help you to effectively
"chuck" and sequence the topics for your course allowing the
students to focus their cognitive energy on learning and not
be distracted by the navigation or operation of the
technology.

4. Sequencing is the process of determining the most
appropriate path of instruction, activity and
evaluation to best address learning outcomes.
Chunking is an instructional strategy meant to ease
the cognitive load of learners.

5. Dive In
Activity:
•Open your browser and
navigate
to https://online.camosu
n.ca
•Login as
Username: id.test
Password: test
•Scroll to the bottom of the
page and select:
Instructional Design
Interview – Jordan Epp –
IDTest 2010 from My
Courses

6. From the Course Home page you can find a link to the Content tool in
the navigation bar along the top.

7. A sub-set of buttons appear including ManageContent, New Module,
NewTopic,Add MultipleTopics, and Reorder.

8. Manage Content shows you a “threaded view” of content items
within your course.
Functionally, this section allows you to select multiple items
allowing you to edit, copy, move or delete them together.

9. Modules can be thought of as folders and are similar to those in your
desktop file structure.

10. Topics are the content items students
will use to achieve the learning outcomes
established for your course.These topics
can be a variety of formats from an
HTML page you create in a simple
WYSIWYG editor, a file you’ve already
uploaded into another course where you
are the instructor, a file from your
computer hard drive or other storage
device, or a link to a web page or other
course materials.
Within the Module “folders” you will create, upload and/or link toTopics which
are similar to the various files on your computer.

11. Multiple topics can quickly be added to a Module by using the Add Multiple
Topics feature. A list of existing ContentTopics is provided allowing you to
select the topics you want to add and even allows you to change theTopic title
within the list.

12. The sequence of your course’sTopics can quickly be reordered by changing the
Sort Order number beside each Module andTopicTitle. Changing one number
will automatically reorder the remainingTopics sequentially.

13. Now that you’ve had a chance to click through the D2L Content
landscape it’s your turn to create some content.
1 Return to the main Content page and select "NewTopic" from
the options given.
1 Decide whether you'd like to create a newTopic using the
HTML text editor, upload a file you've brought with you, or
create aTopic using Quicklink to link students to existing
materials on the web.
2 Select the "Workshop ParticipantTopics" as the Module for
your newTopic. Create your newTopic as described in the
demonstration. If you have any questions as you work feel
free to ask your instructor for assistance.

14. Here are just a few of the advanced features and functions of the
Content tool that you might look into next.
•Reports: Run a report to see which students are on task and who might need a
reminder to stay on track. Reports can be viewed byTopics or by User.
•Restrictions: Restrict the Content’s availability to certain release dates to help
ensure students are mastering skills before moving on to more difficult
concepts.
•Discussions: LinkTopics out to separately established Discussion forums.
•Objectives: LinkTopics to specific Learning Objectives to better focus student’s
attention as they work through the material. Carrying the Learning Objectives
through to the Assessments is equally important.

15. Jordan Epp, BFA, M.Ed
Instructional Designer
Email: jordan.epp@usask.ca
Twitter:eppjordan
Second Life: Harvey Storaro
Skype: jordanepp
Blog: edtech306.wordpress.com