External Learning Tools in D2L

Learning Objects - Blogs, Journals and Wikis

Step 1:  Adding a Wiki or Blog in D2L 
Step 2:  

• Creating a Blog 
• Creating a Journal 
• Creating a Wiki 

Step 3:  Adding Pages to a Wiki and Using the Text Editor
Step 4:   Navigating a Wiki
Step 5:  Creating Page Hierarchy in a Wiki
Step 6:  Editing the Content in a Wiki Page
Step 7:  Deleting Pages in a Wiki
Step 8:  Commenting in a Wiki

Adding a Wiki, Blog in D2L

1. Log in to D2L. 
2. Click on the appropriate course link in the My Courses area.  
3. Click on "Content" in the red navigation bar. 
4. On the Manage Content page, click on the "New Topic" button ( ). 
5. On the New Topic page, click on the "Quicklink" link ( ). 
6. On the New Topic page - Quicklink page that loads:  
1. Using the Parent Module drop-down, select the appropriate module. 
2. In the Title box, type a title for the Wiki, Blog, or Journal link. 
3. (Optional) In the Short Title box, type a shortened form of the title. 
4. Locate and click on the Quicklink button ( ) that is to the right of the URL box. 
5. The "Insert a Quicklink" window appears:  
1. Use the Category drop-down to select the "External Learning Tools" option. The Link Details section of the window will update. 
2. Use the External Learning Tools drop-down to select "Campus Pack: Blogs / Wikis /  Journal" option. 
3. Click on the Insert button. 
6. Click on the Save button. 
7. Click on the Manage Content button to return to the Manage Content page. 

Once the link has made in the D2L platform, instructors will need to create the blog or wiki within the Learning Objects area.

Special Note: If instructors lose their place while in the Learning Objects platform, go the top of the Learning Objects platform page and click on the course link or go back to the Content area of your course within D2L and click on the assignment link. Clicking on that link will take instructors back to the homepage and access to blogs and wikis that have been created.

Creating a Blog

1. Navigate to the Content area of the course and click on the link that was just created in the first step
2. Blog option 
   
      
 
3. Whole Class or Group Blog 
1. Enter a Title and Description, if desired.
2. Click on the Add button.
3. Choose the desired settings for the Blog by clicking on the individual links located at the top of the blog page (Subscribe, Export, Settings, Permissions, Widgets, Assessment, Attachments, Recycle)
   
   
    
1. Subscribe – Allows the instructor to receive periodic emails that summarize the latest activity on the Blog.
2. Export – Allows the instructor to export the blog as a stand-alone website, a single web page or an importable archive.
3. Settings – Allow the instructor to change the Title, Description, Availability, Image (must be 96 x 96 pixels) and the Theme (colors) of the Blog.
4. Permissions – Allows faculty alter the permissions of the Blog.
1. Special Notes  - As a default, only your class has access to the Blog you create.  The default for each tab is set so that Viewers and authors can read any entry. To modify the settings click on the Customize Link on each tab of the Permissions page (Viewer and Authors)
2. To create a private blog 
1. Viewer’s Tab – Uncheck “View Any Entry” under the Viewer Role Permissions box. Click on the Save button.
2. Author’s Tab – Uncheck “View Any Entry” under the Viewer Role Permissions box and the View History of Any Entry under the Author Role Permissions section.
   1. To further limit student access to the Blog – deselect the Export Blog and Copy Blog options.
   2. Click on the Save button located at the bottom of the page.
5. Widgets - Allows instructors to add functionality to the Blog. The default widget is the Viewer comments widget.
1. For a private Blog under Viewer Feedback,
1. Select the second option, “Viewer Feedback – Viewers can leave private feedback for Authors (and Owners) to read. Viewers cannot see feedback left by others.
2. Click on the Tags option under the In Use tab.
1. Select the “Authors Tags – Only Authors can read and apply tags. (Note: The Tags title under the In Use tab will change to read “Author Tags”)
3.  Click on the Click on the Save button to save your selections.
2. Other Widgets available for use:  
1. Voting – Allows viewers to vote on Content.
2. Ratings – Allows viewers to rate content and view the aggregate rating.
6. Assessment – Provides a log of Blog activity for instructors.
7. Attachments – Displays a list of uploaded attachments for instructors such as images or Word documents.
8. Recycle – Allows the instructor to remove all contributions from people in specific roles.  (Not used, courses are newly created every semester.)
4. Add a blog entry
   1. Click on the Add New Entry button.
   2. When the date appears, click on the continue button.
   3. Enter the desired blog information in the text box.
   4. Click on Save.
5. Respond to blog posts
   1. Respond to student posts by clicking on the Author link at the bottom of the student post.

Creating a Journal

1. Navigate to the Content area of the course and click on the link that was just created in the first step.
2. Journal option 
   
    
1. Enter a title for the journal and a description if desired.
2. Choose the desired settings for the journal by clicking on the individual links located at the top of the journal page (Subscribe, Export, Settings, Permissions, Widgets, Assessment, Attachments, Recycle)
   
   

1. Subscribe – Allows the instructor to receive periodic emails that summarize the latest activity on the Journal.
2. Export – Allows the instructor to export the Journal as a stand-alone website, a single web page or an importable archive.
3. Settings – Allow the instructor to change the Title, Description, Availability, Image (must be 96 x 96 pixels) and the Theme (colors) of the Journal.
4. Permissions – Allows faculty alter the permissions of the Journal.
1. Special Notes  - As a default, only your class has access to the Journal you create.  The default for each tab is set so that Viewers and authors can read any entry. To modify the settings click on the Customize Link on each tab of the Permissions page (Viewer and Authors)
2. To create a private Journal 
1. Viewer’s Tab – Uncheck “View Any Entry” under the Viewer Role Permissions box. Click on the Save button.
2. Author’s Tab – Uncheck “View Any Entry” under the Viewer Role Permissions box and the View History of Any Entry under the Author Role Permissions section.
1. To further limit student access to the Journal – deselect the Export Journal and Copy Journal options.
2. Click on the Save button located at the bottom of the page.
5. Widgets - Allows instructors to add functionality to the Journal. The default widget is the Viewer comments widget.
1. For a private Journal under Viewer Feedback,
1. Select the second option, “Viewer Feedback – Viewers can leave private feedback for Authors (and Owners) to read. Viewers cannot see feedback left by others.
2. Click on the Tags option under the In Use tab.
1. Select the “Authors Tags – Only Authors can read and apply tags. (Note: The Tags title under the In Use tab will change to read “Author Tags”)
3.  Click on the Click on the Save button to save your selections.
2. Other Widgets available for use:  
1. Voting – Allows viewers to vote on Content.
2. Ratings – Allows viewers to rate content and view the aggregate rating.
6. Assessment – Provides a log of Journal activity for instructors.
7. Attachments – Displays a list of uploaded attachments for instructors such as images or Word documents.
8. Recycle – Allows the instructor to remove all contributions from people in specific roles.  (Not used, courses are newly created every semester.)
1. Add a new Journal Entry
1. Click on the Add New Entry button
2. When the date box appears, click on the Continue button.
3. Enter the desired text in the text box.
4. Click on the Save button.
1. Read Journal Entries
   1. Reply to student journal posts by clicking on the Author link on the bottom of the student post.

Creating a Wiki

1. Navigate to the Content area of the course and click on the link that was just created in the first step.
2. Wiki option 
   
   
    
1. Add a title to the wiki in the Title textbox.
2. Enter a description for the wiki, if desired.
3. Click on the Add button. The wiki area appears.
4. Choose the desired settings for the wiki by clicking on the individual links located at the top of the blog page (Subscribe, Export, Settings, Permissions, Widgets, Assessment, Attachments, Recycle)
   
   
    
1. Subscribe – Allows the instructor to receive periodic emails that summarize the latest activity on the blog.
2. Export – Allows the instructor to export the blog as a stand-alone website, a single web page or an importable archive.
3. Settings – Allow the instructor to change the Title, Description, Availability, Image (must be 96 x 96 pixels) and the Theme (colors) of the blog.
4. Permissions – Allows faculty alter the permissions of the Blog.
1. Special Notes  - As a default, only your class has access to the blog you create.  The default for each tab is set so that Viewers and authors can read any entry. To modify the settings click on the Customize Link on each tab of the Permissions page (Viewer and Authors)
2. To create a private blog 
1. Viewer’s Tab – Uncheck “View Any Entry” under the Viewer Role Permissions box. Click on the Save button.
2. Author’s Tab – Uncheck “View Any Entry” under the Viewer Role Permissions box and the View History of Any Entry under the Author Role Permissions section.
1. To further limit student access to the Blog – deselect the Export Blog and Copy Blog options.
2. Click on the Save button located at the bottom of the page.
5. Widgets - Allows instructors to add functionality to the Blog. The default widget is the Viewer comments widget.
1. For a private blog under Viewer Feedback,
1. Select the second option, “Viewer Feedback – Viewers can leave private feedback for Authors (and Owners) to read. Viewers cannot see feedback left by others.
2. Click on the Tags option under the In Use tab.
1. Select the “Authors Tags – Only Authors can read and apply tags. (Note: The Tags title under the In Use tab will change to read “Author Tags”)
3.  Click on the Click on the Save button to save your selections.
2. Other Widgets available for use:  
1. Voting – Allows viewers to vote on Content.
2. Ratings – Allows viewers to rate content and view the aggregate rating.
6. Assessment – Provides a log of blog activity for instructors.
7. Attachments – Displays a list of uploaded attachments for instructors such as images or Word documents.
8. Page List – Provides instructors with a listing of all pages in the wiki.
9. Recycle – Allows the instructor to remove all contributions from people in specific roles. (Not used, courses are newly created every semester.) 
5. Add Pages to the Wiki 
   
   
    
1. Click on the Add New Page button to a page to the wiki.
1. Enter a title for the page and click on the Continue button. The new wiki page appears.
2. Enter content in the Text area, then click on the Save or Save & Exit button.
   
   
    
1. To Edit a page, click on the Edit link.
2. To View the page history, click on the History link
3. To Lock a page, click on the Lock link, if available.
4. To Delete a page, click on the Delete link.
2. To change the order of pages click on the Edit link next to the word Pages. 
3. Click on the Edit link to edit a wiki page.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
    
4. Click on the Save button after completing the work on the page.
   
   

Adding Pages to a Wiki and Using the Text Editor

1. Click on the “New Page” button to add a page to the wiki. 
   
2. Enter a page name for the page and click the "Add Page" button. The new wiki page appears.
3. Enter content in the Text area and format using the Text Editor.
   
4. Click the "Save" or "Save & Exit" button.

Navigating a Wiki

1. Click on the “Pages” button to view the main menu of the wiki.
   
   
   
   
2. If an arrow appears next to a page title, it indicates there are pages underneath that page. Click the arrow to expand submenu.
   
   
   
   
3. To navigate to a specific page, click its page title.
   
   
   
   
4. To close the menu, click the “Pages” button.
   
   

NOTE: To update the menu structure (also known as a hierarchy), please see Step 5.

Creating Page Hierarchy in a Wiki

1. To create a hierarchy within the pages, click the “Settings” button.
   
   
   
   
2. From the drop-down menu, click “Page Hierarchy.”
   
   
   
   
3. Click and hold your mouse on the page title of the page you’d like to move.
   
   
   
   
4. Drag and drop the page into the desired location, either by moving the page up or down (for order) or left or right (or subnavigation).
   
   
   
   
5. After creating the hierarchy, click “Go Back” to return to the wiki.
   
   

Editing the Content in a Wiki Page

1. Navigate to the desired wiki page.
2. Click the “Edit” button.
   
   
   
   
3. Edit the page title, content, and/or tags.
4. Click “Save & Exit” or “Save.”
   
   

Deleting Pages in Wiki

1. Navigate to the desired wiki page.
2. Click the “Edit” button.
   
   
   
   
3. Click the trashcan icon.
   
   
   
   
4. Click the “Delete” button in the Delete Item dialog box.

Commenting in a Wiki

1. Navigate to the desired wiki page.
2. Scroll down to the “Viewer Comments” option and click on its link.
   
   
   
   
3. Enter your comment in the text box and click the Add button.
   
   

NOTE: Once you add the comment, you can choose to reply, edit, or delete it.