IDL Resources Guide: D2L Brightspace
D2L Brightspace is ETAMU’s learning management system (LMS). D2L provides a central hub for course content, communication, assessments, and grading. This page is designed for instructors, though students may also find the information helpful.
Logging In
For quick access to D2L, please click on the button below.
Instructions for New Faculty
Access to D2L for new faculty is dependent on the following steps:
- Completion of HR hiring paperwork, after which a UIN and Campus-Wide ID (CWID) are assigned
- Submission of the IT Systems Account Creation form (approved by the department head) to create Active Directory (AD) credentials and an ETAMU email address; credentials are issued by the CITE Support Center
- Completion of the Instructor Orientation course in D2L, which is mandatory for all faculty once AD credentials are created
Pulse App
Brightspace Pulse is the mobile app for your D2L courses. Brightspace Pulse offers quick access to helpful features—like checking your calendar, viewing notifications, and keeping up with course updates. For the best experience, especially when completing coursework or managing content, we recommend using the full desktop browser version.
Download for Apple devices
Download for Android devices
Logging in
- After downloading on your device, tap the Brightspace Pulse icon
- Learn more about Brightspace Pulse by swiping or proceed to the next step by tapping “Next”
- Tap “Pick Your School”
- Enter your Single Sign On (SSO) credentials and then tap “Log In”
D2L Academy
Besides having dozens of video tutorials on their YouTube page, D2L Brightspace offers free courses and guided trainings through D2L Academy. Please note: you will need to create an account before you can access the D2L Academy content.
D2L Basics: Getting Started
Logging In and Landing Page
Log in to D2L.
After you log in, you'll land on the system's main homepage, which includes university-wide announcements and quick links to frequently used resources.
To locate your courses, use the Course Selector in the top menu bar—often referred to as “the waffle.” The Course Selector displays a searchable list of all your available courses. You can also pin courses using the pushpin icon to keep them at the top of your list.
To open a specific course tool, select it from the Navbar, the main menu that appears across the top of each page.
Course Landing Page
Within a course, the course title appears in the top menu bar, directly above the course navbar. Just below the navbar, you'll find the course banner, which you can customize. To edit the banner, hover over or tab to the upper-right corner of the banner and open the three-dot (kebab) menu that appears. The “Customize Banner Text” option allows you to use replace strings to personalize the banner even further. For more information, see D2L's knowledge base article on automatically customizing content with replace strings.
Below the banner are the homepage widgets, which provide a quick overview of your course activity and content. Keep in mind that students may see a different layout depending on their role and permissions.
Grades
The Grades tool in D2L is a comprehensive feature that allows instructors to manage and communicate student performance throughout a course. It provides a centralized gradebook where you can record scores, calculate final grades, and share feedback with students. Instructors can customize grading systems, set up weighted categories, and link grades directly to assignments, quizzes, and other activities. By using the Grades tool effectively, professors ensure transparency, streamline assessment, and help students track their progress in real time.
Gradebook
The Gradebook, accessed through the Grades tool, is where instructors manage and share student performance. To get started, click the Setup Wizard and choose your options. For more information, please see About Grades in the D2L knowledge base or Submit a Ticket.
Class Progress
The Class Progress tool gives instructors a snapshot of student engagement and performance. It tracks metrics like login history, content completion, assignment submissions, quiz attempts, and grades to help identify students who may need support. For more information, please see About Class Progress in the D2L knowledge base or Submit a Ticket.
How to Export Final Grades to SIS
- In the Gradebook, click the down arrow next to “Final Calculated Grade” and select “Edit” from the dropdown menu
- Under “Grade Scheme,” choose “Letter Grade for Final Calculated (10 points)”
- Click “Save and Close”
- At the top of the Gradebook, click “Export to SIS”
- You will be taken to a page showing all students, their grades, and an “Override” column
- Confirm that all final grades appear in letter format. If you need to change a grade, use the “Override” column
- For any student who failed, enter their last date of attendance
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and click “Export”
- You should then see a confirmation message that all grades were successfully exported to SIS
Activities
The Activities section in D2L brings together tools that help instructors create interactive and engaging learning experiences. This area includes assignments, quizzes, discussions, and other components designed to support course objectives. Through Activities, instructors can build tasks, set due dates, provide clear instructions, and monitor student submissions—all within one organized space. Using these tools effectively promotes active learning, simplifies grading, and ensures students have a clear understanding of expectations.
Assignments
The Assignments tool in D2L allows instructors to create and manage submission folders where students can upload their work. When creating an assignment, you can set instructions, due dates, availability periods, and attach files or rubrics. Assignments can also be linked to the Gradebook for seamless grading and feedback. This tool helps streamline the submission process and ensures students have clear expectations. For more information, please see Create an Assignment in the D2L knowledge base or Submit a Ticket.
Discussions
The Discussion tool in D2L creates a space for students to engage in conversations, share ideas, and collaborate on course topics. Instructors can set up forums and topics, organize discussions by theme, and manage participation. For more information, please see Manage Discussion Forums and Topics in the D2L knowledge base or Submit a Ticket.
Quizzes
The Quizzes tool in D2L allows instructors to create and manage online assessments that test student understanding. You can design quizzes with various question types, set time limits, apply availability dates, and link them to the Gradebook for automatic scoring. For more information, please see Create and Configure a Quiz in the D2L knowledge base or Submit a Ticket.
Surveys
The Surveys tool in D2L allows instructors to collect feedback from students quickly and easily. Surveys can be used to gauge understanding, gather opinions, or improve course design. For more information, please see Set Up Surveys in the D2L knowledge base or Submit a Ticket.
Awards
The Awards tool allows you to recognize learner achievements through merit-based awards, including Badges and Certificates. Badges are digital markers based on criteria you set and are often used to highlight participation, attendance, or academic excellence; they support student success but do not count toward a course grade. Certificates are similar to badges but include a printable PDF and are typically used to recognize official accomplishments or milestones, such as completing a program or passing an exam. Certificates may be awarded at any point in a course and also do not contribute to a course grade. For more information, please see Create and Manage Awards in the D2L knowledge base or Submit a Ticket.
Communication Tools
Brightspace offers several communication and organization tools—including Attendance, Calendar, Classlist, Email, and Groups—to help you manage your course and stay connected with students. These tools support scheduling, tracking participation, sending messages, and creating collaborative learning spaces, making it easier to keep your course running smoothly. You can find the Communication Tools on the Navbar.
Attendance
D2L allows instructors and TA/GAs to create and manage attendance registers. To learn more about how to use the Attendance Tool, see the D2L Brightspace knowledge base article, About Attendance, or Submit a Ticket.
Calendar
The Calendar tool in D2L is a powerful feature designed to help instructors organize and communicate important dates and deadlines within their courses. It provides a centralized location where professors can schedule class activities, assignment due dates, exam times, and other key events. Students can view these entries in their course calendar, ensuring they stay informed and on track. For more information, please see About Calendar in the D2L knowledge base or Submit a Ticket.
Classlist
The Classlist tool in D2L allows instructors to view and manage all enrolled participants in their course. It serves as a central hub for accessing student information, monitoring progress, and facilitating communication. For more information, please see About Classlist in the D2L knowledge base or Submit a Ticket.
The Email tool in D2L provides instructors with a convenient way to communicate directly with students and other course participants. It functions as an internal messaging system that allows professors to send and receive emails without leaving D2L. For more information, please see Email Others Using the Email Tool in the D2L knowledge base or Submit a Ticket.
Groups
The Groups tool in D2L enables instructors to organize students into smaller, collaborative units within a course. This feature is ideal for managing group projects, discussions, and activities, providing a structured way for students to work together. For more information, please see Create and Manage Categories and Groups in the D2L knowledge base or Submit a Ticket.
Course Content Copy
These instructions will guide you through copying course content within D2L. You may use this process to copy your own course materials from a previous or existing course shell. If you need assistance, please Submit a Ticket.
Please note: If you need to copy content from another instructor's course, a separate authorization form is required before access can be granted. Please submit the Course Copy Request Form first so IDL can provide the required access.
- Go to the course that you want to copy to
- On the course's homepage, click on “Course Admin” in the navbar
- Under Site Resources, click on “Import/Export/Copy Components”
- Under “What would you like to do?”, use the first option (it should already be selected) to Copy Components from another Org Unit and click “Search for offering”
- In the search bar, search for the class that you want to copy from
- Select the correct course and click “Add Selected”
- At the bottom of the screen, you'll see two options: “Copy All Components” and “Select Components”
- Choose “Copy All Components” to copy the entire course.
- Choose “Select Components” if you only want to copy certain parts. This option will open a new screen where you can select the specific content you want to include.
- After you have made your selections, click “Continue”