Teaching, Learning, & Technology Blog

D2L Intelligent Agents: Automate Communication with Students (Online Webinar) (.25 PGU)
2024-11-12 16:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago)
An Intelligent Agent is a communication tool feature built-in to D2L that can assist instructors in monitoring student activity and automatically sending email reminders to students based on those activities.

For example, instructors can prepare an intelligent agent to automatically email students as follows:

Welcome students when they first access the course.

Remind students they failed to login and access your course within the last week and how important it is to keep up.

Encourage students when they miss deadlines.

Recognize students when they are doing well in the course.

Catch them early by notifying them of tutoring services available if they are receiving a low score in their assignments.

In this webinar, we’ll cover the following:

Introduce the concepts of Replacement Strings – internal fields that can be used to personalize the communication, such as First Name, Last Course Assess Date, Course Name, etc.

Creating an Intelligent Agent based on a variety of different criteria mentioned above.

Test an Intelligent Agent with a Practice Run.

Register for this Event

D2L Mini-Webinar Series for Higher Education: Part 1 - Creating Assessments in D2L (Online Webinar)
2024-11-13 12:00 - 13:00
Save your seat for our “Bright Ideas” 💡 Webinar Series. Each webinar is 45 minutes followed by 15 minutes of Q&A and networking. Take a deep dive with D2L tips and tricks for better digital learning experiences!

Part 1: Creating Assessments

📃 Learn how to create Assignments, Discussions, and Quizzes

🎉 Features to personalize and differentiate learning

📊 Tips to enhance your assessment skills

👩‍🏫 Ideal for faculty and instructional designers

Register for this Event

Note: Make certain to register for the other parts of this mini-webinar series at the same link above.

Part 2: Assessment and Feedback (12/11/24)Part 3: Evaluation (1/8/25)Part 4: Course Design Best Practices (2/12/25)

Search Like a Pro: Discover Google Search Tricks to Empower Your Students (Online Webinar) (.25 PGU)
2024-11-18 15:00 - 16:00
Google remains the number one search engine globally. It dominates the search engine market with a significant share, handling over 90% of global search queries. But many enter search terms in a way that can sometimes provide millions of results that one must sort through.

Join the Teaching and Learning Center in this one-hour training designed to introduce faculty and staff to Google search operators—powerful tools that can accurately target your search results more precisely. These operators help users filter, exclude, or focus the information they’re looking for, making searches more efficient and effective.

Additionally, this training will equip faculty with the skills to assist their students in conducting more effective internet searches and fostering critical information literacy skills that can last a lifetime.

Register for this Event

D2L Basics Refresher (Online Webinar)
2024-11-19 14:00 - 15:00
Join the Teaching and Learning Center for this online webinar as we get instructors started using D2L.  We’ll demonstrate D2L navigation, how to add and organize content into modules, how to create assignments, basic gradebook functionality, and ways to communicate with your students.

In this webinar, we’ll cover the following:

Where to locate your Syllabus – using Simple Syllabus

Creating weekly modules and posting a variety of content into those modules (powerpoints, pdf’s, videos, etc.).

Creating assignments (discussion forum, written assignment, online practice quiz) and passing the score to the D2L gradebook.

Basic grading functionality and submitting attendance, midterm and final grades to the student information system.

Various ways to communicate with your students (announcement, emails, students who missed assignments, etc.).

Introducing the D2L Pulse App and easy notifications to students (sort of like text messaging to mobile phones).

Register for this Event

Introduction to Simple Syllabus (Online Webinar)
2024-11-20 16:00 - 17:00
Simple Syllabus is now integrated into SSC’s Brightspace D2L Learning Management System. This means all faculty will be using Simple Syllabus instead of uploading a Microsoft Word version of their syllabus to their D2L course shell.

Using Simple Syllabus means your syllabus will instead be in an electronic format, thereby saving you time and effort by just completing a few fields. Each time you teach a new term, the syllabus created in Simple Syllabus will be automatically imported into the new term’s D2L course shell.

Join the Teaching and Learning Center as we demonstrate how to use Simple Syllabus and showcase other features of Simple Syllabus.

Unable to attend? Watch an archive recording of this event.

Register for this Event

Using D2L Gradebook for In-Person, Flex and Online Courses (Online Webinar) (.25 PGU)
2024-11-21 01:00 - 14:00
If you are teaching a traditional in-person, flex and online courses, students appreciate instructors using the D2L online Gradebook as it promotes:

Transparency, Accountability and Timely Feedback (24/7 access to real-time grade totals. Students know where they stand throughout the term.)

Encourages Communication Opportunities (students asking about how to improve grades)

Reduction of Errors (automatically calculates total column)

Promotes Accessibility Accommodations (students can access with screen readers)

Faster Midterm, Final and Attendance grade submission from D2L and export to the official Student Information System (Colleague)

In-person instructors have two options when using D2L online gradebook:

Simple Option: Manually create Gradebook columns. The D2L gradebook looks and feels like an Excel spreadsheet and entering grades into the cells is just as easy. If instructors are using Excel to calculate their grades, why not use D2L Gradebook instead? It is just as easy.

Second Option: If students are submitting assignments in class or through email, instructors can create a D2L assignment, which will auto create a Gradebook column. Instructors can easily grade the submitted assignment and scores automatically sync to the D2L Gradebook. If due dates are associated with D2L assignments, they will automatically appear in your syllabus after the rollout of Simple Syllabus (coming this Spring 2024). This will eliminate a step for instructors when they create their syllabus each term.

Join the Teaching and Learning Center for this online webinar as we get instructors started using the D2L Gradebook. During this online webinar, we’ll start out demonstrating the simple option. If time permits, provide move into option two.

Here’s what we play to cover:

If weighing grades, setting up categories and applying to the Gradebook columns.

Manually creating Gradebook columns and how to simply enter grades.

Demonstrate how assignments, quizzes and discussion forums sync to the Gradebook.

Best practices of exporting Attendance, Midterm and Final Grades to the SIS (Student Information System).

Register for this Event

D2L Mini-Webinar Series for Higher Education: Part 2 - Assessment and Feedback D2L (Online Webinar)
2024-12-11 12:00 - 13:00
Save your seat for our “Bright Ideas” 💡 Webinar Series. Each webinar is 45 minutes followed by 15 minutes of Q&A and networking. Take a deep dive with D2L tips and tricks for better digital learning experiences!

Part 2: Assessments and Feedback

📃 Learn how to create Assignments, Discussions, and Quizzes

🎉 Features to personalize and differentiate learning

📊 Tips to enhance your assessment skills

👩‍🏫 Ideal for faculty and instructional designers

Register for this Event

Note: Make certain to register for the other parts of this mini-webinar series at the same link above.

Part 3: Evaluation (1/8/25)Part 4: Course Design Best Practices (2/12/25)

D2L: Be Prepared - Get your D2L Spring 2025 course set up
2024-12-12 08:00 - 17:00
Each new term allows instructors an opportunity to update their D2L courses and be prepared for the start of the new term. Join the Teaching and Learning staff as we guide instructors through the beginning of the term checklist that will help you and your students get off to a good start.

In this webinar, we’ll cover the following:

If teaching a cross listed course, hide the D2L course shells you will not be using

Verify your sections and class roster

Import and copy course content from a previous course into your new course

Rollover and update your Simple Syllabus

Update course components (announcements, content, assignments)

Verify the D2L gradebook is set up and reflects the current semester

Bulk manage due dates on assignments, announcements and modules

Check student view to determine if desired modules are visible or hidden

Register for this Event

D2L: Be Prepared - Get your D2L Spring 2025 course set up (Online Webinar)
2025-01-06 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-01-14 10:00 - 11:00
Each new term allows instructors an opportunity to update their D2L courses and be prepared for the start of the new term. Join the Teaching and Learning staff as we guide instructors through the beginning of the term checklist that will help you and your students get off to a good start.

In this webinar, we’ll cover the following:

If teaching a course listed course, hide the D2L course shells you will not be using

Verify your sections and class roster

Import and copy course content from a previous course into your new course

Rollover and update your Simple Syllabus

Update course components (announcements, content, assignments)

Verify the D2L gradebook is set up and reflects the current semester

Bulk manage due dates on assignments, announcements and modules

Check student view to determine if desired modules are visible or hidden

Register for this Event

D2L Mini-Webinar Series for Higher Education: Part 3 - Evaluations in Assessments in D2L (Online Webinar)
2025-01-08 12:00 - 13:00
Save your seat for our “Bright Ideas” 💡 Webinar Series. Each webinar is 45 minutes followed by 15 minutes of Q&A and networking. Take a deep dive with D2L tips and tricks for better digital learning experiences!

Part 3: Evaluations in Assessments

📃 Learn how to create Assignments, Discussions, and Quizzes

🎉 Features to personalize and differentiate learning

📊 Tips to enhance your assessment skills

👩‍🏫 Ideal for faculty and instructional designers

Register for this Event

Note: Make certain to register for the other parts of this mini-webinar series at the same link above.

Part 4: Course Design Best Practices (2/12/25)

D2L Basics and Simple Syllabus Refresher (Online Webinar)
2025-01-15 16:00 - 17:00, 2025-01-23 16:00 - 17:00

Promethean ActivPanel Display Refresher (Hands-on Training in Room 3127)
2025-01-17 13:00 - 13:30
Some SSC classrooms are equipped with a Promethean ActivPanel as a display. Join the Teaching and Learning Center for this hands-on training where we will demonstrate the technical aspects of using the Promethean ActivPanel in the classroom.

In this live training, we’ll cover:

Navigating the center console, unified menu and touch screen.

Locating and launching applications that are pre-installed.

Allowing students to share their devices with you and other students by initiating a 6-digit sharing code.

Utilizing engaging lessons and activities pre-built into the Promethean ActivPanel that include annotation, capture app, spinner, timer, whiteboard, along with access to internet via Chrome, just to name a few.

Save content altered on the Promethean ActivPanel to USB drive.

Import existing resources, such as PDF’s, images and Powerpoints and/or connecting to your D2L course to access your course content.

Due to limited seating, please register by emailing: ssconline@ssc.edu. You will receive an email confirmation.

This hands-on training will be held in room 3127.

Flex Course Delivery Training (Hands-on Training in Room 3127)
2025-01-17 13:30 - 14:00
Many courses at SSC are considered flex delivery courses. Flex delivery refers to students choosing to attend a course in-person in a physical classroom or virtually using the virtual classroom option in D2L. It’s their choice and they can switch up which way they want to attend each week.

However, instructors are always in the physical classroom. That means, instructors must set up their class to be delivered in both formats. This includes using the classroom equipment and the virtual classroom tool in D2L for those virtual students.

Join the Teaching and Learning Center for this hands-on training where we will demonstrate the technical aspects of running and managing a flex delivery classroom.

In this live training, we’ll cover:

Within the classroom, logging into the computer and turning on the front and back projectors.

Scheduling virtual classroom sessions for all your class times for the term.

Launching a virtual classroom meeting, selecting the classroom camera and microphone and discovering ways to verify your settings.

Using the camera remote so that virtual students have an equal experience to that of the in-person students.

Best practices of using the virtual classroom tools will also be discussed which include sharing your in-class screen so that virtual students can see clearly, using the large gallery view so you can see all your virtual students, recording your meetings so that all students can view later…and much more.

Due to limited seating, please register by emailing: ssconline@ssc.edu. You will receive an email confirmation.

This hands-on training will be held in room 3127.

D2L: Analyze Your Fall 2024 Course Data to Tweak Your Spring 2025 course (Online Webinar)
2025-01-28 14:00 - 15:00
Knowing how and when students are interacting with course material can be invaluable in various ways. First, it allows instructors the opportunity tweak and adjust their content during the term. Second, at the end of a term, instructors can view data and see what worked and what didn’t and have the statistic data to back up these findings. This allows an instructor to tweak their course content for next term.

Join the Teaching and Learning Center team in this online webinar where we focus on various places within D2L instructors can access analytics and statistics about their courses. Other areas that will be explored include looking for trends in late and missing submissions, viewing quiz questions and responses, comparing student learning between topics, confirming student are indeed accessing course material and strategic planning for intervention, if necessary.

Register for this Event

Need Help Submitting 10-day Attendance? Sign up for D2L Gradebook for In-Person, Flex and Online Courses (Online Webinar) (.25 PGU)
2025-02-03 10:00 - 11:00
Join the Teaching and Learning Center for this online webinar as we get instructors started using the D2L Gradebook.

Here’s what we play to cover:

Best practices of exporting Attendance, Midterm and Final Grades to the SIS (Student Information System).

Demonstrate how assignments, quizzes and discussion forums sync to the Gradebook.

Manually creating Gradebook columns and how to simply enter grades.

If weighing grades, setting up categories and applying to the Gradebook columns.

Register for this Event

D2L Accessibility: Introduction to Blackboard Ally and ILCCO Accessibility Best Practices (Online Webinar)
2025-02-10 11:00 - 12:00
Have you noticed new colorful icons next to all content posted in your D2L courses? That is Blackboard Ally working to provide alternative methods to students in consuming your content.

We are excited to announce the implementation of Blackboard Ally with Brightspace D2L. Blackboard Ally is a revolutionary product that focuses on using inclusivity, sustainability and automation as its key pillars in helping faculty tackle accessibility in a way that benefits all students. Blackboard Ally automatically converts content posted to D2L courses in alternative formats, such as using the Immersive Reader, Beeline Reader, audio, electronic braille, and translation into many different languages, just to name a few.

In this session we will also introduce you to the Illinois Community College Online (ILCCO) accessibility best practices to discover how Blackboard Ally will increase SSC’s requirements in meeting accessibility standards for all students.

Join the Teaching and Learning Center as we showcase Blackboard Ally in D2L.

Register for this Event

D2L Basics and Simple Syllabus Refresher (Online Webinar)
2025-02-13 16:00 - 17:00, 2025-02-19 16:00 - 17:00
Join the Teaching and Learning Center for this online webinar as we get instructors started using D2L.  We’ll demonstrate D2L navigation, how to add and organize content into modules, how to create assignments, basic gradebook functionality, and ways to communicate with your students.

In this webinar, we’ll cover the following:

Introducing the D2L Pulse App and easy notifications to students (sort of like text messaging to mobile phones).

Where to locate your Syllabus – using Simple Syllabus

Creating weekly modules and posting a variety of content into those modules (powerpoints, pdf’s, videos, etc.).

Creating assignments (discussion forum, written assignment, online practice quiz) and passing the score to the D2L gradebook.

Basic grading functionality and submitting attendance, midterm and final grades to the student information system.

Various ways to communicate with your students (announcement, emails, students who missed assignments, etc.).

Register for this Event

Promethean ActivPanel Display Refresher (Hands-on Training in Room 3127) (Registration Required)
2025-02-18 16:00 - 17:00

Introduction to D2L Media Library (Online Webinar) (.25 PGU)
2025-02-21 10:00 - 23:00
This one-hour training session on the D2L Media Library will provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of how to effectively use this robust tool for managing audio and video content within their D2L courses. Participants will learn how to access their media library and highlighting the auto transcription feature, which generates transcripts for media files that can be downloaded by students as additional notes and study support.

In addition, the training will explore advanced features of the D2L Media Library such as applying chapters to videos for better navigation, use the built-in video editing tools for minor adjustments, and record videos outside of specific D2L course for use across multiple course offerings.

By the end of the session, participants will be equipped with the skills and confidence to effectively use the D2L Media Library to create dynamic, accessible, and efficient course content.

Register for this Event

Adjunct Faculty Micro-Credential Session: Using Practice Quizzes in D2L to Prepare Students for Higher Stakes Assignments (Online Webinar)
2025-02-22 10:00 - 11:00
This webinar is part of the D2L Brightspace Basics Bootcamp Micro-Credential for Adjunct Instructors at South Suburban College. Webinar sessions are offered on Saturdays, but also offered during the working week. Adjunct Instructors are welcome to attend these sessions at a time and date convenient to them.

About the D2L Brightspace Basics Bootcamp Micro-Credential for Adjunct Instructors

Complete these three webinars presented by the Teaching and Learning Center before the end of the term to receive the certificate of completion and compensation:

D2L Basics Introduction

D2L Gradebook and Assignments

Using Practice Quizzes in D2L to Prepare Students for Higher Stakes Assignments

This session covers: Using Practice Quizzes in D2L to Prepare Students for Higher Stakes Assignments

Register for this Event

Adjunct Faculty Micro-Credential Session: D2L Basics Introduction (Online Webinar)
2025-02-27 18:00 - 19:00
This webinar is part of the D2L Brightspace Basics Bootcamp Micro-Credential for Adjunct Instructors at South Suburban College. Webinar sessions are offered on Saturdays, but also offered during the working week. Adjunct Instructors are welcome to attend these sessions at a time and date convenient to them.

About the D2L Brightspace Basics Bootcamp Micro-Credential for Adjunct Instructors

Complete these three webinars presented by the Teaching and Learning Center before the end of the term to receive the certificate of completion and compensation:

D2L Basics Introduction

D2L Gradebook and Assignments

Using Practice Quizzes in D2L to Prepare Students for Higher Stakes Assignments

This session covers: D2L Basic Introduction

Register for this Event

Adjunct Faculty Micro-Credential Session: Introduction to Teaching Best Practices (Online Webinar)
2025-03-01 10:00 - 11:00
Are you new to teaching at the college level and/or perhaps would like to pick up a few tips and tricks on teaching best practices? Join the Teaching and Learning Center as they provide helpful tidbits on communication with students, classroom management (in both face-to-face and virtual classroom settings) and discuss examples of designing content based on educational strategies.

We will conclude this session by introducing you to the new ION course entitled Welcome to Effective Teaching and Learning Strategies. This course is designed to take teaching best practices to the next step. Tuition for this 8-week, fully online ION course will be fully paid for by the college and will greatly enhance your teaching skills. A certification of completion will be granted, which you can provide to the Teaching and Learning Center to showcase your accomplishment.

Adjunct Faculty Micro-Credential Session: Introduction to Teaching Best Practices (Online Webinar)

This webinar is part of the Inclusive Teaching Micro-Credential for Adjunct Instructors at South Suburban College. Webinar sessions are offered on Saturdays, but also offered during the working week. Adjunct Instructors are welcome to attend these sessions at a time and date convenient to them.

About the Inclusive Teaching Micro-Credential

Complete these three webinars presented by the Teaching and Learning Center before the end of the term to receive the certificate of completion and compensation:

Introduction to Teaching Best Practices

Anthology Ally (Accessibility tools within D2L)

SSDO Passports & Accommodations (including pregnancy)

This session covers: Introduction to Teaching Best Practices (Online Webinar)

Register for this Event

Adjunct Faculty Micro-Credential Session: Using D2L Gradebook and Assignments for In-Person, Flex and Online Courses (Online Webinar)
2025-03-05 18:00 - 19:00
This webinar is part of the D2L Brightspace Basics Bootcamp Micro-Credential for Adjunct Instructors at South Suburban College. Webinar sessions are offered on Saturdays, but also offered during the working week. Adjunct Instructors are welcome to attend these sessions at a time and date convenient to them.

About the D2L Brightspace Basics Bootcamp Micro-Credential for Adjunct Instructors

Complete these three webinars presented by the Teaching and Learning Center before the end of the term to receive the certificate of completion and compensation:

D2L Basics Introduction

D2L Gradebook and Assignments

Using Practice Quizzes in D2L to Prepare Students for Higher Stakes Assignments

This session covers: Using D2L Gradebook and Assignments

Register for this Event

Rubrics: Use Pre-Designed Rubrics created by SSC Outcomes Committee or Create Your Own (Online Webinar) (.25 PGU)
2025-03-06 16:00 - 17:00
Rubrics in D2L are a great way to easily communicate assignment expectations to students for any type of course (traditional, hybrid or online). Rubrics in D2L also saves faculty time evaluating and grading while providing quality and objective feedback on student assignments.

In this webinar, we’ll cover the following:

Attaching a pre-designed SSC General Education Rubric created by SSC Outcomes Committee.

Creating your own rubric from scratch and attaching it to an assignment.

Using two different rubrics for one assignment.

Using a rubric directly within gradebook column (for assignments from publisher or observing-type assignments, such as presentations or participation).

Grading an assignment using a rubric and discover how students see their feedback.

Rubric Data: demonstrate ways for instructors to view rubric reporting within a course and the latest customized data dashboard available to instructors which show case the institutional general rubric data collected from the Outcomes Committee. Guage the overall rubric use, with the ability to sort by semester, department, and rubric criterion level.

Join the Teaching and Learning Center for this online webinar as we get instructors started using Rubrics in D2L.

Unable to attend? View recordings of this session at: https://tl.ssc.edu/rubrics-at-ssc-general-education-and-course-level/

Register for this Event

Introduction to Teaching Best Practices (Online Webinar)
2025-03-10 10:00 - 11:00
Are you new to teaching at the college level and/or perhaps would like to pick up a few tips and tricks on teaching best practices? Join the Teaching and Learning Center as they provide helpful tidbits on communication with students, classroom management (in both face-to-face and virtual classroom settings) and discuss examples of designing content based on educational strategies.

We will conclude this session by introducing you to the new ION course entitled Welcome to Effective Teaching and Learning Strategies. This course is designed to take teaching best practices to the next step. Tuition for this 8-week, fully online ION course will be fully paid for by the college and will greatly enhance your teaching skills. A certification of completion will be granted, which you can provide to the Teaching and Learning Center to showcase your accomplishment.

Register for this Event

Adjunct Faculty Micro-Credential Session: Getting to Know the Services for Students with Disabilities Office (SSDO) (Online Webinar)
2025-03-12 04:00 - 17:00
What do you do when a student provides you with an accommodation password from the Services for Students with Disabilities office?

Join Davina Davis, Manager of Services for Students with Disabilities (SSDO), in partnership with the Teaching and Learning Center, as she walks you through the process.

This virtual workshop will cover the following important topics:

What is an accommodation password and what is expected of the instructor.

Compliance issue and legal responsibilities (federal and state laws).

How to assist students that may need extra support during classtime (service animals in the classroom or pregnant and lactating students, just to name a few).

Where to find test proctoring and other services offered by the SSDO.

Active Learning: test your knowledge by completing “What Would You Do” scenarios with other faculty.

About the Inclusive Teaching Micro-Credential

Adjunct Faculty – Complete these three webinars presented by the Teaching and Learning Center before the end of the term to receive the certificate of completion and compensation:

Introduction to Teaching Best Practices

Anthology Ally (Accessibility tools within D2L)

SSDO Passports & Accommodations (including pregnancy)

This session covers: SSDO Passports & Accommodations (Online Webinar)

Register for this Event

Search Like a Pro: Discover Google Search Tricks to Empower Your Students (Online Webinar) (.25 PGU)
2025-03-13 10:00 - 11:00
Google remains the number one search engine globally. It dominates the search engine market with a significant share, handling over 90% of global search queries. But many enter search terms in a way that can sometimes provide millions of results that one must sort through.

Join the Teaching and Learning Center in this one-hour training designed to introduce faculty and staff to Google search operators—powerful tools that can accurately target your search results more precisely. These operators help users filter, exclude, or focus the information they’re looking for, making searches more efficient and effective.

Additionally, this training will equip faculty with the skills to assist their students in conducting more effective internet searches and fostering critical information literacy skills that can last a lifetime.

By the end of the session, participants will not only improve their own internet search skills but also be prepared to help their students conduct more efficient and targeted Google searches, enhancing both teaching and learning outcomes.

Register for this Event
