Category: Training Modules (Page 1 of 8)

Cengage Integration

Starting in the Fall 2026 Semester, Cengage Mind Tap has a newer integration. Follow these simple steps to ensure course set up in D2L.

Create a New Brightspace Integrated Mindtap Course.

Courses and Sections > Integrate MindTap With Your Brightspace Course

If you have not created the MindTap course you want to integrate with Brightspace®, create it from Brightspace.

  • Open your Brightspace course.
  • Click the Content tab
  • If you have not already done so, create a module in your course.
    • a. Click Add a module and enter your module title.
  • In your module, click Add Existing Activities > Cengage.
    • The Cengage tool may be named differently for your school. Ask your LMS Admin if you are unsure.
  • If prompted, sign in to your Cengage instructor account to link your Brightspace and Cengage accounts.
    • If you don’t have a Cengage instructor account, click Create Account.
  • On the Integrate with Cengage page, click Select Platform
  • On the Select Title page, select the textbook or product to use in your class.
  • On the Course Option page, select Create a new course from scratch.
    • a. Click Continue.
  • On the Course Details page, specify the course name, dates, and other information for your MindTap course.
  • Create a course link or select learning activities to link from Brightspace.
  • Click Continue.
  • Click the link to your MindTap course and verify that it’s set up how you want.
  • If prompted, read and accept the service agreement.

To view a video on the process, use this link and scroll down past Step 12:

https://help.cengage.com/mindtap/mt-instructor/common/lms-lti-adv-create-new-course-brightspace.htm

Integrate an Existing Mindtap Course with Brightspace

Courses and Sections > Integrate MindTap With Your Brightspace Course

If you already created the MindTap course you want to integrate with Brightspace® — and no students are enrolled — integrate your existing course.

  • Open your Brightspace course.
  • Click the Content tab.
  • If you have not already done so, create a module in your course.
    • a. Click Add a module and enter your module title.
  • In your module, click Add Existing Activities > Cengage.
  • The Cengage tool may be named differently for your school. Ask your LMS Admin if you are unsure.
  • If prompted, sign in to your Cengage instructor account to link your Brightspace and Cengage accounts. If you don’t have a Cengage instructor account, click Create Account.
  • On the Integrate with Cengage page, click Select Platform.
  • On the Select Title page, select the textbook or product to use in your class.
    • a. To search the available content, type a search term.
    • b. To see only MindTap results, click Platform and select MindTap.
    • c. To filter the list by license type, click License Type and select Student Purchase Required or Inclusive Access.
  • Select a product.
  • Click Continue.

Note:

If you don’t see your content, contact your Cengage representative. If needed, see cengage.com/repfinder/ .

On the Course Option page, select Link to a course that was already created.

Your unlinked courses with no student enrollments for the selected title are listed.

a. Select the course you want to link

b. Click Continue.

Create a course link or select learning activities to link from Brightspace.

  • To create direct links to learning activities:
  • You can also create a course link with this option.
    • a. Click Select Content.
    • b. Select activities to include in your class.Show more
    • c. If needed, change gradebook syncing for specific activities.Show more

To create a course link only:

d. Click Add Course Link

Click the link to your MindTap course and verify that it’s set up how you want.

If prompted, read and accept the service agreement.

To view a video on this process, use this link and scroll down past Step 10:

https://help.cengage.com/mindtap/mt-instructor/common/lms-lti-integrate-existing-course-brightspace.html

Providing Feedback in the D2L Final Grade, Gradebook Column.

Instructors can give feedback on Final Grades in the Gradebook Column in D2L.

To do this follow the steps:

In the Blue Navigation Bar, click on the Grades option. This will open your D2L Gradebook.

Scroll over to the Final Grade Column and click the Final Calculated Grade drop down arrow: Select Enter Grades.

IMage showing Final Grade column with drop down menu for enter grades.

In the FEEDBACK box, click on the edit pencil:

Image showing Feedback column edit pencil.

This will bring up a feedback text box the instructor and student can see with comments regarding the individual grading.

Image showing feedback submission box and comment box.

Click on the blue Save option.

NOTE: This feedback does not go back to Colleague

Distance Education Handbook

This Distance Education Handbook has been developed through the efforts of the Distance Education Committee. The intent of this document is to provide guidance and resources to faculty and administrators who are involved in the delivery of distance education courses at South Suburban College. This handbook compiles existing processes and procedures developed by the Distance Education Committee and will continue to be updated as needed based on this committee’s recommendations.

A SSC staff username and password are required to access the following resources.

Local Backups of D2L Course Material

SSC maintains one academic year of courses materials on the Learning Management System (D2L), with all other content being moved to an external archive. Archived course content will be retained for an additional four years (five years total). (Effective January 1, 2026) 

Instructors are encouraged to export their D2L course content and store it in a safe location for future use. The College is not responsible for lost, stolen, or corrupted materials stored on the servers, services, and technologies provided. (SSCFA 6.18.15) 

Step 1: Export your course as a Brightspace package

  • In your D2L course, go to the More > Course Admin.
Within a D2L course, select More and Course Admin.
  • Select Import/Export/Copy Components.
Course Admin > Import/Export/Copy Componets
  • Select Export as Brightspace Package > Start.
Export Bright Space Package > Start
  • Select Components to Export > Continue.
Select Components to Export > Continue
  • Important! – Under Additional Components to Export, select Include course files in the export package > Export.
Additional Components to Export, select Include course files in the export package > Export.
  • The Export will start.  You’ll be notified on the Updates Alerts icon in D2L when the export is ready to download (orange dot indicates new notification).
the Updates Alerts icon in D2L when the export is ready to download.
  • Select Export Finished in the Updates Alerts to download the Export Package (zip).
Select Export Finished in the Updates Alerts to download the Export Package
  • Click to download the Export Package (zip).
download the Export Package
  • The zip file will initially be saved to your local computer’s Download folder.

Step 2: Save Your D2L Course Backup File to a Secure Location

Recommendations for storage:

  • It is recommended that you move this Zip file to a devoted folder labeled “D2L Course Backups”.
  • Sometimes the zip file can be large in size, so saving the zip file to a cloud based storage would provide more storage space.
  • As part of Microsoft 365 suite of applications, each instructor is provided a cloud based storage area called OneDrive

Access to M365 OneDrive

  • You can access OneDrive by visiting Office.com and logging in with your regular credentials.
  • Click on the Apps icon to discover all M365 suite of apps available to instructors. Select OneDrive.
office.com > OneDrive > Apps
Select OneDrive
  • Select My Files for your personal cloud storage area.
  • Create a new folder. Under Create or Upload, select Folder.
Select Create > Folder
  • Name your Folder “D2L Course Backups”
Create a folder
  • Upload your Zip file to this folder by selecting Create or Upload and Files Upload.
Create > Files Upload.

Regular and Substantial Interaction for Distance Education Courses at SSC

Some online courses are designed to be completely self-paced, meaning students work through the material on their own without interacting with an instructor. For example, the course might present content in a logical sequence with self-scored assessments like online quizzes. In these types of courses, students typically don’t receive personalized feedback on their work, don’t interact with classmates, and have no one to ask for help if they struggle to understand a concept.

The U.S. Department of Education classifies these self-paced online courses as correspondence courses, as they do not include Regular and Substantial Interaction. Courses in this category are not eligible for federal financial aid, meaning students cannot receive financial assistance for taking them.

What is “Regular and Substantial Interaction”?

According to the U.S. Department of Education (34 CFR 600.2, 2001), online college courses must include meaningful, ongoing interaction between students and instructors to be considered distance education—rather than just self-paced learning.

What does it mean?

  • Regular = Happens on a schedule (not just once or randomly).
  • Substantive = The interaction must be educational and meaningful, not just checking in.

If an instructor sets up an online course and then doesn’t return to actively engage with students—such as responding to questions, giving feedback, or leading discussions—the course likely does not meet federal standards for distance education.

Here are some best practices instructors can follow to meet this requirement:

Provide Weekly Instruction or Guidance:

  • Post weekly announcements in your D2L course summarizing key points or giving direction.
  • Perhaps record a quick audio or video using D2L Media Library to discuss what’s coming up next week or to clarify a concept.

Respond Promptly to Student Questions:

  • Answer messages or email discussion posts within 24-48 hours.
  • Be available through email, course messaging or virtual office hours.

Offer Personalized Feedback:

  • Give meaningful, individual feedback on assignments, not just grades.
Assignment Feedback
  • Use rubrics and comments to explain how students can improve.

Facilitate Discussions:

  • Lead or participate in weekly online discussions in D2L.
  • Ask open-ended questions and reply to student post to guide learning.

Initiate Contact (Don’t Wait for Students):

  • Reach out if a student is falling behind or seems disengaged.
  • Schedule check-ins or send reminders about upcoming work.

Following these best practices helps ensure that online courses are engaging, supportive, and meet federal definitions of distance education, protecting both the student’s learning experience and the South Suburban College’s eligibility for financial aid.

Would you like to learn more about Regular and Substantive Interaction? Check out the Teaching and Learning Center’s Training Calendar and sign up for this session today.

Getting Started with Copyleaks

Copyleaks can verify the authenticity of content and report if something has been written by AI or a human. It is an integrated tool within our D2L Brightspace environment.

There is a difference between using a writing tool and a grammer checker.

It’s important to note that the use of writing tools such which offers a genAI option to help re-write content entirely will most likely get flagged as AI if used because, simply put, it is AI-generated. Translation tools, are also commonly powered by AI models and will be flagged as AI content.

In contrast, the Copyleaks’ Grammer Checker does not get flagged as AI, nor does any of the content from Grammarly, Microsoft Word, etc. changed to fix grammatical errors, tone issues, etc., because they do not use genAI to power these features or functionalities.

Instructors

Step-by-Step Instructions to Create a Copyleaks Assignment within D2L Brightspace

Attend a Training Session with Copyleaks

Students

Step-By-Step Instructions to Submit an Assignment to Copyleaks

Adjusting Safari Privacy Settings

For certain resources used like accessing a McGraw Hill product on the Safari Web browser, a few adjustments need to be made to the browser settings.

  • Go to Safari in your menu bar and click Settings or Preferences
  • Click the Privacy Icon
  • Ensure that Prevent Cross Site Tracking and Block all Cookies are both unchecked
  • After changing your settings, close the browser tab, open a new one, and try again.

Creating Videos for D2L Purposes

Method 1: D2L Media Library

You can create directly in the media library, then place video in a course.

Access your Media Library by:

  • Click on the settings cog wheel at the top right of your D2L homepage:
    • Find the Media Library option:

Select the Add Assets option, there you can either record video, record audio, or upload a pre-existing video file that will be placed into the Media Library.

Add Assets to media library
record audio or record video
drop files, click to browse option box

Another way to add video is to add a new module in your course or select an already designed module within your course and add a video note.

Click on the desired module and then click on the Upload/Create: Create a file

Add dates and restrictions
upload or create options menu

Inside the text box there is an ‘INSERT STUFF’ icon as shown below. By selecting this icon the menu will show a Video Note selection, click on Video Note.

Insert stuff menu

Please note the video recording in this mode has a 30 minute time limit.

Method 2: Use a Teams Meeting to Record Video

Log in to office.com and go to the Teams app

Go to the Calendar and set up a new meeting:

Calender and new event option box

After you fill out the requirements for the meeting it will show up on your Teams Calendar. Double Click on the meeting and select Join the meeting now.

more and share options box
Share your Screen as you talk through your video recording

1- More

2- Record

3- Share

When you are finished stop recording, then just leave the meeting.

Now it is time to find your recorded video, it is only a few small steps.

  • Log in to office.com
  • Find where your apps are listed.
  • Look for the STREAM APP
Stream options icon
  • Your Teams recording will be in this application, in MP4 format.
  • Select Download

Go into D2L an upload the video file.

  • Select the module where you want to upload the video.
  • Select Upload/Create option and select Video or Audio.
  • Select Upload and browse to the Teams video file.

NOTE: Make sure you know where your video files or any files for that matter go when you save them on your device. [EX: Downloads folder, pictures folder, etc.]

Method 3: Clipchamp

Clipchamp is an advanced video editing tool that is part of Office.com

Office.com applications menu

Take a look at the Clipchamp web site to learn more about online recording tools.

https://clipchamp.com

Cengage Unlimited Textbooks and Learning Content

Cengage Unlimited textbooks and learning content integrates with D2L Brightspace courses.  Students must access their Cengage material through their SSC D2L courses.

Instructors and students can follow these easy directions should they have any trouble.

Instructors:

  • New to Cengage – create a new account (remember to use SSC email account)
  • First time integrating your Cengage learning content into D2L – Watch Video (4:09)
  • Already used Cengage in a previous D2L course – Copy D2L Course – Watch Video (2:53)
  • Only using Cengage eBook in your D2L Course – Watch Video (1:54)

The above videos require a login to Office.com (same as you use with SSC email or D2L).

Need help? 

Or Contact SSC’s Account Representatives

Email: beth.witherspoon@cengage.com
Phone:

Students

  • Start off by asking your instructor how they use Cengage in their courses.  Sometimes they can answer many of your questions.
  • Login to your D2L Brightspace course.
  • Find any Cengage material your instructor has posted in the D2L course and you will be asked for a one-time login.
  • Already have an account? Login with your credentials.
  • New to Cengage – Register for an Account – Watch Video (remember to use SSC email address)
  • Need help? Visit Cengage Unlimited Support – Select Student.

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