Add a content module to a Brightspace course

Fig 1. Enter a title for the new module

Fig 2. Enter a title for the new sub-module

Fig 3. Select to edit the module title

Fig 4. Select to add a module description

Fig 5. Switch between publish and draft modes

About this article

This article demonstrates how to add a content module to a table of contents (TOC) in a Desire2Learn (D2L) course. It is intended for instructors who are using D2L.

What's a module?

In D2L, instructors provide students with access to course material by building a TOC composed of headings and links. The headings are called modules and the links are called topics. There are many ways to organize content and any TOC could include a combination of approaches. For example, instructors could organize content by:

• Timeline. Modules represent some unit of time (e.g., Week 1, Week 2).
• Subject. Modules represent chapters or subject areas in textbook fashion (e.g., Biological Bases of Behavior)
• Type. Modules group content based on type (e.g., handouts, slides, videos, links).

Adding a module

1. Open a D2L course, select the Materials menu, and select Content. This will take you to the Content Tool.
2. At the bottom of the sidebar region, select Add a module... (Figure 1).
3. Enter a title for the new module and press Enter on your keyboard.

Adding a sub-module

1. Open a D2L course, select the Materials menu, and select Content. This will take you to the Content Tool.
2. From the sidebar region, select the module or sub-module under which you want to place a sub-module.
3. In the content region, select Add a sub-module... (Figure 2).
4. Enter a title for the new sub-module, and press Enter on your keyboard.

Additional Details

• If you are going to merge course sections, do not create modules until after the merge is complete and the new merged course appears on your class list.
• It's good practice to keep module and sub-module titles short so they fit on the sidebar. Titles longer than 16 characters (including spaces) will wrap to a second line.
• Rename a module or sub-module by selecting its title from the left sidebar region and then selecting its title at the top of body region (Figure 3). Adjust the title and press Enter on your keyboard to save it.
• Add a description to a module or sub-module by selecting its title from the left sidebar region and then selecting Add a description... (Figure 4). Use the content editor to create the description and select the Update button to save it.
• By default, modules are published and students have unrestricted access to them as soon as they are created. You can switch from Publish to Draft mode (Figure 5) if you do not want students to see things as you are working on them. You can also restrict student access to content at the module-level (e.g., if you don't want students to see a module until after a certain point in the course). This will restrict access to all of the sub-modules and topics underneath it.
• If you plan to import a publisher-provided course pack or cartridge, it is not uncommon for that process to result in the addition of several new modules and sub-modules. For example, the publisher may include links to PowerPoint slides under a "PowerPoint Presentations" module. This import can be done at any time, even if you have already added modules yourself. Any new modules created by the installation of a course pack are typically added at the bottom of your existing TOC. These modules can then be edited, moved, or deleted.

Related Articles

• Content in D2L
• Adding a course overview to a D2L course
• Adding a content topic to a D2L course
• Short titles in D2L
• Enumeration in a D2L table of contents
• Restricting D2L content access
• Learning objectives in D2L (coming soon)