Add a content topic to a Brightspace course

About this article

This article describes the general process for creating content topics in a Desire2Learn (D2L) table of contents (TOC) and includes links to articles with more specific instructions. It is intended for instructors.

What's a topic?

In D2L, instructors provide students with access to course content by building a TOC composed of headings and links. The headings are called modules and the links are called topics. While modules are used to organize the TOC, topics link to the actual course materials and activities that students need to access. The TOC supports a large number of topic types that fall into four basic categories:

• Files. Instructors can upload their own files to their D2L courses. This includes syllabi, presentations, outlines, assignments, or study guides created using such tools as Microsoft Word or PowerPoint. It includes scanned PDF files (e.g., readings), images, and audio/video files. It includes publisher-provided course cartridges containing files (e.g., handouts, slides).
• Documents. Instructors can use the Editor Tool to create and edit documents directly in D2L courses.
• Links. Instructors can add links to external web pages. Publisher-provided course cartridges often include links to various websites that are added to the TOC as topics.
• Activities. Instructors can link to other components of their D2L course (e.g., quizzes, surveys, discussion topics, dropboxes) allowing students to navigate to those activities directly from the TOC.

General instructions for adding topics

There are several ways to add topics to a module or sub-module. The following is an overview. More detailed instructions are included in the articles listed at the bottom of this page. For all instructions below, first navigate to a D2L course and select Content from the Materials menu. This will take you to the Content Tool. Then, select the module or sub-module to which the topic is to be added from the sidebar region.

Fig 1. Adding topics using the New menu

Fig 2. Uploading files via drag and drop

Adding files as topics

There are three basic methods for adding files as topics in a TOC:

• Select Upload Files from the New menu in the content region (Figure 1) and find the file on your device.
• Drag and drop files from your device onto the corresponding rectangular area on the content region (Figure 2).
• Link to files that have already been uploaded to the course by selecting Add Course File from the New menu in the content region (Figure 1).

Adding documents as topics

The Editor Tool can be used to create documents directly in a D2L course by selecting New Document from the New menu in the content region (Figure 1).

Adding links as topics

Links to external web pages can be added by selecting New Link from the New menu in the content region (Figure 1).

Adding D2L activities as topics

Links can be added to existing D2L activities or several new activities can be created directly from the TOC:

• Topics can be created by linking to existing D2L activities (i.e., quizzes, discussions) by selecting the corresponding activity from the Add Activities menu (Figure 3).
• New dropbox, discussion, and quiz activities can be created directly from the Content Tool and listed as topics by selecting New Dropbox, New Discussion, or New Quiz from the New menu (Figure 1).

Fig 3. Adding topics using the Add Activities menu

Additional details

• Unlike modules, topics cannot be nested underneath other topics.
• In order to add a topic, you must have at least one module. Every topic needs to be a child of a parent module.
• When you upload a file, the topic title will default to the name of the file. This title can be changed without affecting the name of the uploaded file.
• By default, new topics are set to published mode and access is unrestricted. You can control access by switching to draft mode or by setting restrictions at the topic-level (e.g., if you don't want students to see a topic until after a certain point in the course).
• 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 topics. For example, the publisher may include links to PowerPoint files. This import can be done at any time, even if you have already added topics yourself. Any new topics created by the installation of a course pack are typically added at the bottom of your existing table of contents. These topics can then be edited, moved, or deleted.
• If you are going to merge course sections, do not create topics until after the merge is complete and the new merged course appears on your class list.
• Be careful when deleting topics. Depending on how you delete the topic, you may also delete the uploaded file or D2L activity (e.g., dropbox, quiz) to which it is linked.

Specific Instructions for Adding New Topics

• Uploading a file
• Linking to a previously uploaded file
• Linking to an external website
• Using the HTML Editor Tool
• Linking to an existing course component
• Including content from a LOR
• Adding multiple topics at once
• Editing topics
• Deleting topics

Related Articles

• Content in D2L
• Adding a course overview to a D2L course
• Adding a content module to a D2L course
• Editing D2L content topics
• Deleting D2L content modules and topics
• Copying D2L courses