DSU D2L User Guides and Training Resources

A Rough Comparison of Features and Functions between WebCT and D2L

Please note: Name matching may not be an appropriate method of comparison, as some features and functions may have similar names but differ significantly in function and power. Please read the further comparisons below the table.

	WebCT	D2L
Content Organization	Content Module	Content
	Content Module > Heading	Content > Module
	Content Module > File	Content > Topic
	Organizer Page	N/A
	Single Page	Content > Topic / QuickLink > Course File
	URL	QuickLink > URL
Assessment	Assignments	Dropbox
	Assignment	Folder
	Question Database	Question Library

Gradebook	Manage Students	Enter Grades
	Manage Columns	Manage Grades
	Column	Item
Collaboration	Student Presentation	Group Locker (file sharing only, not open to the class)

D2L Features & Functions Not Available in WebCT or More Powerful in D2L

Content Management

QuickLink
Internal links can be automatically updated when a file is moved to a different folder or renamed.
Students can leave feedback on content pages.

Assessment

Dropbox
- Students can upload and submit multiple files.
- Instructor can email all students who have not submitted an assignment.
- Instructor can email selected student.
Grades
- Grade management is handled through a dedicated gradebook.
- Final grades can be automatically calculated and updated.
- A category can be set up to group grade items that make up a certain percentage of the total course grade. The grades of the items in the category can be automatically updated.
Quizzes
- Header, footer, description, and introduction can be added to a quiz.
- Quizzes can be made always available.
- Special time limit and grace period can be assigned to individual students.
- Can be associated with learning objectives with achievement threshhold
- Instructor can specify how many questions to be placed per page.
- Notification email can be sent to the instructor when a quiz submission comes in.
- Right mouse click can be disabled.
Quiz question types
- Filling blanks
- Multi-Select
- Multiple-Short Answers
- Ordering Question
Competencies and Learning Objectives
- can be associated with other course activities and assessment measures.
Rubrics
- can be associated with other course activities and assessment measures.

Student Management

Groups
- Instructor specifies the number of groups or number of students per group and the system can automatically enroll students.
- Instructor can manually add new groups and adjust group enrollment.
- Associated discussion forum/topics, dropbox folders, and group lockers can be created along with the creation of the groups.
Classlist
- Can send an email or page to any class member from the Classlist.
- Instructor can manage groups from the Classlist.

Communications

Pager
Discussions
- Students can rate discussion postings.

WebCT Features & Functions Not Available in D2L

Content Management

Syllabus
Organizer Page
Widget
Content module compiler (for downloading and printing all content of a content module)

Course Management

Course Backup (including all student data)
Course Reset (to remove all students)

Assessment

Quiz question types:
- Short answers in sequence

Communications

Within-course email (Email in D2L is not contained within a course; it's system-wide)
Whiteboard

Questions and comments? Email DSU-WebCT@dsu.edu