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Northland Community & Technical College

D2L Brightspace

Current Students

Sign In

Please log in to D2L Brightspace using your StarID and password. Google Chrome is the recommended web browser.

Sign in with SSO


NOTE: Google Chrome is the recommended web browser.


Use Non-StarID sign-in.

About D2L Brightspace

D2L Brightspace is a course management software that Northland and all other schools in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System utilizes. D2L Brightspace allows instructors to create course websites to supplement face-to-face courses or to provide instruction for distance learning online courses.

It also allows students to access course materials through a standard web browser. Instructors can set up their courses to include the use of a variety of tools, such as:

  • Notifications: Text messages, instant messages, email messages
  • Materials: Content, calendar, checklist, links
  • Communications: Announcements, classlist, discussion, email, groups, virtual classroom
  • Assessments: Assignments, grades, quizzes, class progress, surveys, video assignment
  • Resources: Zoom, Kaltura MediaSpace, Get Help, TextAid-Readspeaker, Tutors, Academic Succes Center, Eservices, Library, LinkedIn Learning

Tools & Help Resources

ORI 1001 01 D2L Brightspace Orientation Course

Log into D2L Brightspace, click through the ORI 1001 01 D2L Brightspace Orientation Course to become familiar with the tools before beginning an actual course.

Student Technolgy Reference Guide

What computer requirements are required to use D2L Brightspace?

  • Processor — i5 minimum, (i7 or i9 preferred)
  • RAM — 8 GB RAM required, additional recommended
  • Storage — 250 GB HD minimum, SSD (solid state drive) preferred
  • Speakers — for qudio presentations in courses
  • Web Camera — built-in or attached recommended
  • Headset Microphone — recommended
  • Backup devices — USB jump drive (memory stick) recommended
  • Internet connection — most content is data intensive. LAN, DSL, Cable or Wireless connection is preferable.
  • Operating system — microsoft windows 10 or higher, MAC OS X 10.10 to 10.13
  • Browsers — Google Chrome
  • Office Suite — Office 365
  • Email — required to use college issued student email account
  • Virus protection — required up-to-date anti virus software

Courses are accessible to students on the official start date of the course. Student access to courses ends approximately ten days beyond the official end date of the course.

Learn how to submit an assignment and view instructor feedback.

Displays information covered in the course. All materials located inside D2L Brightspace courses are copyright protected. Violations of copyright laws are also violation of the NCTC Student Code of Conduct.

Displays important or required assignments, readings, projects, etc.

Identifies the instructor and other classmates.

Contains reports of student progress in all areas of the course.

Learn how to participate in a discussion.

Beat the deadline! Discussion topics, assignment folders, and quiz’s deadlines within Desire2Learn are strictly enforced.
Once the deadline has passed, student access is automatically blocked. Failure to complete by the posted deadline may result in no credit. Exceptions are at the discretion of the instructor.

Naming a file to be uploaded to an Assignment folder:

  • The file name must contain the student’s name or initials.
  • The file name should not contain any of the following characters : \ / * ? ” < > | # , % & .

Quiz taking best practices:

  • Hard wired is best, wireless may lose connection.
  • Students must click Submit Quiz button when finished.
  • If student gets locked or logged out, log back in immediately to continue with quiz.

Privacy:

As a student in a Desire2Learn course, you are in a password-protected environment. Only students in the course and your instructor(s) have access to the course. Some courses are collaboratively developed so the other developers also have access to the course. Depending on your course, special guests may be joining for the course duration or for a portion of the course. If anyone other than those officially associated with the course have access to it, your instructor should notify you up front.

Many of your Desire2Learn activities can be tracked and accessed by your instructor. The following is a summary of your activities that your instructor has access to:

  • All discussion postings — are automatically signed with your name and are for academic purposes only.
  • All discussions postings, assignment folder submissions, and quizzes — are date and time stamped.
  • Survey – anonymous results — instructors can not determine which students have completed the survey.
  • Course content — The number of times a topic/item has been viewed is logged.

Your instructor does not have access to the Desire2Learn private mail messages that you send to your classmates. However, you should be aware that you cannot send an anonymous mail message within Desire2Learn. Email messages are not guaranteed to be private.

NOTE: Your instructor does not have access to your activities in other Desire2Learn courses unless they are teaching the course.

Displays current grades on assignments, quizzes, discussions, projects, etc.

Learn how to record videos and uploads into assignments, discussions or quizzes.

Learn how to complete a quiz.

Step-by-step directions on how to install and use LockDown Browser to complete a quiz. Chromebooks DO NOT work with LDB & Monitor.

How do I complete the Student Course Evaluation survey?

  1. Log into D2L. Select the course in which to complete the survey.
  2. Assessments drop down arrow — select Survey.
  3. From the list of survey(s) — select Student Course Evaluation.
  4. The survey statements appear — click your response for each statement.
  5. Text box at end of survey — type any comments regarding the course.
    (What suggestions can you give us to improve this course?)
  6. Select the Submit button.
  7. When prompted, Are you sure you watn to submit this survey? — select OK

Learn how to electronically submit video assignments.

Learn how to participate in a virtual meeting.

Listing of activities for students.

Learn how to install the Zoom client, create a meeting, and send meeting link.

Contact D2L Brightspace Support

Having problems with your D2L Brightspace account? Contact a support specialist below.

Statewide Support

Northland D2L Brightspace Support

Northland Information Technology Support

EGF IT Department
218-793-2429, 218-793-2433 or 1-800-451-3441
Room 205
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday

TRF IT Department
218-683-8581 or 1-800-959-6282
Room 613
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday