DESIRE2LEARN SHARED CONTENT REPOSITORY
COURSE DESIGNERS INSTRUCTIONS
Current as of 8 August 2013
Gimme 3 Steps!
There are only 3 steps required for course designers to share their course material with
designated sectional instructors and/or colleagues:
1. Create a master course package file. Use D2L’s Import/Export/Copy
Components tool to export a .zip file of your course material. The Export function
directs you to download the file to your computer. Once the file is downloaded, you’ll
rename the file to match your Course ID (e.g., MATH1000-MasterCoursePackage.zip).
Click here for instructions on exporting a course package file!
2. Store the master course package file in the repository. The D2L Shared Content
Repository is simply dedicated storage space on the MTWeb server. Every MTSU
department or department-equivalent (e.g., School of Music, School of Nursing, et. al.)
has their own folder (i.e., a departmental repository folder) on the MTWeb server.
So the second step is simply putting your course package file in the appropriate
departmental repository folder.
Click here for a list of departmental repository folder names!
If you’re a Windows user, click here for repository storing instructions!
If you’re a Mac user, click here for repository storing instructions!
3. E-mail the master course package file link. Once the course package is placed in the
repository, it can be easily downloaded from the MTWeb server using a link in the
following format:
http://mtweb.mtsu.edu/<departmental repository folder name>/<master
course package file name>
You can copy, modify, and send this link in an e-mail to your colleagues who can easily
download the master course package file from the link.
Click here for a sample e-mail!
Click here for a graphic overview of the entire D2L Shared Content
Repository process!
(1) Course package export. Both the Export and Import functions within D2L’s
Import/Export/Copy Components tool use a “wizard”-based approach to easily step you
through each process as outlined in the directions and associated screen shots to follow.
As a general rule, you should create one single course package file containing all
structural core components (e.g., content modules and topics, discussion forums and
topics, dropbox folders, grade categories and items, et. al.) and course files (i.e.,
associated files in the “Manage Files” area). You will accomplish this by simply selecting
the “Include course files in the export package” option in step 1b below.
If you encounter problems exporting your course—particularly an excessive
amount of time or an incomplete export due to timing out—it is most likely because the
number and/or sizes of course files (particularly PowerPoint and multimedia files) in
the Manage Files area of your course are too large. We have included instructions for
this situation which requires exporting core components and course files as separate
course package files. Of course, the long-term solution for this particular problem is for
instructors to schedule an appointment with a FITC specialist to revise the course with
more effective content strategies…and smaller files!
1a. Go to the D2L Course Home page of the course which contains the baseline course
material, and select the “Import/Export/Copy Components” tool under Course
Administration.
1b. Click on the radio button next to “Export Components”, and select or deselect
“Include course files in the export package” as previously discussed.
1c. Click the selection box next to “Select All Components” to export all course material
or select specific components as appropriate. [NOTE: Until further notice, do not
select “Navigation” as a component for export.] Then click the “Next” button.
1d. Ensure the Course Files selection box matches your selection in step 1b above. Then
click “Next” after you’ve confirmed the components in the export manifest.
1e. The Export process will begin, and you can click “Done” when you receive green
checkmarks next to each exported component.
1f. The exported course package will take the form of a compressed .zip file which must
be downloaded to your computer. Click accordingly.
1g. The download process and dialog boxes may differ slightly from those depicted
depending on your browser and platform. The main goal is to save the course package
with a standard filename (FITC recommends a <CourseID>-MasterCoursePackage.zip
format with no spaces; e.g., NURS1000-MasterCoursePackage.zip) and putting it
somewhere on your computer where you can find it.
1h. If you included course files in your exported course package, click
“Return” to finish the process, and click here to return to the Gimme 3
Steps! summary page.
If you are creating a separate course file package, however, click
“Return” and proceed to step 1i on the next page.
1i. From your Course Home page, use the Manage Files tool to compress and download
your course files package.
1j. Click the selection box in the central section toolbar to select all files or individual
folder and file selection boxes as desired. Then click the Download button.
1k. A dialog box confirming the preparation and processing of the course files package
will appear and provide a download link when processing is complete.
1l. As in step 1g above, the download process and dialog boxes may differ slightly from
those depicted, so just follow the respective directions of your browser and platform to
properly name the file (FITC recommends a <CourseID>-MasterCourseFiles.zip format
with no spaces; e.g., NURS1000-MasterCourseFiles.zip) and save it in a memorable
place on your computer.
1m. Click the Close button to complete the Export process.
1n. Click here to return to the Gimme 3 Steps! summary page.
(2) Storing the master course package file ~ Windows users. First-time repository
users will need to download and install the file transfer software (FileZilla) required to
transfer files to the repository. Click here for these instructions. Otherwise
continue to the next step for repository transfer instructions.
2a. Launch FileZilla and click on the “Open the Site Manager” button as indicated by the
cursor. Site Manager can also be launched by clicking FileSite Manager or using the
CTRL-S keyboard shortcut.
2b. Ensure the site you created for your departmental repository folder is selected and
click the Connect button.
2c. The following picture shows a successful connection indicated by (1) a status of
“Directory listing successful” in the top connection status window, (2) a listing of folders
and files in the Local site window which match the PC directory you specified, and (3)
your departmental repository folder name in the Remote site field. If you’re working
with your departmental repository folder for the first time, you may have an “Empty
directory listing” on this initial connection, but you will see any transferred files and
folders on subsequent connections.
2d. At this point, you can now drag-and-drop files left-to-right from your PC (Local site)
to your departmental repository folder (Remote site). You can see the status of your
transfer at the bottom of the FileZilla window.
2e. When the transfer is completed, the file will appear in the Remote site directory
window. You can then right-click the file to conduct a variety of actions, particularly to
“View/Edit” the file which will automatically launch the appropriate application.
2f. You can also right-click on your departmental repository folder to create a personal
subdirectory (i.e., subfolder) to hold your specific courses, and you may find that other
instructors in your department have already done so.
2g. When you’re done working with your departmental repository folder, disconnect by
(1) clicking on the toolbar button indicated in the picture below, (2) selecting
ServerDisconnect from the FileZilla menu bar, or (3) using the CTRL-D keyboard
shortcut. Remember that future connections only require you to open the Site Manager
and Connect to your site.
2h. Click here to return to the Gimme 3 Steps! summary page.
FILEZILLA INSTALLATION & DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS – WINDOWS
I. Launch your Internet browser of choice and go to http://filezillaproject.org/download.php to download FileZilla. Click on the big green “Download
Now” link from SourceForge.
II. Depending on your browser, the download should automatically begin in a few
seconds. If you’re using Internet Explorer, though, you may receive an information bar
that prevents the download from starting—just click on the bar and select “Download
File”. NOTE: do not fill out the form that appears on the subsequent screen—it is not
required for the FileZilla download.
III. If given the option to “Run” or “Save”, it is perfectly fine to select “Run” since
SourceForge is a respected site.
IV. If you “Save” the file or your browser (such as Firefox or Chrome) forces you to save
it, then double-click on the file to launch the installation program and follow the wizard
steps to complete the installation. This wizard will also launch when you select “Run”.
V. When FileZilla has been launched, click on the “Open the Site Manager” button as
indicated by the cursor. Site Manager can also be launched by clicking FileSite
Manager or using the CTRL-S keyboard shortcut.
VI. Click the “New Site” button to establish an FTP connection for your MTWeb folder.
VII. Replace the “New Site” name with a personalized site name, such as “D2L
Repository” or “My MTWeb site”. Press the Enter/Return key to finish editing the
name.
VIII. After you’ve completed editing the site name, complete the Host
(mtweb.mtsu.edu), Protocol (FTP), Encryption (Explicit FTP over TLS), and Logon Type
(Normal) fields as depicted in the picture below (the Port field should be blank by
default). Enter your FSA userid (proceeded by “fsa” and a backslash, not forward slash)
and password to complete the information for the General tab.
IX. Click on the Advanced tab and ensure “Default (Autodetect)” is selected as the
Server Type. You can “Browse” for the directory on your PC which normally contains
your course files and establish this as the Default local directory. Your Default remote
directory will be the name of your departmental repository folder specified in Table 1
(e.g., “/depaccounting”).
X. Last, click on the Transfer Settings tab and select Passive for the Transfer mode. All
of the configuration information is automatically saved into your site entry, so you can
click the Connect button to connect (duh…) to your departmental repository folder.
XI. If you receive an “Unknown Certificate” dialog box, click “Always trust certificate in
future sessions” and click the OK button. NOTE: you will *not* have to complete steps
1-11 on future connections; you will just open the Site Manager, ensure your site is
selected, and click the Connect button.
XII. Click here to begin transferring files to the departmental repository
folder.
(2) Storing the master course package file ~ Mac users. First-time repository users will
need to download and install the file transfer software (FileZilla) required to transfer
files to the repository. Click here for these instructions. Otherwise continue to the
next step for repository transfer instructions.
2a. Launch FileZilla and click on the “Open the Site Manager” button as indicated by the
red arrow. Site Manager can also be launched by clicking FileSite Manager or using
the Command-S keyboard shortcut.
2b. Ensure the site you created for your departmental repository folder is selected and
click the Connect button.
2c. The following picture shows a successful connection indicated by (1) a status of
“Directory listing successful” in the top connection status window, (2) a listing of folders
and files in the Local site window which match the Mac directory you specified, and (3)
your departmental repository folder name in the Remote site field. If you’re working
with your departmental repository folder for the first time, you may have an “Empty
directory listing” on this initial connection, but you will see any transferred files and
folders on subsequent connections.
2d. At this point, you can now drag-and-drop files left-to-right from your Mac (Local
site) to your departmental repository folder (Remote site). You can see the status of
your transfer at the bottom of the FileZilla window.
2e. When the transfer is completed, the file will appear in the Remote site directory
window. You can then Control-click the file to conduct a variety of actions, particularly
to “View/Edit” the file which will automatically launch the appropriate application.
2f. When you’re done working with your departmental repository folder, disconnect by
(1) clicking on the toolbar button indicated in the picture below, (2) selecting
ServerDisconnect from the FileZilla menu bar, or (3) using the Command-D keyboard
shortcut. Remember that future connections only require you to open the Site Manager
and Connect to your site.
2g. Click here to return to the Gimme 3 Steps! summary page.
FILEZILLA INSTALLATION & DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS – MAC
I. Launch your Internet browser of choice and go to to download FileZilla. Click on the
first Mac OS X link (Intel) if you have a Mac Pro or MacBook Pro and click on the
second Mac OS X link (Power PC) if you don’t. The download will automatically begin
in a few seconds. NOTE: do not fill out the form that appears on the subsequent
screen—it is not required for the FileZilla download.
II. The “Downloads” dialog box will provide status of the FileZilla download process
and, when completed, the file you requested will be (most likely) placed in the
Downloads folder under your user home directory (this is Safari’s and Firefox’s default
location for downloaded files, and you can verify this by checking the Preferences for
your browser).
III. Double-click the FileZilla download file (ending with “.app.tar.bz2”) to unarchive the
FileZilla application file, FileZilla.app. Then drag-and-drop the FileZilla.app file into
your Applications folder.
IV. Go to your Applications folder to verify that the FileZilla.app file was successfully
moved, then drag-and-drop the file to your Dock for easy access. When the FileZilla
icon appears in the dock, you can close your Finder window and Downloads dialog box,
then double-click on the FileZilla icon to launch the program.
V. When FileZilla has been launched, click on the “Open the Site Manager” button as
indicated by the red arrow. Site Manager can also be launched by clicking FileSite
Manager or using the Command-S keyboard shortcut.
VI. Click the “New Site” button to establish an FTP connection for your departmental
repository folder. Replace the “New Site” name with a personalized site name, such as
“D2L Repository” or “My MTWeb Site”. Press the Enter/Return key to finish editing the
name.
VII. After you’ve completed editing the site name, complete the Host (mtweb.mtsu.edu),
Protocol (FTP), Encryption (Explicit FTP over TLS), and Logon Type (Normal) fields as
depicted in the picture below (the Port field should be blank by default). Enter your FSA
userid (proceeded by “fsa” and a backslash, not forward slash) and password to
complete the information for this tab.
VIII. Click on the Advanced tab and ensure “Default (Autodetect)” is selected as the
Server Type. You can “Browse” for the directory on your Mac which normally contains
your course files and establish this as the Default local directory. Your Default remote
directory will be the name of your departmental repository individual folder specified in
Table 1 (e.g., “/depaccounting”).
IX. Last, click on the Transfer Settings tab and select Passive for the Transfer mode. All
of the configuration information is automatically saved into your site entry, so you can
click the Connect button to connect (duh…) to your departmental repository folder.
NOTE: you will *not* have to complete steps 1-9 on future connections; you will just
open the Site Manager, ensure your site is selected, and click the Connect button.
X. Click here to begin transferring files to the departmental repository
folder.
(3) Providing colleague instructors access to course packages. Once your course
package file(s) is(are) placed in the departmental repository folder, it is now webaddressable and can therefore be accessed by a hyperlink in the following format:
http://mtweb.mtsu.edu/<department folder name>/<course package file name>.zip
For example, the link for the NURS1000-MasterCoursePackage.zip course package
residing in the depnurs departmental respository folder would be:
http://mtweb.mtsu.edu/depnurs/NURS1000-MasterCoursePackage.zip
If a secondary NURS 1000 package containing only its course files was created and
placed in the departmental repository folder, its link would be:
http://mtweb.mtsu.edu/depnurs/NURS1000-MasterCourseFiles.zip
To provide sectional/colleague instructors access to either of these packages, you just
need to send them an e-mail with this(these) link(s). Here’s a sample e-mail:
--- Begin e-mail --<Sectional instructor name here>, the <course ID; e.g., NURS 1000) master course
package file can be downloaded from the D2L Shared Content Repository by clicking on
the following link:
http://mtweb.mtsu.edu/depnurs/NURS1000-MasterCoursePackage.zip
(NOTE: this link, of course, will vary depending on the department and
the course)
Once the file is downloaded and saved to your computer from the above link, the
course package file can be imported using the Import function of the D2L
Import/Export/Copy Components tool. Detailed, screen-by-screen instructions for
downloading and importing course packages are outlined in the document at the
following link:
http://mtweb.mtsu.edu/fitc/FTP/SharedCourseRepository/D2LSharedContentReposit
ory-ColleagueInstructor.pdf
--- End e-mail --Click here to return to the Gimme 3 Steps! summary page.
Table 1. MTWeb Departmental Repository Folder Names. As a course designer for
your department, you’ll be given special permissions to add course package files to your
departmental repository folder on the MTWeb server which we’ve named as follows:
depaccounting - Accounting
depaerospace - Aerospace
depag - Agriculture
depart - Art
depbiology - Biology
depbuscommentre – Business
Communication and Entrepreneurship
depchemistry - Chemistry
depcis – Computer Information Systems
depcs – Computer Science
depcim – Concrete Industry Management
depcja - Criminal Justice Administration
depeconfin - Economics and Finance
depedleader - Educational Leadership
depemc - Electronic Media
Communication
depelsped - Elementary and Special
Education
depengtech - Engineering Technology
depengl - English
depforlang - Foreign Languages and
Literatures
depgeo - Geosciences
dephhp - Health and Human Performance
dephist - History
dephs - Human Sciences
depjourn - Journalism
depmngmkt - Management and Marketing
depmath - Mathematical Sciences
depms - Military Science
depmteach - MTeach
depmus - Music
depnurs - Nursing
depphyastro - Physics and Astronomy
depphilos - Philosophy
depps - Political Science
deppsy - Psychology
deprim - Recording Industry
depsw - Social Work
depsocanthro - Sociology and
Anthropology
depspeethea - Speech and Theatre
depunivstu - University Studies
Click here to return to the Gimme 3 Steps! summary page.
Figure 1. D2L Shared Content Repository Process.
Click here to return to the Gimme 3 Steps! summary page.