D2L Brightspace is the Learning Management System used for courses at Great Falls College MSU. A Learning Management System, or LMS, is a website that you log into with a username and password where course instruction is delivered to the learner and various types of learning activities are completed by the learner. If you are familiar with Google Classroom, this is a very simple LMS used primarily in the K-12 environments. Other LMSs that you may have come into contact with are Moodle, Blackboard, Canvas, Sakai, and even sites like Udemy.com, PluralSight, and LinkedIn Learning are forms of LMSs where you pay a subscription fee to use the service or you purchase individual courses.  In the case of Brightspace, you do not need to pay anything additional to use it as a student of Great Falls College MSU. In fact, all four MSU campuses use Brightspace to varying degrees. At GFCMSU, we require all of our credit bearing courses to provide a course instance within Brightspace for students enrolled in that course. What is contained in that Brightspace course depends on the type of course and the delivery mode of the course (face-to-face, online, hybrid, hyflex), however, all courses in Brightspace should include at least the following things: an instructor widget that provides some contact information and office hours for the instructor, the course syllabus, and an announcement welcoming students to the course and providing some direction to help students get started with the course.  Please do not be alarmed if you are in a face-to-face course and the course in Brightspace only contains those few things because either all of the course instruction and activities, such as quizzes, assignments, discussion will be handled in class or the instructor may be utilizing Brightspace but opening each week's or unit's module as that week or unit is reached.  If you have any questions regarding the information above, please do not hesitate to contact the Technology Assistance Center by email at elearning@gfcmsu.edu, virtual chat at https://elearning.gfcmsu.edu, phone at 406.771.4440, or stop in and see us on campus in suite G100. 

Great Falls College MSU offers two forms of orientation called Tech Essentials. Face-to-face and online Tech Essentials sessions are scheduled during the weeks prior to the start of the semester. Tech Essentials is a transcripted, non-credit bearing course. Contact your advisor or Student Central for help enrolling in Tech Essentials. Students who register for Tech Essentials Online will be sent a welcome letter which provides instructions for the first steps which must be completed prior to beginning Tech Essentials Online. For returning students who just need a refresher on D2L, we have videos available at http://elearning.gfcmsu.edu/StudentResources/VideoTutorials.html or under the Video Tutorials section of our elearning.gfcmsu.edu site. These videos cover the same topics as the D2L and IT portions of the Tech Essentials course but also include some additional videos to help with other topics such as the student email system, signing into Banner Web, and more. These videos are meant to be a quick reference and are not intended to replace the face-to-face and online Tech Essentials sessions.

Please visit our System Check page, located at https://elearning.gfcmsu.edu/system_check.html. This will quickly check to make sure that your computer meets the necessary requirements to run Brightspace and other online educational resources used at Great Falls College MSU. It will check to make sure that you are using a compatible web browser, that JavaScript and cookies are enabled in your browser, and that your display meets the minimum resolution and color requirements.

There are two websites that will allow you to sign into D2L.  Primary: https://elearning.gfcmsu.edu Alternate: https://gfcmsu.desire2learn.com

Net ID and Password Support By the end of this tutorial, you will be able to... Claim your Net ID (username for most online services provided by the college) Reset your passwords related to your Net ID Please note: There are separate instructions below for students that know their MSU ID and for students who do not know their MSU ID. Claim Your Net ID - Use these instructions if you do not know your MSU ID (Student ID) Please follow the steps below to obtain your Net ID. Locate, and click on, Banner Web/My Info from the GFC MSU homepage. Look for the text that reads, "Don't know your NetID?" and click on "Look it up here." Click on the link that says "I don't know my MSU ID". Enter your last name and the last four digits of your social security number and click submit. One of the following two things will happen: You will be asked to enter your birthdate Enter your birthdate in the form mm/dd/yyyy and click submit. (i.e., 01/01/1990) You should be taken to a page that says, "Your NetID is:" and your Net ID should be shown below. Your Net ID will look like a letter, two numbers, a letter, and three numbers. (i.e., a12b345) You will receive an error message. If you receive an error message, please contact the Admissions Department for further assistance at 406-771-5128. Claim Your Net ID - Use these instructions if you do know your MSU ID (Student ID) Please follow the steps below to obtain your Net ID. Locate, and click on, Banner Web/My Info from the GFC MSU homepage. Look for the text that reads, "Don't know your NetID?" and click on "Look it up here." Enter your MSU ID with the dash in front of it and click the submit button. (i.e., -12345678) Enter your date of birth in the form mm/dd/yyyy and click submit. (i.e., 01/01/1990) You should be taken to a page that says, "Your NetID is:" and your Net ID should be shown below. Your Net ID will look like a letter, two numbers, a letter, and three numbers. (i.e., a12b345) Reset your Net ID Passwords Now that you have claimed your NetID, you can click on the link to go to the password portal to set your password. Use the instructions below to set your password.  Please note: Resetting your Net ID passwords will also sync all of your passwords.  For example, you will be able to log in to a campus computer and D2L using the same password. NEW August 2018 - GFC MSU's password reset tool, sometimes referred to as My Profile, has been replaced with a new Self Service Password Portal. A screenshot displaying the new Self Service Password Portal This is the new location where GFC MSU faculty, staff and students will set/change their NetID password. All GFC MSU faculty, staff, and students* must set up a new user profile and will not be able to change or set their NetID password until they do. *It doesn't matter if you've been at GFC MSU for years or are brand spanking new, a new user profile must be set up. What's different from the old password reset tool? Everyone must set up a new user profile the first time they use the tool. New user setup requires configuration of challenge questions and also the choice to set up email and/or text authentication for future use. New user profiles can be set up (and updated at any time) without having to change your NetID. What's the same? Passwords expire 180 days from the date they are set/reset. Passwords can be changed at anytime, waiting for expiration is not required.   Go to Password Portal Instructions to get started New User Setup Go to Password Portal (see blue button above). Click Go to Setup Tool button in New User Setup tile (see fig 2). Enter NetID and click Continue(see fig 3). Enter GFC MSU ID and Date of Birth and click Continue*(see fig 4). ID example: -12345678 DOB format example for April 23, 1989: 04231989 Select and configure Authentication method(s). The methods (challenge questions, email, text) you choose to set up during New User Setup will be available for you to use in the future when you log into the portal. 5 challenge questions -(see fig 5) You are required to configure 5 challenge questions. Email - (optional) provide an email address to use to receive a verification code (no fig, see fig 6 for reference) Text- (optional) provide cell number that can receive a verification code (see fig 6) NOTE: You only need to set up one authentication method however, you are required to set up challenge questions regardless (you'll be prompted). TIP: Use the SKIP button to pass over options you don't want to setup. You can always update your profile later to add or update an option (see image below) fig 6 - Upon completion of setting up your new user profile you can leave/close the page, or continue to set/reset your NetID password. Password Reset To set/reset your NetID password, go to the Password Reset tile and click the Go to Reset Tool button. Read password rules, then follow prompts to reset it. * Why MSU ID and Date of Birth? These 2 items are the only identifiable information associated with individual NetIDs that MSU has for all of its users. They are only requested/required during the first-time new user setup process.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Your Courses on Brightspace Navigating a new e-learning platform can sometimes feel like deciphering a maze. But fear not! If you're trying to locate your courses on Brightspace, you're in the right place. This guide will walk you through the process, ensuring you can access your courses with ease and confidence. Let's get started! --- Step 1: Logging into Brightspace Before you can access your courses, you'll need to log into the Brightspace platform. 1. Open your preferred web browser. 2. In the address bar, type or copy-paste the following URL: [https://elearning.gfcmsu.edu](https://elearning.gfcmsu.edu). 3. Press Enter or Return on your keyboard. 4. You'll be taken to the Brightspace login page. Here, enter your NetID and password in the respective fields. 5. Click on the "Login" button to proceed. > **Tip**: Always ensure you're on the correct website before entering your login details. Check the URL carefully to avoid phishing attempts. --- Step 2: Locating the Course Selector Icon Now that you're logged in, it's time to find the course selector icon. 1. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the Brightspace My Home screen. It's designed to be user-friendly, with icons and labels for various functionalities. 2. Look for an icon that resembles a waffle or grid. This is the course selector icon. --- Step 3: Viewing Your Current Semester Courses With the course selector icon in sight, you're just a click away from viewing your courses. 1. Click on the course selector (waffle) icon. 2. A dropdown menu will appear, displaying a list of courses. 3. Your current semester courses should be prominently listed. --- Wrapping Up And there you have it! In just three simple steps, you've successfully located your courses on Brightspace. As you continue to use the platform, you'll find that it offers a plethora of tools and resources to enhance your learning experience. So, dive in, explore, and make the most of your e-learning journey. > **Note**: Brightspace is continually evolving, with updates and new features being added regularly. If you ever feel lost or need assistance, don't hesitate to reach out to your institution's IT or e-learning support team. They're there to help! Please also note that although some courses might be active in Brightspace before the first day of the semester instructors have until the first day of the semester to activate classes. If you are taking an online only class or hybrid class and you are not seeing your courses listed in D2L on the first day of the semester please contact the Technology Assistance Center as soon as possible for assistance. The Technology Assistance Center is located in suite G100 and can be reached by visiting our office, calling us at 406-771-4440, sending an email to elearning@gfcmsu.edu, or via the online chat button in the lower left corner of the eLearning website at https://elearning.gfcmsu.edu.. 

Follow the steps outlined on our New Students page located at https://tac.gfcmsu.edu/newstudents/ If you have any trouble or have any further questions, please contact the Technology Assistance Center at 406-771-4440 or by email at elearning@gfcmsu.edu.

About Accessibility   Web accessibility refers to how easily people with disabilities can navigate and interact with websites. Disabilities may be physical (such as blindness, low vision, deafness, or fine motor skills difficulty), or cognitive (such as dyslexia or attention deficit disorder). People with disabilities often use assistive technologies to help them navigate the web. An assistive technology is any device that helps a person with a disability. Common web assistive technologies include modified mice and keyboards, screen readers and screen magnifiers.   Web accessibility occurs when websites support web accessibility standards, are compatible with assistive technologies, and are easy for people to navigate and understand.   At Desire2Learn we follow web accessibility standards closely and work with interested clients to test the usability of our products for people with disabilities. We believe that instructional practices should focus on helping people learn, and should not be limited by the learning management system the material is delivered in.   Accessibility help topics   Learning Screen reader tips Screen reader accessibility features Keyboard-only navigation tips Keyboard-only navigation accessibility features Screen magnifiers, zooming and color contrast tips Screen magnifiers, zooming and color contrast accessibility features

Note: The video below shows the old look of Brightspace. Nothing has changed with regards to how the tool works.  About Email The Email tool allows you to send email from within Learning Environment. You can also organize received mail using folders and store email addresses using the Address Book. Access the Email tool Click the Email link on your course navigation bar. There are two ways to send new emails. One method is good for sending an email to an email account outside of Brightspace and the other is good for sending to students and instructors within Brightspace in courses you are enrolled in. Instructions for both are below.  Composing new emails from within a course From within the course where the recipient is enrolled, click Communications > Classlist. If you are sending to just one person, locate that person in the list and click on their name to open a new email addressed to them.  If you are sending to multiple people, check the boxes to the left of their name and then click on the icon that looks like an envelope just above the list. A new blank email will be created with all of the recipients listed in the BCC field. You can also use the "select all" checkbox to select the entire class but please keep in mind that unless you use the tabs at the top to filter and show only students, the instructor(s) will be included in your message. Type your email subject, enter your message in the body field, use spell check if you desire, and click send.  Composing (creating) new emails to external email addresses From the Message List page, click the Compose button. Type the recipient’s email address in the To field.  Type a brief description of your email in the Subject line. Type your message in the large text box. Click the Spell Checker icon to check for misspellings. Click Send. Add an attachment to your email From the Compose New Message page, create a new email as usual. In the Attachments section, click Browse and select the file you want to attach. Click Add. Notes If you add an attachment and want to delete it before sending, click the Remove link beside the attachment. The following file types cannot be added to or downloaded from email messages in Learning Environment: .asp, .aspx, .exe, .bat, .dll, .com, .asa, .asax, .ascx, .asmx, .axd, .cdx, .cer, .config, .idc, .cs, .csproj, .java, .jsl, .licx, .rem, .resources, .resx, .shtm, .shtml, .stm, .vb, .vbproj, .vjsproj, .vsdisco, .webinfo, .ini. The size of the attachments you are able to send is determined by your organization. You will receive a warning message if your attachment is larger than the allowable size. Compose Message options Option Description To, Cc, Bcc You can send messages to contacts by directly entering their addresses into these fields. Subject Specify a subject line in this field. Priority Set the priority for this message as Low, Normal (default setting), or High. This priority setting will appear next to your message in the receiver's Message List. Message Enter your message into this area. Spell Check Click the Spell Check icon to check your message for misspellings. Preview Click the Preview icon to have a look at your message before sending it. Attachments Browse for and add attachments to your message. Use the Add button to add multiple attachments. Cancel Click Cancel to cancel the message you are composing. (Not applicable to Send-Only configurations.) Save as Draft Click Save as Draft to save the message you are composing (with any attachments) to the Drafts folder without sending it. (Desire2Learn Email only.) Send After composing your email and adding any attachments. Click Send to send it. A message will display either confirming that your message has been sent or letting you know the message could not be sent. Read An Email Message Unread messages appear in bold. To read a message, click the subject link of the message. The message opens in either a preview pane or new window, depending on your settings. Mark an email message as read Select check box next to the message or messages you want to mark as read. Click Mark as Read at the top of the message list. Note To mark a message as unread, open the message and click the Mark Unread icon in the Message Preview page. Reply to or forward an email message From the Message List page, select the message you want to reply to or forward by clicking on the message’s subject link. Click Reply, Reply All, or Forward. Enter the recipient names in the To, CC, and Bcc fields. For reply and reply all the recipients are automatically populated, but you can add additional recipients if desired. Add any additional content, including attachments, to the message. Click Send. Search for an email message Use the Search For field to search and find messages in the Message List. Type the word you are searching for in the Search For field and click Search. Click the Show Search Options link to search specifically in the From, Subject, or Body fields of messages in the Message List.   Sort email messages To sort the message list, on the Message List page, click the icon or title representing the type of sort you want to perform. You can sort the messages in the Message List by their priority, whether they contain attachments, as well as their To/From, Subject, Date, and Size attributes. Sort by Description Priority Sorts messages by shared priorities. Attachments Sorts messages by their inclusion of attachments. From/To Alphabetically sorts messages by sender/receiver names. Subject Alphabetically sorts messages by subject lines. Date Chronologically sorts messages. Size Sorts messages by size.   Delete an email message Select the check box next to the message or messages you want to delete. Click Delete. Note Deleted messages are moved to the Trash folder. Deleting the message from the Trash folder removes it permanently. Using email folders Folders help you manage your messages by organizing them into groups. Your folders are listed in the Folder drop-down list and in the Folder List pane to the left of the Message List if the pane is set to display. You have the following folders by default: Inbox Drafts Sent Trash You can add folders to this list as needed. Access email folders From the Message List page, click the folder’s name in the Folder List pane or select the folder from the Folder drop-down list. Access the folder management area From the Message List page, click the Folder Management icon at the top of the page. Move a message to a folder Select the check box next to the message or messages you want to move. In the Move To drop-down list, select the folder you want to put the messages in. Add a folder From the Address Book page, click the New Folder button. Type a name for the folder in the Folder Name field. Assign the folder a Parent Folder, if applicable. Choosing a parent folder means that the folder you add is "nested" within the parent folder. Choose "None" if you do not want the folder to have a parent. You can nest folders as deep as you want. Click Save.   Edit a folder The amount of information you can edit depends on the type of folder you are editing. While you can change the name, the parent folder, and delete folders you have created, you can only change the name of system-created folders. You cannot delete system-created folders (Trash, Draft, Inbox, Address Book), nor can you change their parent folder. From the Folder Management area, click the click Edit from the context menu next to the folder you want to edit. Update the folder. Click Save.   Reorder the folder list Click Reorder on the Folder Management page. Select the folders you want to move. Click Up or Down to move the folders through the order. Once you have the folders ordered the way you want click Save. Note The Reorder Folders page only lists folders that are organized at the same level (i.e. they are either top-level folders or share a parent folder). To change the nesting structure of folders at different levels (i.e. remove or add a parent association) you must edit the Parent Folder field on the Edit Folder page.   Delete a folder Click Delete from the context menu next to the folder you want to delete. You cannot delete system-created folders.   Create a contacts group From the Address Book page, Click the Add Contact button. Click the New Folder link. In the Folder Type section, select Contacts Folder. Enter a Folder Name. To make the new folder a sub-folder inside an existing folder, choose the existing folder from the Parent Folder drop-down list. Click Save.

About Grades Use the Grades tool to check your grades on assignments and tests. You can see your individual grades and comments, as well as class averages and feedback. You can also view your final grade and the grade formula used to evaluate you if your grades are released.  Access the Grades tool Click Grades on the navbar. Viewing Your Grades When your grades are published, they appear on your personal Grades page in the course. Depending on how your grades are set up, you might also be able to view comments and overall class performance statistics.