Desire2Learn for Students

Desire2Learn is a course management system that some UW-La Crosse faculty use to enhance face-to-face instruction or for complete course delivery. If you are in a course that is using Desire2Learn, you will be automatically added to the Desire2Learn portion of the course.

If you have any further questions, concerns, or issues with D2L, please contact the ITS Support center at (608) 785-8774 or itssupport@uwlax.edu.

Recommended Operating Systems and Hardware

Below is a list of System Requirements and Recommendations.

Component Required Recommended
Operating System:
  • Windows 98, 98SE, ME, 2000, 2003, XP, Vista
  • Mac OS X (up to 10.4)*
  • Windows 2003, XP Service Pack 2
  • Mac OS X (up to 10.4)
Video:
  • SVGA monitor
  • Minimum resolution of 800 x 600
  • Resolution of 1024 x 768 or greater
Internet Speed:
  • 56K modem
  • 56K, DSL or Cable modem


*Note: Desire2Learn is also supporting the Intel-based Macs.

Mac Users: If you are using OSX version 10.3.9 or lower and having problems with D2L see the documentation at http://itssupport.uwlax.edu/selfserve/mainview.aspx?documentid=51603.

Recommended Browsers

Note: These are the minimum browser requirements needed for using D2L.

OS Compatible Browsers Recommended Browser
Windows
  • Internet Explorer 6.0
  • Internet Explorer 7.0
  • Firefox 2.0
  • Internet Explorer 6.0
Mac OS X
  • Safari 1.3
  • Safari 2.0
  • Firefox 2.0
  • Firefox 2.0

Recommended Settings

  1. Make sure that the browser is set to accept cookies (from both 1st party and 3rd party). See Web Browsers - Cookies FAQ for details (use the "managing cookies" links on the bottom of the page).
  2. Javascript must be enabled. See Web Browsers - Enabling Javascript (From the University of Wisconsin Knowledge Database)

Recommended Software

The following software should be installed for full functionality within the Desire2Learn site:

  • Sun Java Runtime Environment (JRE). JRE v.1.4.2.x or JRE 1.5.0.x (recommended) are supported and are required for the Equation Editor. As of May 2008, Desire2Learn is not yet supporting Java 1.6, but is accepting questions and issues. See Windows - Installing Sun Java (From the University of Wisconsin Knowledge Database).
Connecting to Desire2Learn
  1. Open Firefox, Safari, or Internet Explorer
  2. From the UW-La Crosse homepage, select D2L at the top of the page or
    Go to: https://uwlax.courses.wisconsin.edu/-The Welcome screen and Login dialog box appear.
  3. In the Username text box, type your 8.4 username (first part of your email address - no "eagle\")
  4. In the Password text box, type your email password

    Default username and password information can be found at http://itssupport.uwlax.edu/solutions/mainview.aspx?DocumentID=28311

  1. Click LOGIN
    The My Home page appears with a list of the Desire2Learn courses you are enrolled in.
Disconnecting from Desire2Learn
  1. From any page, on the Navigation bar, click LOGOUT
    The Welcome screen and Login dialog box appear.
About My Home

The My Home page is your personal gateway to your Desire2Learn courses. All courses that you are registered in will appear in the My Courses widget. News items are used to post important Desire2Learn-related news and announcements. The My Home page allows you to customize settings through My Preferences.

Accessing Your Course Home Page

  1. On the My Home page, from the My La Crosse Courses widget, click the appropriate link for your class
    The Course Home page appears.

  2. When using Desire2Learn, you will be working extensively from the Course Home page. Through this page, you can access course content, discussions, quizzes, grades, and several other tools. To access the Course Home page, once you log in, in the My La Crosse Courses widget, you will be presented with a list of the courses you are enrolled in. Each link leads to that course's homepage.

  3. On the Course Home page, several items may be present. The items contained within separate windows are referred to as widgets, such as News and File Viewers. The instructor can choose which tools are available and has the option of renaming Tools on the Navigation bar. The Course Tools are located on the Navigation bar. Descriptions of each are discussed below.

Widgets

On the Course Home page, several items may be present. The items contained within separate windows are referred to as widgets, such as News and Library Resources.

Library Resources
This will have information on Murphy Library Resources.

Scheduled Events
Links in this widget bring you to a list of course events that the instructor has created.

File Viewers
Here you can find places to download viewers for popular file formats you will be viewing for coursework.

News
Important course announcements, such as due dates, are displayed in this widget. This widget also contains the Search feature.

Course Tools

The instructor can choose which tools are available and has the option of renaming Tools on the Navigation bar. The Course Tools are located on the Navigation bar. Descriptions of each are discussed below.

Chat
Allows you to exchange information with class members and the instructor(s) in real time. Clicking CHAT displays a list of chat rooms available to the course. You can enter a chat room or create your own. Also refer to Working with Chats (Information borrowed from UW-Eau Claire).

Course Home
Returns you to the Course Home page.

Content
Contains course-specific modules and topics. Topics may be in HTML format or consist of multimedia, such as PowerPoint slide shows. Clicking a module or topic link allows you to navigate through detailed information one topic at a time.

Links
Contains links relevant to the course. Clicking on a link will bring you to a web page to view information for the course. Also refer to Working with Links (Information from UW-Eau Claire).

Discussion
Takes you to the Discussion page, where you can read and post messages. Also refer to Working with Discussions (Information from UW-Eau Claire).

Classlist
Displays the names and email addresses of the instructor(s) and students enrolled in the course. Users highlighted with a yellow background are currently online. Users with a white background are currently offline. Here you will also find tools that allow course members to submit information for a profile or a website.

Quizzes
Provides access to quizzes, when available. Also refer to Taking Online Quizzes (Information from UW-Eau Claire).

Grades
Displays grades received on assignments and quizzes. Specific statistics and comments associated with each item may also be available.

Dropbox
Contains folders for uploading files for the instructor to view, when available. Also refer to Working with the Dropbox (Information from UW-Eau Claire).

Email
Takes you to a new email page, where you can compose a new message. Also refer to Sending Email in Desire2Learn (Information from UW-Eau Claire).