Request a D2L shell (Chang online distance courses only)
What is a Brightspace "shell"?
"Shells" are the spaces in the D2L Brightspace learning system that are created for online course components and other collaborative projects ('Course Shells' and 'Organization Shells', respectively). Shells can contain attached documents, learning materials, quizzes, assignments, discussions, and more.
A "Course Shell" is associated with a specific course, in a specific term, at Toronto Metropolitan University. Course Shells need to be requested each time you teach the course to a different cohort of students, but you may request a copy of materials for up to 2 years.
Can I use this form to request my Brightspace shell?
This is an online distance course run through the Chang School, with no classroom component.
This section is listed when I view MyServiceHub.
I have taught this specific course in the last 2 years, and have a previous Brightspace shell to copy.
If you're not sure, please contact the Digital Education Strategies instructor support team at dehelp@torontomu.ca.
If you do not see the pop-up...
If you do not see the pop-up, the "general" request form will load immediately for you. Please do not try to fill out this request form for a Chang School distance online course shell. If you do, you will not receive the correct type of course shell.
That means you don't have the necessary conditions to request your own shell for this course -- and the instructor support team at dehelp@torontomu.ca will be more than happy to help you.
If you want to request a course other than your distance Chang School course...
If you are teaching a combination of types of courses, which include online and regular classroom-based courses, and you wish to request a D2L Brightspace course shell for a regular (classroom) course, click on 'No', and go to our main step-by-step instructions to request your D2L Brightspace course shell.
I think I requested the wrong course or made some incorrect choices when filling out the form. What do I do?!
Send an email to dehelp@torontomu.ca with details of the problem.
I don't see my regular classroom-based courses (or sections) listed in Step 2 of the form. What do I do?!
The instructions on this page are for Chang online distance courses only. Please follow the instructions to find access the request form, and click on 'No' when you see the popup asking if you are trying to request a Chang School shell for an online distance course.
I accidentally selected a 2-term course shell. What do I do?
Email dehelp@torontomu.ca and tell them what you did. They will assist you.
From now on, when you request a Course Shell or Organization shell, you will automatically get both a Brightspace shell AND a corresponding Google Group. If the Brightspace shell code is abc123_f21_02, the email address for the Google Group will be abc123_f21_02@torontomu.ca.
The Brightspace shell and Google Group contain the same members - including automatic updates based on enrollments (for example, students enrolled in a specific section of a course) and members added individually using the Self Service tools in my.torontomu.ca. There are a few exceptions, mostly in non-course training shells and a few organizations.
You can find a list of the members included in BOTH the Brightspace shell and the Google Group by going to the Self Service tools in my.torontomu.ca.
Will pre-existing Brightspace shells now have Google Groups?
Yes. You will see groups for your recent shells listed in Google Groups. This is useful for course and organization shells that are ongoing - you can start to make use of the Google Groups if you want to start sharing Google-based resources.
Where can I get help with Google Groups?
Google Groups is supported by Computing and Communications Services - you can contact them at help@torontomu.ca with any questions
Google Groups don't have the same member roles as D2L Brightspace.
- Instructors and Shell Managers are given a "Manager" role in the corresponding Google Group.
- All other shell members - students, TAs, Course Builders, etc. - are all given a "Member" role in the corresponding Google Group.
This means that the course TAs and Course Builders don't have special access to the Google Group that corresponds with their course shells.
The Google support team in CCS recommends that you make a few changes when you first get your course Google Groups.
To set up your Google Group, please do the following:
- Login to Google Groups to set your mailing list preferences.
- Assign posting privileges to specific members in your list.
- Ensure only "Group Managers" can view members' email addresses. On the left panel, select Group Settings > General and scroll to Member Privacy. Change "Who can view member email addresses" to "Group Managers".
- To add new members or remove members, please contact the CCS Help Desk.
Be sure to keep student privacy in mind whenever upgrading a member's Google Group privileges.