Navigating D2L and Online Learning with the Calgary Board of Education
The Calgary Board of Education (CBE) utilizes D2L (Desire2Learn)'s Brightspace platform to deliver online learning experiences to its students. This article explores various aspects of the CBE's D2L implementation, including its performance, usage, and role in supporting students and teachers.
D2L Performance and Optimization
Analyzing the performance of the D2l.cbe.ab.ca page reveals several key metrics. The initial response time is quite fast, clocking in at 42 ms. However, the total time to load all DOM resources and fully render the webpage extends to 1.2 seconds. This involves a total of 11 requests to load all elements, with 10 requests directed to D2l.cbe.ab.ca and 1 request to Hostedpages.brightspace.com. The main page size is 407.5 kB.
Several optimization strategies can further enhance the user experience. Compressing content using GZIP is an efficient method to reduce the amount of data transferred between the server and the browser. Minifying the HTML code can potentially save 799 B, which is 18% of the original size. Similarly, minifying and compressing JavaScript and CSS files can significantly reduce webpage rendering time. The browser sends 7 CSS, Javascripts, AJAX and image requests in order to completely render the main page of D 2 L Cbe.
Ensuring mobile-friendliness is also crucial, preventing users from needing to pinch or zoom to read content. The language declared in the HTML meta tag should match the actual language used on the page to avoid misinterpretation by search engines like Google. The D2l.cbe.ab.ca main page uses UTF-8 encoding.
CBe-learn: CBE's Online Learning Environment
CBe-learn serves as the Calgary Board of Education’s online middle and senior high school. Its primary function is to offer flexible distance learning options for students in grades six through 12. CBe-learn also provides a homeschooling option for students in grades 1 through 9.
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Ken Weipert, Principal of CBe-learn, notes the increasing demand for online learning technologies. He highlights the challenges of training teachers in an online environment, where recognizing student cues differs from a traditional classroom setting. CBe-learn aims to help students adapt to an asynchronous teaching model, where they might not receive the same instant feedback they expect in a classroom.
Brightspace Learning Repository
In response to the pandemic, CBe-learn made its course content available to classroom teachers needing to deliver classes online. They moved all junior and senior high program content into Brightspace Learning Repository using dynamic linking. This feature allowed for centralized updates and adjustments without requiring manual edits to thousands of individual courses.
CBe-learn also adopted a "train the trainer" strategy to help classroom teachers adapt to online teaching. For example, they used Brightspace to train teachers to deliver courses like career and life management in a blended format within community schools.
Brightspace Parent & Guardian App
The Brightspace Parent & Guardian app aims to increase engagement between students’ home communities and teachers. This mobile application provides parents with a way to access information about their child’s learning and receive updates via push notifications. To use the app, parents need an account provided by their school board. The app, developed by D2L Corporation, requires iOS 13.0 or later and is 32.4 MB in size. The developer states that the app does not collect any data.
D2L and Continuity of Learning
The D2L platform plays a crucial role in supporting continuity of learning, particularly during disruptions. However, access to D2L can be affected by events such as teacher strikes. During such times, the platform, which contains essential learning materials, course outlines, practice tests, and textbook excerpts, may be disabled, impacting students' education.
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D2L's Impact and Success
D2L's Brightspace platform has significantly impacted CBe-learn's ability to meet the increasing demand for online learning. As student enrollment has doubled or tripled, Brightspace has helped CBe-learn stay ahead of the curve.
Ken Weipert emphasizes the positive relationship with D2L, noting their responsiveness to ideas and the continuous improvement of the Brightspace platform. He highlights the Brightspace Parent & Guardian tool as a particularly exciting development.
Students appreciate the flexibility of focusing on their schoolwork whenever it suits them. In a summer school group, 90% of students completed their online courses and achieved their desired grades.
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