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Minnesota State University Mankato
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New app makes D2L Brightspace more accessible Students can now access D2L from their smartphones with Pulse
STEPHANIE VOGEL Staff Writer D2L Brightspace now has an app you can use on your mobile device: D2L Brightspace Pulse. The app came out a couple of years ago, but the university didn’t have access to it until this past summer. The new app has both advantages and disadvantages. John Bayerl is an instructional technologist in charge of D2L on campus for IT solutions. The app is lacking, but still has conveniences. “I’ve still been playing around with the app myself recently,” Bayerl said, “and it seems like we’re missing some of the functionality that’s normally within D2L. But it should allow you to
Image from d2l.com more quickly access some more pertinent materials on D2L right on your phone.” The missing pieces within the app are the reason why a lot of people might not know about it. “We’re not currently pushing it out too much right now because of the lack of
functionality there that we’re still trying to identify,” said Bayerl. Bayerl explained which pieces of the app are missing, as compared to what you can access on D2L on your desktop. “On D2L itself, you may see your homepage having
announcements, some links down below to resources you may need as a student or as an instructor,” he said. “They aren’t there on the mobile app; it’s just all the courses you have access to.” The format of D2L on the app will look less like you would see it on your desktop
and more similar to how you would see it if you logged into D2L on your phone. “I think it’s incredibly easy to navigate. It’s just that a few things are missing here and there,” Bayerl said. Despite the lack of functionality, there are still advantages to using the app. One convenience of the app is the accessible calendar. “You have a nice link to your full calendar for all of your courses,” Bayerl said. “That’s pretty great, to be able to see everything you have to do. You’d have to go into each one of your courses on the website to be able to see that.” D2L has an instant messaging feature, which shows up on the app. Discussion threads will also appear on the app. You can also get
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Common Read film showing of The Day the 60s Died Mank ato, MN – L ib r ar y Services at Minnesota State University, Mankato invites the Greater Mankato community to a Common Read film showing on Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. in Ostrander Auditorium in the Centennial Student Union (CSU). The film, “The Day the 60s Died: The Kent State Shootings,” examines the conflicts and controversy surrounding events that occurred during the spring of 1970, as told by the people who witnessed the events. These actions include the May 4 shootings at Kent State, battles in the Cambodian jungle, construction workers fighting anti-war demonstrators on
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Wall Street, and the police shootings at Jackson State College. The film reinforces themes and topics found in this year’s Common Read book, Out of Chaos. The late 60s and early
Mankato. In remembrance of these tragedies, a Kent StateJackson State memorial can be found on campus at the northwest corner of Morris Hall. It was dedicated in 1972 to the students who
“The film, The Day the 60’s Died: The Kent State Shootings, examines the conflicts and controversy surrounding events that occurred during the spring of 1970.”
70s were a turbulent time for many people across the country, including those at Minnesota State University,
were killed or wounded at Kent State-Jackson State and reads, “HATE, WAR, POVERTY AND RACISM ARE
BURIED HERE.” In the tradition of the Common Read, an audience discussion will follow after the movie showing. Light refreshments will be offered and parking is available in the pay Visitors Lot across from the CSU. If you would like more information about this event, please contact Monika Antonelli, Common Read Chair at 507389-2507 or monika. antonelli@mnsu. edu. Photo courtesy of Library Services
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News Editor Alissa Thielges alissa.thielges@mnsu.edu