Upcoming Virtual PD Opportunity! COL 103 Library Tutorial: Foundations for College-Level Research Skills Friday November 21st, 2025, 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Upcoming Virtual PD Opportunity! COL 103 Library Tutorial: Foundations for College-Level Research Skills Friday November 21st, 2025, 10:00 am – 11:30 am avatar

This interactive online tutorial introduces COL 103 students to essential PTC Library resources and services and equips students with foundational skills needed for successful college level research. Participants will learn how to navigate the library catalog, access academic databases, find research guides, identify source types, and find articles based on incomplete citations. The examples used introduce students to research questions (if AI was used in videogame design before ChatGPT’s breakthrough in 2022, what is different about the use of GenAI in videogame design?), college and career success books, critical literary analysis of the Harry Potter series, current research on the cognitive impacts of AI use, and the changing role of AI in healthcare. The tutorial accompanies Chapter 7.7: Information Literacy of the OpenStax College Success textbook.

This professional development session is an excellent opportunity for faculty, staff, and administrators to learn more about the valuable COL 103 library resources available to students enrolled in the course.

https://ptcgwd.wufoo.com/forms/z1ifdahu0y9zq2b

A link to the professional development event will be sent within 2–3 days of the scheduled PD.

Important reminder: If you have already registered for the PD, you do not need to register again.

D2L November 2025 Updates
D2L November 2025 Updates avatar

D2L November Updates

Announcements – Email a copy of an announcement to your Classlist | New

When Instructors create a new announcement in a Course Offering, they can now choose to send a copy to all students in their Classlist as an email, sent as if from the instructor themselves.


In the user interface for creating or editing an announcement, a new Send Email Copy checkbox now appears when an instructor creates or edits an announcement.

Students who are not subscribed to receive a notification for announcements will also receive an email, ensuring that important information contained within the announcement is delivered to every Student.

Brightspace – Progress bar for uploading files | New

With this release, Brightspace improves visual consistency and accessibility by updating progress bar indicators across several tools. These improvements enhance support for screen readers and assistive technologies.

Visual indicators have been updated in the following areas:

Upload File – Upload a file
Quizzes – Add Existing Question
Import Quiz Questions – Upload a file
Quiz Study Support – Check if the quiz meets the study support requirements
Generate Question – Choose a file to generate a question
Content Uploader – Upload a file
Manage Groups – Export progress bar

Image: Progress bar for uploading files.
Grades – Bulk edit now supports excluding items from final grade | Updated

Instructors can now use the Exclude from Final column when bulk editing grade items in the Grades tool. Selecting this option excludes the grade item from the final grade calculation.

Previously, this setting was only available when editing individual grade items. This enhancement helps instructors manage large grade books more efficiently by allowing them to update multiple items at once.

Image: “Exclude from Final” option presented when bulk editing grade items.

Don’t miss the annual Thriving in Advising 2025 Virtual Professional Development Event!
Don’t miss the annual Thriving in Advising 2025 Virtual Professional Development Event! avatar

Theme: The Phoenix Journey: Reigniting Student Success.

Featured Keynote Speaker: Dr. Jennie Knecht

Date: Thursday, November 13, 2025

Time: 9:00 am – 3:45 pm

This is the premier advising PD event of the year—mark your calendars!

Register today by clicking on the link below. Registration deadline is by Wednesday November 12th by 12:00 noon ET:

https://ptcgwd.wufoo.com/forms/z1bhc09i0yjym5o

A link to the professional development event will be sent within 2–3 days of the scheduled PD session.

Thriving in Advising 2025 Virtual Professional Development Event! The Phoenix Journey: Reigniting Student Success Featured Keynote Speaker: Dr. Jennie Knecht Date: Thursday November 13th, 2025
Thriving in Advising 2025 Virtual Professional Development Event!                                                                     The Phoenix Journey: Reigniting Student Success Featured Keynote Speaker: Dr. Jennie Knecht Date: Thursday November 13th, 2025 avatar

Register today by clicking on the link below. Registration deadline is by Wednesday November 12th by 12:00 noon ET:

https://ptcgwd.wufoo.com/forms/z1bhc09i0yjym5o

A link to the professional development event will be sent within 2–3 days of the scheduled PD session.

Upcoming Virtual PD Opportunity! COL 103 Library Tutorial: Foundations for College-Level Research Skills Friday November 21st, 2025, 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Upcoming Virtual PD Opportunity!                                    COL 103 Library Tutorial: Foundations for College-Level Research Skills                                                               Friday November 21st, 2025, 10:00 am – 11:30 am avatar

This interactive online tutorial introduces COL 103 students to essential PTC Library resources and services and equips students with foundational skills needed for successful college level research. Participants will learn how to navigate the library catalog, access academic databases, find research guides, identify source types, and find articles based on incomplete citations. The examples used introduce students to research questions (if AI was used in videogame design before ChatGPT’s breakthrough in 2022, what is different about the use of GenAI in videogame design?), college and career success books, critical literary analysis of the Harry Potter series, current research on the cognitive impacts of AI use, and the changing role of AI in healthcare. The tutorial accompanies Chapter 7.7: Information Literacy of the OpenStax College Success textbook.

This professional development session is an excellent opportunity for faculty, staff, and administrators to learn more about the valuable COL 103 library resources available to students enrolled in the course.

https://ptcgwd.wufoo.com/forms/z1ifdahu0y9zq2b

A link to the professional development event will be sent within 2–3 days of the scheduled PD session.