Presentation at Minnesota Brightspace Ignite on April 24, 2015, by Laura M. Schwarz, Assistant Professor, Nursing Minnesota State University, Mankato

1. Using Brightspace to Create a
Virtual Message Center for an
Entire Academic Program
Laura M. Schwarz, DNP, RN, CNE
Assistant Professor, Nursing
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Brightspace Ignite Presentation 4/24/2015

2. What you will learn
This session will discuss why and
how Brightspace (Desire2Learn) can
be used to create a virtual message
center for all students enrolled in an
online, blended or live academic
program.

3. Objectives
1. Explain the rationale for creating a virtual
message center in the learning management
system for any program be it live, blended or
fully online.
2. Identify the steps to creating a virtual
message center using the Brightspace D2L
platform.

4. Student satisfaction in online
learning is dependent on
•Access to information
•Opportunities to interact with teachers and
classmates
•(Sit, Chung, Meyrick, Chow & Wong, 2004).

5. Problem
•How does one go about communicating program level
information for a large program of hundreds of
learners who are enrolled in several different sections
of multiple courses?
•How do you provide learners with a way to interact
with each other in such a program

6. •E-mail and phone calls are not effective or
efficient communication means for program of
such magnitude.
•Trying to communicate can feel like casting out a
message in a bottle!

7. Aha Moment…Bright Idea: Create
A VIRTUAL MESSAGE CENTER in D2L Bightspace!
• Streamline program communication, cut down on several individual e-
mails and phone calls on the same topic, and
• Fosters collegiality and engagement among students and faculty
members.
• Can be used for an entire online, live, or blended program,
• Requires creating a designated program “courseroom” in the online
learning platform to which all students have access.

8. The Virtual Message Center (VMC)
• All program learners enrolled in VMC for the duration of their education in
the program.
• Acts similar to a live bulletin board & file cabinet
• Contains programmatic documents
• Area to ask/answer questions
• Area for all program students to collaborate
• Successful in communicating program level information to all learners
• Can be a place for a virtual symposium (conference)
• Can act as e-folio for all learners

9. Possible
VMC
Components
Announcements
& News
(News/ Course
Home Area)
Documents &
FAQs
(Content Area)
Ask Program
Questions
(Discussion Area)
Virtual
Symposium
Conference
(Discussion Area)
“Coffee with
Colleagues”
(Discussion Area)
E-Folio (Dropbox)

10. Announcements/News (Course Home Area)
Acts like a physical bulletin board or “live” in class announcements would
• “Start Here” Button: Tells how to use/navigate the Message Board
• Reminders about registration, due dates, applying for graduation, etc.
• Announcements impacting many students such as new student services
• A “heads-up” when something new has been added to the content area
• Important information and links to other things like surveys

12. Documents and FAQ’s (Content Area)
Acts as an electronic storage file in hosting various documents
including:
• Student Handbook
• Program Orientation and associated documents
• APA resources
• Clinical requirements and forms
• Information on graduation
• Other miscellaneous items such as services for students

14. “Ask Your Program Questions Here”
Discussion Forum
• Students can ask program level questions of the coordinator, advisor,
and/or other students. Examples of questions include:
• I work full time-would two courses together be too much?
• How long after graduation for my diploma to list my degree?
• Which class would work best with that one?
• How to I obtain my PHN Certification?
• Any suggestions for a gen. ed. in…..

16. “Coffee with Colleagues” Discussion Forum
A place for learners to network with one another and share information.
Examples of postings include:
• MSN or DNP? I am curious what ideas/opinions are out there I am
wondering if anyone knows how to get this download (MS Office)?
• Does anyone have these 2 text books they are willing to sell?
• I have the following books for sale…
• Job openings at my company
• Can someone please remind me where I can watch that video of how
to look articles up on the library.

18. Virtual Symposium (Discussion Area)
• Virtual research conference
• When live conference not feasible
• Inclusion of distance learners
• Inclusion of learners with family and career obligations
• Virtual Posters
• Virtual Presentations (PPTS)
• Place for interaction (Q & A between presenters and attendees)
• Can see many works in a short amount of time, not have to “man”
poster or present live, so don’t have to miss out on others’
presentations.

20. E-Folio (Dropbox)
• Learners can’t access dropbox in courses after they close, but can
access VMC any time in program
• Place for learners to file major assignments for courses for easy access
• Accreditation-demonstrate program outcomes met
• Capstone Course and or Project-draw back on assignments from
previous projects so can synthesize into a whole

21. Conclusions & Implications
The Virtual Message Center
• is an effective and efficient means of disseminating program information
to a large program of online students and may also be useful for “live”
programs.
• is a streamlined way to deliver and receive program level information and
to ask questions and receive answers regarding anything pertaining to the
program.
• immensely cuts down on student e-mails, phone calls and confusion
regarding aspects of the program.

22. QUESTIONS?
QUESTIONS?

23. References
• Sit, J. W., Chung, J. W., Chow, M. C., & Wong. K. (2005). Experiences
of online learning: Students’ perspective. Nurse Education Today, 25,
140-147. doi:10.1016/j.nedt.2004.11.004

24. Contact
• Dr. Laura Schwarz, DNP, RN, CNE
• Minnesota State University, Mankato
• laura.Schwarz@mnsu.edu
• 763-228-6105

25. Acknowledgements
• Clipart courtesy of MS Office
• Photo images courtesy of Bing Images Creative Commons (free to
share and use)