Differences between D2L and ANGEL | MSU Desire2Learn Help http://help.d2l.msu.

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Last updated on Wed, January 30, 2013 - 8:46 AM

TASK D2L ANGEL

Access dates can be set to display in the calendar when creating

Calendar must be done manually each semester. Dates set
items such as quizzes, dropboxes and discussions.
Calendar in quizzes, dropboxes and discussions cannot be set to
display automatically set in calendar.

Where you see double yellow pencils you can edit multiple
Bulk edit items at one time. For Example: Edit Quizzes: names, categories, Not available in ANGEL
active or not, attempts allowed. (dropboxes)

Offset all course dates from one location. Can account for Date Manager similar, but less easy to use. Manual entry.
Manage Dates
holidays. No filters.

ANGEL has subtitles under the title of each item. Often

No ANGEL subtitle This is lost in conversion.
used for notes about the content.

ANGEL classlist displays all enrolled students. Instructor

D2L Classlist-ANGEL Cannot hide people in the roster. Can email entire roster from
roles displayed separately. Instructor can hide or disable
Roster classlist.
people on the list.

ANGEL Automate tab used to create release condition

Condition goes on the thing you are controlling access to
agents. Condition goes on item you must complete,
Release conditions reverse from ANGEL. Accessible via all item settings. Reasonably
password on item to be released. Somewhat complicated
simple to create.
to create.

2 types of deletes in D2L removes link from content (leaves in

Delete in Content area manage files area), from course (removes link from content and ANGEL's delete is a one-step delete.
files from course)

Course Builder and

Instructional Design Course creation support tools - new in D2L. None available in ANGEL.
Wizard

News items can be auto-generated based on intelligent agents

(when student completes quiz at certain percentage). News items Comparable to ANGEL's Announcements. These cannot be
News
can have quicklinks to take student directly to specific location in released based on student actions/grades.
Content. Can use replace strings to create presence.

Tools are linked in the Content area. D2L uses quicklinks to

enable students to click on tools such as quizzes, discussion, and Quizzes, discussion and dropbox tools are inserted directly
Quicklinks dropboxes and go directly to the tool. These tools are also into the Lesson content page. Files and other content items
available via menu selections. Quicklinks also go to URLs, files, are directly inserted into the Lesson content page.
etc.

D2L creates a top level Forum (like a folder) that contains the
discussion topics. ANGEL discussions compare to the D2L
topics.

D2L has fewer discussion types, but does have post-first. Can be
class, group or user-specific discussion, moderated, anonymous. Discussion forums are created individually (not inside a
(no hotseat or fishbowl) folder). More discussion types. Grading 2-step process.
Forums
Profile picture only on clicking author name. Forum rubric
D2L can lock discussion so students can read, but no longer post. (post x times, replay x times).

Instructor can view history of messages.

D2L can grade by topic (easier) or grade by individual posting.

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Profile pictures display next to posts.

D2L allows audio recording and video recording in feedback areas ANGEL does not allow recording of audio and video in
Record audio and
such as dropboxes. Discussions allow recorded submissions can the LMS. Such items would be created externally and
video
have audio conversation. imported.

Link to both the grade item and the tool function differently in
each location.

With D2L org structure can build rubrics at higher level and
share down.

Holistic several different criteria, but make only one overall

assessment.Percentages is only available to holistic rubrics. ANGEL only has ability to grade by percentage. multiple
criteria and multiple level performance. Can display before
Rubrics Analytic performance into multiple criteria. You assess each
item submission and as graded rubric after submission.
criterion separately, resulting in an overall assessment score.
Scores are not editable.
Text only, Points, or Custom points

Confusing as to where to attach (tool or gradebook) where you

attach it is where you see it (apparently cant be both places)

Typing in comments box not sufficient to activate gradebook

must submit something

In ANGEL you must add a second ID of your own to the

Impersonate student to check out tests, generate grade data, see
DemoStudent roster as a student and log in with that ID to actually
course as student would.
perform student tasks in the course.

Similar to ANGEL eyeglasses. View as student might, but cant

SwitchRoles ANGEL, Similar to D2L.
take tests or submit data.

Instructors must download dropbox submissions to grade.

Instructor can view submissions online on same page as grading.
Dropbox Can annotate submissions and upload to user as feedback.
Can annotate submissions and upload to user as feedback.
Cannot view submission on same pages as grading.

Nothing similar in ANGEL. learnDAT checklist tool often

New. Allows tracking of required tasks. Can use release
Checklist tool used, but not connected to grading or release conditions,
conditions to items. Student progress visible to instructor.
or visible by instructor.

D2L uses User Progress tool to generate individuals data. Not all ANGEL uses the Reports tab to allow instructor to
Reports/User Progress
same reports available. generage reports about class and individual progress.

Only in D2L can be created from quizzes. Feedback required.

Self Assessments Not available in ANGEL.
Only supports certain question types. Instant feedback for user.

Can add/edit instructors to quizzes which display before quiz is

opened.

If time limit exceeded, only saved questions will be submitted.

User must remember to save. Or, if you use only a few questions
per page when moving to new page, save is automatic (good
ANGEL did not allow instructors to edit instructions page.
Quizzes practice).
Auto-saved on submission. Randomization is easier.
Time limit enforcement confusing.

Create Random Section to put randomized questions in. Currently

cant move to Random section from same quiz. (create in
Question Library ok)

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Ability to add multiple views of what students see after ANGEL reviews available on submission and after. Some
Quiz review views submitting quiz, when and for how long. Manage Dates currently controls on release of review data. Similar to D2L, but
does not copy over these dates must do manually. less options and lesss control.

Partial points are allowed.

Custom grading scales allowed.

Grades ANGEL
Grade page and spreadsheet view.

Ability to grade items such as dropbox submission on same page

as submission.

Access dates, times and other restrictions can be set for specific
ANGEL has similar feature but it required setting up
Special Access users and special circumstances. Icons show when set. These
teams, environment variable settings and custom settings.
settings do not copy to a new course.

D2L can set to get news from widgets on personal email or

Notifications ANGEL does not have these options.
phone.

Request LOR creation from Help Desk

Privacy decisions
ANGEL users have personal LOR. Departmental LORs
Does not stream (use Kaltura) created on request to Help Desk. Can take quizzes in LOR
LORS and grade in course. Can link (locked) or copy. No
Dynamic or locked link or copy metadata. Control access to LOR and individual courses (a
bit complicated).
Metadata (edit metadata dropdown did not work)

Quizzes from LOR can only be copied (not linked)

Intelligent agents and Somewhat similar, personalization tool. Replace strings easy to ANGEL has an automate tabe and has similar functions,
replace strings use in student communications. but a bit harder to use. Has replace strings.

Hide tools in menu if ANGEL does this in Tab settings and environment
Edit Course, Tools, check and set to Inactive (did not work)
you are not using variables.

Instructor can choose widgets to use on page and layout

ANGEL allows instructor to control addition or deletion of
Course Home widgets in course home. Cannot create widgets. Can
Instructor can control navbar and theme. Can create individualized
control page look and feel and navbar.
widgets.

Can be linked to items in course. ANGEL competencies created at programmer level. Open
Competencies for all users when published. Can be linked to items in
Can be created at higher org level and shared down. course.

Not user-controlled as in ANGEL. Must submit request to Help

Merge Roster ANGEL merge roster controlled by instructor.
Desk.

Anonymous. Can send invite to users outside the D2L system.

ANGEL not really anonymous. Cannot grade anonymous
Survey
Use release conditions to give grade to anonymous takers of the surveys.
survey

Polls No polls tool in D2L. ANGEL has poll tool.

Access via tablets and smartphones to interact with course. Apps ANGEL has PDA display and 508 compliant display. No
Mobile
available to communicate with course and instructor. apps to communicate with course and instructor.

new tool in Phase 2 (April 2013) store and share items created
ePortfolio by user. They can share with advisors, employers or peers. Not available in ANGEL.
Retain access after leaving MSU.

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ANGEL to D2L Terminology up ANGEL to D2L Conversion Issues

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