August 2024 Edition
The Product and Services Preview document replaces the former 60/90 day Review/Preview. Along with Release Notes (which cover near-term delivery plans for September 2024), the Product and Services Preview document covers October and November 2024 to provide product and feature delivery plans for the 90 day preview window.
Important update
To provide Product and Services Preview information to a wider audience, D2L is making some changes to this page:
- To improve the content's reach, we are localizing this content into American English (en-us), French (fr-ca), Spanish (es-mx), Portuguese (pt-br), Dutch (nl-nl) and Arabic (ar-sa).
- To improve it's findability using the Brightspace Community search function, we are changing the distribution from an attachment to being embedded text in the article.
To ease the transition to the new format, both the PDF and embedded text formats are available until we publish the September Product and Services Preview (September 13, 2024), at which point, the PDF will no longer be available.
To create a printable version of the Product and Services Preview information
- Highlight the feature announcement(s).
- Right-click and select Copy.
- Paste the content into a text editing document. This process copies over all text, images, tables, and links.
Enablement Information
Information about the default state of a released feature, function or change in a Brightspace site is included to provide additional information, supporting change preparation, or planning in your organization.
Availability (Enabled State)
Advanced knowledge about whether customers can control access to the feature, function, or changes. This allows Administrators, trainers and supporting roles in an organization an opportunity to know which items are controllable and which are not.
- On: Indicates that the feature’s default state is visible/on and that there is no override or setting to control this state by any user.
- Off: Indicates that the feature’s default state is hidden/off and that there is no override or setting to control this state by any user.
- On (Overridable): Indicates the features default state and that it can be controlled or overridden by a user. For example, a new permission that is automatically selected for specific roles, or an editable config variable default that is on both offer opportunities to configure or override the default states.
- Off (Overridable): Indicates the features default state and that it can be controlled or overridden by a Brightspace user. For example, a new permission that is not selected, a new setting or new config variable that is off by default both provide opportunities to review and enable if desired.
Site Actions (Enablement Method)
For any feature, function, or change that is controllable, how are they controllable. This allows Administrators, trainers, or supporting roles in an organization the opportunity to make decisions earlier and better plan for any work required to support any updates or changes. Some examples include;
- Role Settings
- Role Permissions
- Config variables
- In Tool settings (such as Grades Settings or Widget customization)
- In Application settings (such as Pulse Settings)
20.24.10
Data Access/Data Hub: Brightspace Data Sets improvements | Update
Planned Release: 20.24.10 | Feature ID: TB-38, BORG-78, BORG-79, AUT-50, AUT-51, AUT-52,
Change and Enablement information:
- Role / Audience: Data Administrator
- Site Availability: ON
- Site Enablement Actions: None (automatic)
Additional Information Overview:
The following changes will be made to an existing Brightspace Data Set:
Content User Progress
- Version (BigInt, non-nullable)
Survey User Answer Responses
Last Modified - Date and time when the question answer response was last modified (UTC). (data type: datetime2, nullable: no)- Is Deleted - Indicates if the question answer response is deleted. (data type: bit, nullable: yes)
Quiz User Answer Responses
- Last Modified - Date and time when the question answer response was last modified (UTC). (data type: datetime2, nullable: no)
- Is Deleted - Indicates if the question answer response is deleted. (data type: bit, nullable: yes)
Organizational Unit Descendants
- DateDeleted - indicates the date in which the descendent was removed or deleted from the organizational unit.
Organizational Unit Ancestors
- DateDeleted - indicates the date in which the ancestor was removed or deleted from the organizational unit.
Course Copy Logs:
- StatusID - indicates the status of the course copy job. Statuses are as follows:
- Created = 1
- Copying = 5
- Completed = 10
- CompletedWithErrors = 12
- Cancelled = 13
This log also includes deleted items.
Grades: EOL of the Final Grade Audit Log page in Admin Tools | EOL
Planned Release: 20.24.10 | Feature ID: SHIELD-7978
Change and Enablement information:
- Role / Audience: Administrator
- Site Availability: OFF
- Site Enablement Actions: None (automatic)
Additional Information Overview:
The Final Grade Audit Log page is available in Admin Tools, and is accessible only for roles with the Grades > See the Final Grade Audit Log permission. This page displays the results of a recurring task that recalculates final grades and compares them to the original calculations to check for accuracy. If the page is empty, it means no issues have been found.
This page has found no issues in nearly 10 years. All issues reported are false-positives due the way the task calculates and rounds the grades. The process that does the re-calculation consumes a large volume of database resources and is no longer useful.
Please see our intent to EOL blog post for additional information.
Group/User Management: Groups tool can restore groups and categories | Update
Planned Release: 20.24.10 | Feature ID: SHIELD-217
Change and Enablement information:
- Role / Audience: Administrator, Instructor
- Site Availability: ON
- Site Enablement Actions: None (automatic)
Additional Information Overview:
A new Recycle Bin option will be added to the Groups tool, enabling you to restore individual group units or entire categories within a course offering. When you restore groups, existing enrollments and lockers will be reinstated if possible. Any activities linked to the restored groups, such as Discussions or Assignments, can then be individually restored through their respective restore pages.
Note: Groups and categories deleted before this feature was introduced will not appear in the Groups tool Recycle Bin. To restore these previously deleted items, contact Support for assistance.
Lessons/New Content Experience: HTML Document object type renamed to Page | Updated
Planned Release: 20.24.10 | Feature ID: EP-2081
Change and Enablement information:
- Role / Audience: Instructor
- Site Availability: ON for all customers using Lessons/New Content Experience
- Site Enablement Actions: None (automatic)
Additional Information Overview:
In New Content Experience, the HTML Document content type will be renamed to Page to simplify the language and ensure it’s clear what is the content creator is choosing to create. This update will change the language used on the Create New screen.
Figure: The HTML Document option in the New Content Creation experience workflows will be updated to read Page.
This change will be applied for all courses using New Content Experience.
Note: If you prefer not to rename HTML Document, you can update the following language term to overwrite the name as overrides will not be removed:
Package: Content; Collection: New Experience; Term Name: Content:ContentBlock:AddMaterials:CreateFileTile
D2L Lumi: D2L Lumi for Brightspace and D2L Lumi for Creator+ now available in Singapore | New
Planned Release: 20.24.10 | Feature ID: HAI-204
Change and Enablement information:
- Role / Audience: Administrator
- Site Availability: N/A
- Site Enablement Actions: N/A
Additional Information Overview:
D2L Lumi Pro for Brightspace and D2L Lumi for Creator+ packages are now available in Singapore with regional hosting in ap-southeast-1.
D2L Achievement+:Updates to the Course Achievement Overview Visualization in Mastery View | Update
Planned Release: 20.24.10 | Feature ID: MAN-511
Change and Enablement information:
- Role / Audience: Instructor
- Site Availability: ON for all customers with the Achievement+ Add-On
- Site Enablement Actions: None (automatic)
Additional Information Overview:
For users of D2L Achievement+, the Course Achievement Overview in Mastery View will now display parent-level outcomes associated with the child outcomes assessed in the course. This update helps instructors see how their course outcomes align with broader goals, such as program-level outcomes. It provides a clearer view of coverage and achievement related to these higher-level objectives.
20.24.11
Brightspace Editor: Introducing direct access to all your favorite authoring tools | New
Planned Release: 20.24.11 | Feature ID: MAV-2562
Change and Enablement information:
- Role / Audience: Instructor, Administrator, People Manager
- Site Availability: ON
- Site Enablement Actions: None (automatic)
Additional Information Overview:
The Brightspace HTML Editor is updated to provide more direct access to all your favourite authoring tools, including Creator+ and H5P. Within one new button, you have direct access to the your Creator+ solutions and you now have more direct access to reuse or create H5P content types.
Previously, H5P was accessible through Insert Stuff and Creator+ was accessible through Other Insert Options.
Learner Experience: Updating Permission Checks for displaying the Learner Experience | Update
Planned Release: 20.24.11 | Feature ID: PHNX-2027
Change and Enablement information:
- Role / Audience: Instructor
- Site Availability: ON
- Site Enablement Actions: None (automatic)
Additional Information Overview:
Currently, the Learner Experience feature is visible to all roles that do not have the Content > Create and Edit Modules and Topics permission. This means that instructor and facilitator roles who cannot edit content are limited to the Learner Experience view, which prevents them from accessing the new Display Pages in the New Content Experience. Essentially, they miss out on the benefits of the new feature because of this restriction.
This update adjusts how permissions are checked for the Learner Experience to match the method used for the new Display Pages. Instead of checking the Content > Create and Edit Modules and Topics permission, it will now check the Content > Manage Content permission. As a result, Learners will continue to see the Learner Experience, but Instructors who cannot edit content will now be able to use the New Content Experience.
Organizations that prefer their Instructors to see the Learner Experience should ensure that the Content > Manage Content permission is disabled for those Instructors.
Note: For Instructors currently seeing the Learner Experience, this permission change will not offer any additional benefits.
Lessons/New Content Experience: Module depth increased to support up to five nested levels | Update
Planned Release: 20.24.11 | Feature ID: KAIUU-2
Change and Enablement information:
- Role / Audience: Instructor, Administrator
- Site Availability: ON
- Site Enablement Actions: None (automatic)
Additional Information Overview:
With this update, users will be able to migrate content more seamlessly from Classic Content and other courses that include deeply nested modules.
Increased Depth Support: Lessons now support up to 5 levels of nested modules, an improvement from the previous limit of 3 levels. This means that when you migrate content or import courses with complex module structures, any modules nested up to the fifth level will be displayed correctly in the Lessons/New Content Experience interface.
Improved Content Migration: This feature enhances the migration process by ensuring that your course content is accurately displayed in the Lessons/New Content Experience view. This reduces the need for manual adjustments after importing your content.
Figure: The Lessons/New Content Experience supports 5 levels of nested modules.
Outcomes: A new release condition: Assignment Evaluation Achievement | Update
Planned Release: 20.24.11 | Feature ID: MAN-3
Change and Enablement information:
- Role / Audience: Instructor
- Site Availability: ON
- Site Enablement Actions: None (automatic)
Additional Information Overview:
A new release condition for Outcomes, called Assignment Evaluation Achievement, allows you to set conditions based on a learner’s evaluation status for a specific achievement level (such as less than, equal to, or higher than) for an outcome related to an assignment.
Outcomes: A new release condition: Discussion Evaluation Achievement | Update
Planned Release: 20.24.11 | Feature ID: MAN-3413
Change and Enablement information:
- Role / Audience: Instructor
- Site Availability: ON
- Site Enablement Actions: None (automatic)
Additional Information Overview:
A new release condition for Outcomes, called Discussion Evaluation Achievement, allows you to set conditions based on a learner’s evaluation status for a specific achievement level (such as less than, equal to, or higher than) for an outcome related to a discussion.
Safe Harbor Statement
The information provided herein is confidential and proprietary to D2L Corporation and its affiliates (“D2L”) and may not be shared without the written consent of D2L. Nothing herein should be construed as legal, human resources, insurance, tax, or other advice for any particular issue, including compliance with relevant laws. You must consult a professional advisor that is familiar with your particular factual situation for any such advice. The information provided herein could include inaccuracies, typographical and other errors. The information provided herein is subject to change at any time, at the discretion of D2L, and D2L makes no commitment to update the information.
TO THE GREATEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HEREIN IS PROVIDED “AS-IS” AND WITHOUT WARRANTY, AND ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, COMPLIANCE, RELIABILITY, SUITABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT, TITLE AND ANY WARRANTIES RESULTING FROM CUSTOM OR USAGE OF TRADE, OR COURSE OF PERFORMANCE OR DEALING ARE HEREBY DISCLAIMED, AND YOU AGREE TO WAIVE SUCH WARRANTIES. D2L reserves all of its rights with respect to the information provided herein.
