Want your course content to look more polished and consistent, while also being accessible to all students? D2L’s content templates are a great way to achieve both clarity and visual consistency without needing advanced design skills.
Whether you’re already using D2L webpages or you’re looking to move away from uploading Word Docs and PDFs, content templates are an excellent way to create clean, accessible, and mobile-friendly course materials.
Why use content templates?
- Ensure consistent formatting across all course pages
- Improve accessibility and readability for students
- Save time by using pre-built layouts instead of designing from scratch
- Create content that’s easier to view on all devices, including mobile
Templates are especially helpful for courses with lots of custom text-based instructions, resources, or media links.
How do you use content templates in D2L?
When you create a new webpage (HTML file) in D2L, you have the option to apply a content template. These templates are already built into MSU’s version of D2L and follow accessibility best practices.
- Go to the Content section of your course.
- Click “Upload/Create” → “Create a File.”
- You’ll see a “Select a Document Template” panel on the right.
- Choose a layout that fits your needs (e.g., text with image, objectives, etc.).
- Edit the content directly in the page editor, then click “Save and Close.”
Watch video tutorials on how to edit content:
- For general assistance regarding D2L content, watch this 5-minute tutorial on adding content to D2L courses.
- Watch this 5-minute “how-to” video from MSU Instructional Technology and Development. Scroll below the video for links to the templates.
- Watch this 3-minute tutorial from Brightspace Tutorials: Edit HTML Templates. This is a helpful walkthrough from D2L’s official documentation.
Learn how to modify content templates:
See this #iteachmsu article to learn how to create your own templates.