D2L: Customize Your FAQ Page

Do your students often ask the same questions every semester? Instead of always pointing them back to the syllabus, consider creating a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page in D2L. It gives students quick answers in one centralized, easy-to-access place.

Why create a FAQ page?

• Students often skim or skip the syllabus. A short, targeted FAQ page draws attention to the questions they actually ask.
• It saves time by reducing repetitive emails.
• D2L has a built-in FAQ tool, so there is no need to create a separate webpage!

How do you create your FAQ page?

1. Start with your questions.
   1. You can write your FAQs from scratch, or use a generative AI tool like ChatGPT to help you brainstorm.
   2. Example: I uploaded my syllabus to ChatGPT and asked it to suggest 10 questions it predicted undergraduate students would ask. After a few revisions (some answers reflected a different course), I ended up with a refined list of FAQs to add to D2L.
   3. Whether you generate them or write them yourself, try to focus on the 5–10 most common or confusing questions students have.
2. Find the FAQ tool.
   1. If you’re using the default NavBar, click the “Communication” dropdown, then choose “FAQ.”
   2. If you’ve customized your NavBar and removed that menu, you can add a direct link to the FAQ page. See D2L: Customize Your NavBar for help.
   3. Here’s my NavBar with the FAQ icon.
3. Set up categories
   1. When you open the FAQ tool, begin by creating one or more categories (e.g., “Assignments,” “Tech Help,” or just “Top 10 Questions”).
   2. I used to have multiple categories because I had a list of FAQs for each major type of assignment, but later reduced it to just the top 10 FAQs in just one one category. Figure out what works best for you, your course, and your students. 
4. Add your questions
   1. Click “New Question.”
   2. Choose the appropriate category.
   3. Enter your question in the top textbox, and your answer in the lower box.
   4. Feel free to include hyperlinks to other D2L pages or external resources.
   5. Click “Save” to finish or “Save and New” to continue adding.
5. Reorder your list:
   1. Don’t worry about which order you create them- you can reorder them at any time.
   2. Notice in the screenshot above that the dropdown menu “More Actions” includes reordering.

Tips

• Announce it! Add a link to your FAQ page in one or more course announcements so students know where to find it.
• Focus on the most common questions—too many entries may overwhelm students.
• Update each semester. As new questions arise, consider adding or adjusting your list.
• If you use AI, double-check everything. Tools like ChatGPT can help you brainstorm, but always review its output for accuracy.