Overview
This checklist helps troubleshoot common issues when integrating D2L/Brightspace with Planning & Self-Study. It covers key setup areas: ensuring foundational data files are correctly loaded in P&SS, checking D2L/Brightspace LMS configurations and administrator permissions, understanding prerequisites for pulling data from D2L/Brightspace, and managing data refreshes. Following these steps helps ensure accurate and timely data flow for reporting and planning.
1. Initial Setup: Foundational Data Files
Before connecting D2L/Brightspace, it is essential to ensure core data files are loaded in Planning & Self-Study. Completing the companion course first can provide a deeper understanding.
Planning & Self-Study: Required Data Imports for System Administration
Planning & Self-Study: Optional Data Imports for System Administration
For IT Administrators:
- Understand Required vs. Optional Fields: Note which data files.fields are necessary for the D2L/Brightspace integration and which ones add more detail to reports.
- Student Learning & Licensure (SLL) Users: If SLL is in use and some data files are already loaded, section IDs may need updating to match D2L/Brightspace.
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Section ID Match: Confirm the Section ID in the P&SS section file (System Administration) matches the Course Offering Code in D2L/Brightspace.
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Person ID Match: Each student must have the same Org Defined ID in D2L and the Person ID in P&SS System Administration to ensure accurate user identification and data synchronization.
2. D2L/Brightspace LMS Configuration
For LMS Administrators:
Best practice is to load foundational data files in P&SS first, then activate the D2L/Brightspace integration.
- Integration Setup Steps: Review the Advanced D2L Setup & Configuration help article for configuring the D2L/Brightspace integration.
3. Using the Integration
For Planning & Self-Study System Administrators:
D2L/Brightspace Source Material Prerequisites
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Data in D2L/Brightspace
- Confirm the data to be pulled already exists in D2L/Brightspace. Planning and Self-Study can only pull existing D2L/Brightspace data.
- If the D2L/Brightspace assessments have not been scored, the scores will pull in later when the data is refreshed.
Measures
- Alignment to Measures: Ensure the correct alignment has been added to the measure in PSS. Please view the article about adding an alignment at the link below:
- Met Criteria: Confirm the Met criteria has been set for the activity in PSS.
- Correct Plan: Confirm the correct plan is selected in PSS for the data being pulled. (For example, if the intended data is for Spring 2025, then ensure that D2L/Brightspace has data for Spring 2025 and it is being pulled into the plan for 2025 in PSS)
Data Filtering
- Optional - To filter your results by any of the data points below, the following data files need to be uploaded.
| Filtering Value | CSV Import File | CSV Field | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modality | Sections | Delivery_Method | The delivery method of the section, such as online or hybrid |
| Gender | Basic Person Attributes | Gender | The gender of the person, usually as reported to IPEDS |
| Race/Ethnicity | Basic Person Attributes | Race/Ethnicity | The combined race and ethnicity values of the person, usually common in combined Race/Ethnicity reporting |
| Generation | Basic Person Attributes | First_Generation | The flag indicating if the person is a first generation student |
| Pell Eligibility | Basic Person Attributes | Pell Eligibility | The flag indicates if the person is eligible to receive PELL grants. |
| Attending Status | Student Term Attributes | Attending_ Status | This flag indicates if the person attends Full Time or Part-Time |
| Primary Major | Student Term Attributes | Primary Field | The primary major of the student during the given term |
4. Data Refreshes
By default, D2L/Brightspace data updates and pulls into Planning & Self-Study every two weeks (2 weeks from the last data pull). However, a refresh may be needed sooner:
- If you believe data has been entered since your most recent refresh and you want to ensure that it appears.
- Data has been back-entered in Blackboard after the initial refresh.
Note: The first data sync pulls all past data, current term data, and any future terms that have been mapped or synced. For any manual refreshes, please submit a request to Watermark Support via the help center.
For System Administrators
It is best practice to create a recurring schedule for uploading data to ensure the P&SS system stays up to date.