Welcome to OAKS Help

OAKS is the College’s online learning management system and is built on the Desire2Learn/Brightspace platform.  Using OAKS faculty can post their class syllabus and course materials, conduct online quizzes/tests, discussions, and collect student assignments, and track and calculate student grades, all in a secure environment.  OAKS is also the only CofC/FERPA-approved, online method of informing students of their grades throughout the semester.

Since OAKS is hosted off-campus (with D2L/Brightspace) is it subject to monthly upgrades.  Because of the rapid changes and upgrades, TLT cannot continue creating customized tutorials and therefore has decided to link to the D2L/Brightspace resources and tutorials.

Need Help?

Below are three areas that can offer help and training for your OAKS related questions or problems.  The Knowledge Base is where you want to visit if you have a specific question.  The tutorials links are where you visit if you want to learn how an OAKS tool works or to learn how to use it.

OAKS Self-Paced Guided Training

Visit the Guided Training

NOTE:  You MUST first create a D2L Community login and password.  This does not use our CofC username and password.

 

Learn OAKS tools with Text-based Tutorials

These Brightspace created text-based tutorials will help you learn the basics of all the OAKS tools.  The tutorials are divided by use (ex. assessment, communication, etc.).  Visit the Brightspace tutorials page.

Learn OAKS tools with Video-based Tutorials

These Brightspace created video tutorials will help you learn the basics of all the OAKS tools.  Just search on this YouTube channel to find what you are looking for or browse the Playlists to see a sequence of tutorials on one topic.  Visit the Brightspace video tutorials.

Ask an OAKS Question in the CofC Knowledge Base

Do you have a specific OAKS question?  Ask it in the Knowledge Base first.  This is where you will find answers to the most frequently asked OAKS questions.  Visit the CofC Knowledge Base.

Learn OAKS tools with Text-based Tutorials — These Brightspace created text-based tutorials will help you learn the basics of all the OAKS tools.  The tutorials are divided by use (ex. assessment, communication, etc.).

Learn OAKS tools with Video-based Tutorials — These Brightspace created video tutorials will help you learn the basics of all the OAKS tools.  Just search on this YouTube channel to find what you are looking for or browse the Playlists to see a sequence of tutorials on one topic.

Still Need Help?

If you’ve searched through the resources above and still need help you can contact your Instructional Technologist or search/post to the Brightspace Community.  Just click the Become a Member button to join!

Still Need Help?

If you’ve searched through the resources above and still need help you can contact your Instructional Technologist or search/post to the Brightspace Community.  Just click the Become a Member button to join!

Quick Guides

Getting the Semester Started – Checklist
Checklist to help all Faculty/Instructors get OAKS ready for a new semester. Following this list will help you avoid common pitfalls.

New Users – Getting Started with OAKS
Quick Guide for Faculty/Instructors New To OAKS. Learn how to use the essential tools to get your started.

Identify and Help At-Risk Students
OAKS contains several tools that can help you identify and help at-risk students.

OAKS Integrations

Akindi
Cengage MindTap
Google Apps for Students
Films On Demand
Kaltura
LinkedIn Learning
Macmillan Launchpad
Pearson MyLab and Mastering
PollEverywhere
McGraw Hill Campus
McGraw Hill Connect
Microsoft OneNote
Respondus Lockdown Browser
Turnitin
VoiceThread
YouTube
Zoom

Would you like to request an additional integration?  If so, review the OAKS Third Party Integration Workflow and complete the OAKS Requests form.

OAKS Monthly Upgrades

OAKS/D2L has moved to a monthly update cycle called Continuous Delivery. This software development cycle is common among web applications and allows for newer features to be developed, tested and implemented faster. This means that we get to see both newer features and improvements to existing features more than once a year.

This page will be used to communicate upcoming changes to the OAKS environment, including a list of updates and new features and a link to any tutorials for new features and updates.

Benefits to Continuous Delivery

  • More frequent, less disruptive updates with no downtime.
  • Access to newer features as soon as they are available, not once a year.

When will this happen each month? The last Friday of the month.

Where can I learn about these new features and updates?  Monthly updates

Where can I learn how to use these new features and updates?