{"id":22042,"date":"2026-01-22T16:38:11","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T22:38:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/?p=22042"},"modified":"2026-01-22T16:38:11","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T22:38:11","slug":"brightspace-tip-566-are-you-ready","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/brightspace-tip-566-are-you-ready\/","title":{"rendered":"Brightspace Tip #566: Are You Ready?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a title=\"Threat of disasters is real\" href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/catwiki.xula.edu\/images\/9\/91\/Example-of-an-Adaptation.png?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/catwiki.xula.edu\/images\/9\/91\/Example-of-an-Adaptation.png?resize=624%2C468&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Visual emphasizing the need for educators to prepare for instructional continuity due to the reality of disaster threats\" width=\"624\" height=\"468\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This weekend's forecast of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nola.com\/news\/weather\/hard-freeze-new-orleans\/article_5c558918-0a78-4826-86a1-3c32c335ef97.html\">wintry weather and freezing rains<\/a> in our area should be a reminder that course delivery is vulnerable to unplanned events. Potential interruptions to class activities include but are not limited to natural disasters, widespread illness, acts of violence, planned or unexpected construction-related closures, severe weather conditions, and medical emergencies. <\/p>\n<p>Here are a few things you can do in Brightspace to help you prepare should the need arise.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Understanding and Building Your Course\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=5ic1tA7eCuA&list=PLxHabmZzFY6lGUfsKyTm5i24DcI5AV3YA\">Getting Started for Instructors Video Playlist<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Content-Tool-Quick-Reference-Guide.pdf\">Content Tool Quick Reference (pdf)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.torontomu.ca\/courses\/instructors\/tutorials\/content\/\">Deliver Course Content<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Utilize Brightspace\u2019s Communication Tools\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Announcements-Tool-Quick-Reference-Guide.pdf\">Announcements Tool Quick Reference Guide (pdf)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/brightspace-tip-561-announcements\/\">Create an Announcement<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Classlist-Tool-Quick-Reference-Guide.pdf\">Classlist Tool Quick Reference Guide (pdf)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/4lh69B9Qsbo\">Classlist - Contact Learners (video)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Collecting Student Work\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Assignments-Tool-Quick-Reference-Guide.pdf\">Assignments Tool Quick Reference Guide (pdf)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/brightspace-tip-536-simplify-assignment-collection\/\">Simplify Assignment Collection<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Utilize Brightspace\u2019s Collaboration Tools\n<ul>\n<li>Discussion Forums\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Discussions-Tool-Quick-Reference-Guide.pdf\">Discussions Tool Quick Reference Guide (pdf)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/community.d2l.com\/brightspace\/kb\/articles\/3454-create-discussion-forums-and-topics#create-a-discussion-forum-in-the-discussions-tool\">Create Discussion Forum in Discussions Tool<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>VoiceThread\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/wp.voicethread.com\/howto-categories\/instructors\/\">Using VoiceThread in your Brightspace Courses<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/brightspace-tip-81-voicethread-basics-training-recap\/\">VoiceThread Basics<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/brightspace-tip-83-be-ready-for-mother-nature-with-voicethreads-training-recap\/\">Be Ready for Mother Nature with VoiceThreads<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/brightspace-faq\/voicethread-faq\/\">VoiceThread FAQs<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Posting Grades\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/brightspace-tip-542-grade-book\/\">Grades Tool<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Zoom Web Conferencing\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/brightspace-documents\/#zoom\">Zoom How-to Resources for Faculty<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/brightspace-documents\/#Zoom-student\">Zoom How-to Resources for Students<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For those who missed our \"<a href=\"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/events\/?id=01710\">Preparing to Teach During an Interruption: Strategies for Maintaining Instructional Continuity<\/a>\" workshop and for those who want to learn more about instructional continuity, you will find a link to the workshop recording, PowerPoint slides, and resources discussed in the workshop here: <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/bE9mlXT25sQ\">Preparing to Teach During an Interruption workshop  recording [46:10]<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Disaster-Planning-Continuity-of-Instruction-03-2020.pdf\">Workshop Slides (pdf)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Instructional_Continuity_Tips_QuickStart_Guide.pdf\">Instructional Continuity Quick Start Guide (pdf)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Want More Information?<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/catwiki.xula.edu\/Brightspace:_Instructors_Quick_Start_Tutorial\">Instructors Quick Start Tutorial<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/community.d2l.com\/brightspace\/categories\/release-notes-en\">Continuous Delivery release notes<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/catwiki.xula.edu\/index.php\/Brightspace_Known_Issues\">Brightspace Known Issues<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/brightspace-tip-2-sandbox-courses\/\">Request a sandbox course<\/a><br \/>\nSign-up for <a href=\"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/events\/\">Brightspace training sessions<\/a><br \/>\nYou can find <a href=\"https:\/\/community.d2l.com\/brightspace\/categories\/higher-ed-postsecondary\">Brightspace help<\/a> at D2L's website.<br \/>\nJoin the <a href=\"https:\/\/community.d2l.com\/brightspace\/categories\/higher-ed-postsecondary\">Brightspace Community<\/a>.<br \/>\nTry these <a title=\"Brightspace How-to\" href=\"http:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/brightspace-documents\/\">Brightspace How-To documents<\/a>.<br \/>\nVisit our <a title=\"Brightspace FAQs\" href=\"http:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/brightspace-faq\/\">Brightspace FAQs<\/a> for additional Brightspace information<br \/>\nor <a title=\"Schedule 1-on-1\" href=\"http:\/\/jflorent.youcanbook.me\/\">schedule a one-on-one session<\/a>, <a title=\"Send email\" href=\"http:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/mail\/?to=31\">email<\/a>, or<br \/>\ncall Janice Florent: (504) 520-7418.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Note: Are you doing something innovative in Brightspace or perhaps you've discovered a handy tip? Share how you are using Brightspace in your teaching and learning in <a href=\"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/brightspace-tip-189-educator-share-showcase\/\">The Orange Room<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><small>Image credit: \"<a href=\"https:\/\/catwiki.xula.edu\/File:Example-of-an-Adaptation.png\">The threat of disasters is real<\/a>\" by jflorent is licensed under <a href=\"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-NC-SA 4.0<\/a><\/small><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This weekend's forecast of wintry weather and freezing rains in our area should be a reminder that course delivery is vulnerable to unplanned events. Potential interruptions to class activities include but are not limited to natural disasters, widespread illness, acts of violence, planned or unexpected construction-related closures, severe weather conditions, and medical emergencies. Here are <a href=\"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/brightspace-tip-566-are-you-ready\/\" class=\"more-link\">...continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> \"Brightspace Tip #566: Are You Ready?\"<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[403],"tags":[402,106,176],"class_list":{"0":"post-22042","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-brightspace","7":"tag-brightspace","8":"tag-disaster-planning","9":"tag-instructional-continuity","10":"h-entry","11":"hentry","12":"h-as-article"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p82MQk-5Jw","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":21166,"url":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/brightspace-tip-494-are-you-ready\/","url_meta":{"origin":22042,"position":0},"title":"Brightspace Tip #494: Are You Ready?","author":"Janice Florent","date":"January 17, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Next week's forecast of wintry weather and a hard freeze in our area should be a reminder that course delivery is vulnerable to unplanned events. Potential interruptions to class activities include but are not limited to natural disasters, widespread illness, acts of violence, planned or unexpected construction-related closures, severe weather\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Brightspace Small Plates&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Brightspace Small Plates","link":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/topic\/brightspace\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"image showing various disasters","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/catwiki.xula.edu\/images\/9\/91\/Example-of-an-Adaptation.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/catwiki.xula.edu\/images\/9\/91\/Example-of-an-Adaptation.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/catwiki.xula.edu\/images\/9\/91\/Example-of-an-Adaptation.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13969,"url":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/brightspace-tip-111-are-you-ready\/","url_meta":{"origin":22042,"position":1},"title":"Brightspace Tip #111: Are You Ready?","author":"Janice Florent","date":"July 10, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Today's heavy rains and street flooding should be a reminder that course delivery is vulnerable to unplanned events. Potential interruptions to class activities include but are not limited to natural disasters, widespread illness, acts of violence, planned or unexpected construction-related closures, severe weather conditions, and medical emergencies. Here are a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Brightspace Small Plates&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Brightspace Small Plates","link":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/topic\/brightspace\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"image showing various disasters","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/catwiki.xula.edu\/images\/9\/91\/Example-of-an-Adaptation.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/catwiki.xula.edu\/images\/9\/91\/Example-of-an-Adaptation.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/catwiki.xula.edu\/images\/9\/91\/Example-of-an-Adaptation.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12639,"url":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/brightspace-tip-58-are-you-ready\/","url_meta":{"origin":22042,"position":2},"title":"Brightspace Tip #58: Are You Ready?","author":"Janice Florent","date":"September 4, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Tropical Storm Gordon should be a reminder that course delivery is vulnerable to unplanned events. Potential interruptions to class activities include but are not limited to natural disasters, widespread illness, acts of violence, planned or unexpected construction-related closures, severe weather conditions, and medical emergencies. Here are a few things you\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Brightspace Small Plates&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Brightspace Small Plates","link":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/topic\/brightspace\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"image showing various disasters","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/catwiki.xula.edu\/images\/9\/91\/Example-of-an-Adaptation.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/catwiki.xula.edu\/images\/9\/91\/Example-of-an-Adaptation.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/catwiki.xula.edu\/images\/9\/91\/Example-of-an-Adaptation.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":19598,"url":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/brightspace-tip-428-are-you-ready\/","url_meta":{"origin":22042,"position":3},"title":"Brightspace Tip #428: Are You Ready?","author":"Janice Florent","date":"January 8, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Each threat of heavy rains and street flooding in our area should be a reminder that course delivery is vulnerable to unplanned events. Potential interruptions to class activities include but are not limited to natural disasters, widespread illness, acts of violence, planned or unexpected construction-related closures, severe weather conditions, and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Brightspace Small Plates&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Brightspace Small Plates","link":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/topic\/brightspace\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"image showing various disasters","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/catwiki.xula.edu\/images\/9\/91\/Example-of-an-Adaptation.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/catwiki.xula.edu\/images\/9\/91\/Example-of-an-Adaptation.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/catwiki.xula.edu\/images\/9\/91\/Example-of-an-Adaptation.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":20731,"url":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/brightspace-tip-467-are-you-ready\/","url_meta":{"origin":22042,"position":4},"title":"Brightspace Tip #467: Are You Ready?","author":"Janice Florent","date":"September 9, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Each threat of tropical storms, heavy rains, and street flooding in our area should be a reminder that course delivery is vulnerable to unplanned events. Potential interruptions to class activities include but are not limited to natural disasters, widespread illness, acts of violence, planned or unexpected construction-related closures, severe weather\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Brightspace Small Plates&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Brightspace Small Plates","link":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/topic\/brightspace\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"image showing various disasters","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/catwiki.xula.edu\/images\/9\/91\/Example-of-an-Adaptation.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/catwiki.xula.edu\/images\/9\/91\/Example-of-an-Adaptation.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/catwiki.xula.edu\/images\/9\/91\/Example-of-an-Adaptation.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":18541,"url":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/brightspace-tip-339-are-you-ready\/","url_meta":{"origin":22042,"position":5},"title":"Brightspace Tip #339: Are You Ready?","author":"Janice Florent","date":"August 15, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Each threat of heavy rains and street flooding in our area should be a reminder that course delivery is vulnerable to unplanned events. Potential interruptions to class activities include but are not limited to natural disasters, widespread illness, acts of violence, planned or unexpected construction-related closures, severe weather conditions, and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Brightspace Small Plates&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Brightspace Small Plates","link":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/topic\/brightspace\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"image showing various disasters","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/catwiki.xula.edu\/images\/9\/91\/Example-of-an-Adaptation.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/catwiki.xula.edu\/images\/9\/91\/Example-of-an-Adaptation.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/catwiki.xula.edu\/images\/9\/91\/Example-of-an-Adaptation.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22042","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22042"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22042\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22046,"href":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22042\/revisions\/22046"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22042"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22042"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22042"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}