Desire2Learn

Organizing the Dropbox

If a course is entirely online, the Dropbox is the only method of feedback (aside from email). Thus, proper organization and structure is key for an effective Dropbox.

Categories organize folders and help students find and identify the correct folder for their assignment.

Within each category should be a folder for each assignment. Feedback can then be given for each assignment to each student without having to overwrite previous feedback. It also makes it easy to identify which students have and have not submitted their assignments.

• Adding a Folder
• Editing a Folder
• Editing a Category
• Deleting a Folder

Adding a Folder

Folders can be added to the Dropbox to help organize assignments.

1. From the Course Home page, on the Navigation bar, click DROPBOX.
   The Folder List dialog box appears.
   

2. Click NEW FOLDER.
   The New Folder dialog box appears.

3. In the Name text box, type the desired name.
   
   

4.  

5. To specify a category of files for this folder, from the Category pull-down list, select a category.
   OR
   To create a category:
   1. Click NEW CATEGORY.
      The New Dropbox Category dialog box appears.
   2. In the Name text box, type a name for the new category.

   3. Click SAVE.
      The category is now available for selection from the Category pull-down list.

6. To associate the files in this folder with an assessment item, from the Grade Item pull-down list, select the item.

7. To add instructions, in the Custom Instructions scroll box, type the desired instructions.

8. To set the earliest date that submissions will be accepted:

   1. Click on the Restrictions tab.Select Only allow submissions after this date.

   2. Select the desired date by using the Date Availability pull-down lists.
      HINT: To choose a date from the calendar, click SELECT DATE. .

9.    To set the latest date that submissions will be accepted:
   1. Select Only allow submissions before this date.

   2. Select the desired date by using the pull-down lists.
      HINT: To choose a date from the calendar, click SELECT DATE. .

10.    When finished, click SAVE.
       The folder is added.

Editing a Folder

Once a folder has been created, it can be modified to adjust the due dates of an assessment.

1. From the Course Home page, on the Navigation bar, click DROPBOX.
   The Dropbox Folders dialog box appears.

2. OPTIONAL: To change the order of the folders,

   1. Click on RE-ORDER. 
   2. Change the order on the pull down arrows under Sorter.
   3. Click SAVE.

3. In the desired folder's row, click EDIT FOLDER.
   The Edit Folder dialog box appears.

4. Make the necessary changes to the folder.

5. Click SAVE.

Editing a Category

1. From the Course Home page, on the Navigation bar, click DROPBOX.
   The Dropbox Folders dialog box appears.

2. In the Dropbox Folders section, click EDIT for the desired folder.
   The Edit Folder dialog box appears.
   
   

3. Click on the down arrow next to Category: to select a category.

OR

Click on NEW CATEGORY to create a new category.

In the Name text box, make the desired changes.

Click on SAVE.

The category is updated.

 

Deleting a Folder

If you no longer have need for a folder, it can be deleted.
WARNING: Deleting a folder deletes all files within it. If you think you will need to refer to the files, be sure to save them.

1. From the Course Home page, on the Navigation bar, click DROPBOX.
   The Dropbox Folders dialog box appears.

2. Click DELETE.
   The Delete Folders dialog box appears.

3. In the desired folder's row, click to select a folder.
   A confirmation dialog box appears.

4. Click DELETE.
   The folder and its contents are deleted.