Center for Teaching, Learning, and Development

Elearning Content Experience Transition

An updated look for course content in Elearning is on the horizon, and the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Development (CTLD) has been planning ahead to help you prepare. The good news: your course materials will carry over automatically, no action is needed right now, and you’ll have plenty of time and support along the way.

What’s changing?

D2L, the company that licenses Elearning, is updating the content experience of every course, where course materials are created, organized, and navigated. At WMU, we’re calling this the New Content Experience. Many institutions have been using it for several years, and D2L will retire the current “Classic” version in June 2029.

Your course materials stay put. Nothing needs to be migrated or rebuilt. Your existing materials will appear in the New Content Experience automatically. What changes is how course content is organized, displayed, and navigated, and a few familiar features work differently. CTLD will help you understand what that means for your courses.

CTLD is leading WMU’s transition with teaching and learning in mind. Rather than waiting for D2L’s deadline, CTLD is planning a gradual, supported transition. You’ll have time to explore the New Content Experience, try it in your own courses, and prepare thoughtfully. Optional adoption begins in Fall 2027, and full adoption is planned for Fall 2028. CTLD’s instructional support team has been learning from institutions that have already made the switch. We are developing guidance and training now and will share more in Spring 2027.

What should I do now?

Nothing yet. You can keep teaching and building your courses as usual. CTLD will share guidance and training in Spring 2027. Watch for CTLD communications about opting in to the New Content Experience beginning in Fall 2027.

Curious and want an early start? You can request a sandbox, a practice course where you can explore the New Content Experience and begin building materials without affecting your current courses. Request a sandbox, or contact CTLD with questions.

Planned transition timeline

Here’s how the transition will unfold. You’ll have plenty of time and CTLD support at every step.

Initial information and training begin. Interested in an early start? Support will be offered to instructors interested in building course templates using the New Content Experience.

Details about opting in for Fall 2027, plus training and support to help you prepare.

Choose to turn on the New Content Experience in individual courses, or keep using Classic. Training continues, and if you opt in, you’ll have support along the way and a chance to share feedback.

Additional communication, training, and support to help you get your courses ready for Fall 2028.

All Elearning courses use the New Content Experience, and Classic is no longer available. Your course materials carry over automatically, and support continues.

Training and Support

CTLD will support you throughout the transition to the New Content Experience, with opportunities to learn, explore, and ask questions along the way. Guidance and training are being developed to help you get comfortable with the new layout and prepare your courses. Beginning in Spring 2027, resources and training opportunities will be shared here and through CTLD communications, with support continuing through Fall 2028 and beyond. In the meantime, you’re welcome to contact CTLD with questions or to talk through your course preparation needs.

 

Try out the New Content Experience

Ready to try it out?

Request a sandbox to explore the New Content Experience and start building, without affecting your current courses.
Request a Sandbox

FAQs

No. Your existing course materials will remain available when your course switches to the New Content Experience. You will not need to rebuild your course from scratch. However, some materials and features may display or work differently. Reviewing your course as you prepare will help ensure that students can find materials and follow instructions as intended, and guidance will be provided to help you identify and address any needed adjustments.

The New Content Experience provides a cleaner, mobile-friendly layout that helps students find course materials and move easily between them. Improved navigation and accessibility features support a more consistent experience, helping students focus on learning. Watch: Navigate Content as a Learner

Whether you teach or use Elearning for orientations, trainings, or other purposes, the New Content Experience offers more consistent tools for creating, organizing, and updating your materials, making everyday course management easier. It’s also where D2L is focusing its new features and improvements, so your courses will keep benefiting from future updates.

The biggest change is how course materials are organized and displayed. You will notice minor changes to the layout, menus, and some familiar workflows. Most of what you do in Elearning, including assignments, quizzes, discussions, and grades, will stay the same or similar. Classic - the current experience - will remain an option until Fall 2028, when all courses will permanently switch to the New Content Experience. Watch: Content Overview for Instructors

Optional adoption will begin in Fall 2027, with training and participation details shared in advance. If you are interested in getting an early start, you can request a sandbox to explore. However, if you would like to try the New Content Experience in Spring 2027, please contact CTLD to discuss opportunities and support. No action is required at this time.

Yes. Classic will remain available during the optional adoption period beginning in Fall 2027, giving you time to explore the New Content Experience and prepare your courses. Beginning in Fall 2028, the New Content Experience will be permanently enabled in all Elearning courses. Training and support will continue throughout the transition and after full adoption.

Students will see an updated layout for viewing and navigating course materials in courses that use the New Content Experience. The experience is set for each course, so students cannot switch between Classic and the New Content Experience on their own. During the optional adoption period, students may see different layouts across their courses, and we are already gathering and reviewing student feedback to support any questions they may have throughout the transition. When you begin using the New Content Experience, a brief introduction to where materials and activities are located can help students get oriented. Beginning in Fall 2028, all Elearning courses will use the New Content Experience.

Yes. The New Content Experience applies to all Elearning courses, including orientations, trainings, and other non-academic courses. The same timeline, training, and support apply, and your materials carry over automatically. Contact CTLD if you’d like to talk through what this means for you.

Questions and Feedback

Questions or Feedback?

We’d love to hear from you, whether you have a question, a concern, or ideas as you explore the New Content Experience.
Contact CTLD