Grade Syncing

Top Hat and D2L Brightspace Integration Logo

This article contains information for educators using Top Hat with D2L Brightspace via the LTI 1.3 integration type.

Students: Please visit Top Hat + D2L Course Enrollment Instructions.

The following instructions assume that the required administrative work has been completed by your school's LMS team prior to connecting your course. If not, please refer your LMS Admin team to Request a New Integration first.

Table of Contents

  1. How to Video: Connect your Course to D2L
  2. Quick Start Guide
  3. Pre-Connection Steps & Checks
  4. Connecting a D2L course to Top Hat (New User Interface)
  5. Connecting a D2L course to Top Hat (Old User Interface)
  6. Syllabus Insert
  7. Student Roster
  8. Deep Linking Content (for Grade Syncing)
    1. Deep Linking – New User Interface
    2. Deep Linking – Old User Interface
  9. Grade Syncing
    1. Automatic Grade Sync for Deep-Linked Content
    2. Actions that Initiate a Grade Sync
  10. Manual Grade Sync
    1. Grade Types Requiring Manual Sync
    2. Steps to Sync
  11. MSM Courses
    1. As a Coordinator
    2. As an Instructor
  12. Connect Merged/Sectioned Courses (MSM)

How-To Video: Connect your Course to D2L

Quick Start Guide

View / Download D2L LTI 1.3 Quick Start Guide (PDF) (opens in a new window)

Pre-Connection Steps & Checks

Ensure the course is not currently connected to an existing D2L course:

  1. Navigate to Top Hat Course Settings > LTI 1.3 or Legacy LMS Sync tab.
  2. Click Disconnect (only required if previously connected).

[Top Hat course settings page highlighting the Disconnect button]
Image: Course settings page showing the "Disconnect" button.

Note: The Top Hat LTI 1.3 Course Launch Link is required for educators to establish the connection and for students to sync their grades. Do not remove this link from D2L.

Connecting a D2L course to Top Hat (New User Interface)

  1. Open your D2L course, select Content, and then click + New Unit.

    [D2L Content area showing the + New Unit button]
    Image: D2L "+ New Unit" button in the Content section.

  2. In the window that appears, name the new unit: "Top Hat Course Launch Link".

    [D2L unit naming interface with text entry]
    Image: Naming the new unit in D2L.

  3. Ensure the visibility toggle is set to visible so students can access it to enroll and sync their grades.

    [D2L visibility toggle set to visible]
    Image: Visibility settings for the new unit.

  4. Select Add Existing.

    [D2L unit interface highlighting the Add Existing button]
    Image: "Add Existing" button in the new unit.

  5. From the menu, select External Learning Tool.

    [D2L Add Existing menu with External Learning Tool selected]
    Image: Selecting "External Learning Tool" from the list.

  6. Select Top Hat LTI 1.3. (Note: Your LMS admin team may have named this differently. If you cannot find it, reach out to them for support.)

    [D2L External Learning Tools list with Top Hat LTI 1.3 selected]
    Image: Selecting "Top Hat LTI 1.3" from the tool list.

  7. After selecting the tool, you will be taken back to the D2L content page. Verify the link is visible to students.

    [D2L Content area showing the active Top Hat LTI 1.3 launch link]
    Image: Top Hat launch link displayed in D2L content.

  8. Click the newly created Top Hat - LTI 1.3 link. If prompted, select Open in a new window.

    [Top Hat prompt to launch the tool in a new window]
    Image: Course connection prompt in Top Hat.

  9. In the Top Hat window, select the course you wish to connect to and press Continue to finalize the connection.

[Top Hat final confirmation screen to complete course connection]
Image: Final confirmation screen to complete course connection.

Connecting a D2L course to Top Hat (Old User Interface)

  1. Open your D2L course, select Content, and then click Add a module...

    [D2L Content section showing the Add a module input field]
    Image: D2L "Add a module..." interface in the Content section.

  2. In the Add a module... box, enter "Top Hat Course Launch" and press enter. The new module is now created and visible in the Table of Contents.
  3. Select Add Existing Activities, and from the drop-down menu, select External Learning Tools.

    [D2L drop-down menu with External Learning Tools selected]
    Image: External Learning Tools option in D2L drop-down menu.

  4. From the menu that appears, select Top Hat LTI 1.3.

    Note: Your LMS admin team may have named this differently. If you are unable to locate it, please reach out to your LMS admin team for further support.

    [D2L tool list showing Top Hat LTI 1.3 selected]
    Image: Selecting "Top Hat LTI 1.3" from the tool list.

  5. After selecting it, you will be taken back to the content page in D2L. Ensure the link is now visible to students.

    [D2L content page showing the Top Hat LTI 1.3 link set to visible]
    Image: Visible "Top Hat - LTI 1.3" link on D2L content page.

  6. Press the Top Hat - LTI 1.3 link you have just created. If prompted, select Open in a new window to be directed to Top Hat.

    [Top Hat prompt indicating the tool will open in a new window]
    Image: Course connection prompt in Top Hat after selecting the launch link.

  7. Select the course you wish to connect to, then press Continue to finalize the connection process.

    [Top Hat final confirmation screen indicating course connection is complete]
    Image: Final confirmation screen to complete course connection.

Syllabus Insert

In addition to using D2L as our Learning Management System, we will be using Top Hat (https://tophat.com) for class participation. Top Hat is an educational platform that integrates interactive features into learning materials, enhancing class engagement and comprehension.

For instructions on how to download the Top Hat app, please refer to our Student's Getting Started Guide online.

Getting Started

Enrolling into your course:

  • Do not enroll directly into the Top Hat course via their website.
  • To enroll correctly, click the Top Hat link in your D2L course. Look for a link labeled "Top Hat", "Top Hat LTI 1.3", or "Launch Link".
  • This ensures you are enrolled into the correct course section.
  • Important: Do not use the Top Hat mobile app to sign up or make purchases—use a desktop browser like Chrome or Firefox.
  • Once your account is set up and linked, you can access Top Hat using the mobile app.

If you do not click the Top Hat link:

  • You will be shown a message in Top Hat instructing you to do so (web browser only).
  • You may be removed from the Top Hat course during the nightly roster sync. If removed, simply click the link in D2L to rejoin.

Student-LTI Course Enrollment (D2L)

Helpful Top Hat Lingo

Join Code / JC
The unique 6-digit code specific to your Top Hat course.
Secure Attendance
Location-based confirmation to mark attendance in class.
Homework vs. Review
Homework assignments are graded; Review assignments are for ungraded practice.

Contact Top Hat Support

Student Roster

Note: Please ensure your D2L course is first Published to allow students to enroll.

Your Student Roster in Top Hat will update each night to reflect your current D2L roster. You can update the roster manually at any time by clicking Sync Roster in the Top Hat Students tab.

  • Students enrolled in the D2L course will appear in the Students tab in Top Hat.
  • Students who did not enroll through the D2L link will appear in your roster as "Action Required".
  • Manual and nightly syncs will remove students who haven't clicked the D2L link.
  • If a student is removed, direct them to click the Top Hat link in D2L. Any previously awarded grades will automatically re-populate.

[Top Hat Student Manager showing the Sync Roster button and action required banner]
Image: Student roster sync banner and interface in Top Hat.

Deep Linking Content (for Grade Syncing)

What is a deep link? It is a link that directs a user to a specific item inside an app rather than a general website. Deep-linked content will have its grades synced automatically—either immediately with Live Gradebook enabled, or after the deadline in D2L has passed.

Important Rules for Deep Linking:

  • Establish links before the content is assigned to students and responses are collected.
  • Do not adjust the point value in D2L—this will scale automatically upon sync with Top Hat.
  • Do not adjust the number of attempts in D2L—leave it set to Unlimited. This setting is managed within Top Hat directly.

Deep Linking – New User Interface

  1. From the Content tab in D2L, click the blue + New Unit link and name your new unit.

    [D2L Content tab highlighting the + New Unit button]
    Image: Creating a new unit in D2L's Content tab.

  2. Give the item a title/name and press Save.

    [D2L interface for naming and saving a new unit]
    Image: Naming and saving the new unit.

  3. From the new unit you just created, select Add Existing.

    [D2L new unit interface showing the Add Existing button]
    Image: Selecting "Add Existing" in the new unit.

  4. Select the Top Hat LTI 1.3 Deep Link button.

    [D2L Add Existing menu showing the Top Hat LTI Tool selected]
    Image: Selecting the Top Hat LTI Tool.

    Note: If you have pop-up blockers enabled, select Open in new window to be directed to Top Hat and select the content.

    [Top Hat content selection window for deep linking]
    Image: Selecting the content to Deep Link.

  5. You will be taken back to D2L. Make the assignment visible to students and assign the content in Top Hat—this will complete the deep linking process.

    [Top Hat interface showing the Assign dialog for content]
    Image: Assign Content to finalize Deep Link.

For information about how to assign content, please refer to: Educator: Assigning Content to Students.

Deep Linking – Old User Interface

  1. Select Content and then click Add a module...

    [D2L Content tab highlighting the Add a module field]
    Image: Adding a new module in D2L.

  2. Give your new unit a title (e.g., "Top Hat Deep Link"). Press Save and Close.

    [D2L interface for naming and saving the new module]
    Image: Naming and saving the new module.

  3. Select Add Existing Activities and search for Top Hat LTI 1.3 Deep Link.

    Note: Your LMS admin team may have named this differently. If you are unable to locate it, please connect with your LMS team for further support.

    [D2L Add Existing Activities menu showing the search for Top Hat LTI 1.3 Deep Link]
    Image: Selecting "Top Hat LTI 1.3 Deep Link" from activities.

  4. Find and select the tool named Top Hat - LTI 1.3 [Deep Link] (your school's admin team may have titled this differently in your LMS settings).

    A new browser tab will open. If it doesn't, your browser may be blocking pop-ups. Press Open in a new window.

    [Top Hat prompt indicating the deep link tool will open in a new window]
    Image: Deep link tool launching in new window.

  5. Use the checkboxes to select the content you want to deep link to. Press Confirm and then Continue.

    [Top Hat content selection window with checkboxes for deep linking]
    Image: Selecting content to link via checkbox interface.

  6. You will be taken back to D2L. Make the assignment visible to students and assign the content in Top Hat—this will complete the deep linking process.

    [D2L Content area showing the deep linked assignment set to visible]
    Image: Deep linked assignment displayed in D2L.

    [Top Hat interface showing the Assign dialog to finalize the deep link]
    Image: Assigning content in Top Hat finalizes the Deep Link.

For information about how to assign content, please refer to: Educator: Assigning Content to Students.

Grade Syncing

Automatic Grade Sync for Deep-Linked Content

To ensure students have access to course content, deep-linked items must be assigned in Top Hat. This allows students to interact with the content and submit responses for grading. Grades for deep-linked items are automatically synced to the LMS once they are published to students.

Definition: A grade is "published" when it becomes visible to students. This occurs when:

  • The homework deadline passes.
  • The assignment is unassigned.
  • Live Gradebook is enabled.

Actions that Initiate a Grade Sync

The following instructor or system actions will trigger a grade sync from Top Hat to D2L, provided the grades have already been published:

  • Student Enrollment Changes: A student re-enrolls in the course or switches sections after grades were already published.
  • Live Gradebook: When Live Gradebook is enabled and a student submits a response. Student grades update immediately without requiring the content to be unassigned.
  • Status Changes: An assignment’s due date passes or an instructor manually unassigns the content.
  • Content Organization: Published content within a folder is moved to another location.
  • Manual Overrides: A grade or attendance record is manually entered or edited in the Gradebook.
  • Point Adjustments: A previously published grade is edited by adjusting the point value.
  • Exemptions: An instructor excuses or unexcuses a previously published grade.

Important: If grades have not been published, they will not sync to D2L. This ensures instructors have full control over when grades are finalized and shared.

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