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Access courses in D2L Brightspace
D2L Brightspace is the primary online tool that you will use to access course materials whether you are in a face-to-face, hybrid, or a fully online course. Here are a few tips you should know to help you get started. (Note: Download the attached PDF.)
How do I log in to D2L Brightspace?
You can access D2L Brightspace from a link on your school’s website, or navigate to the Minnesota State website and select your school’s specific D2L Brightspace login.
Where are my courses in D2L Brightspace?
Once you have logged in to D2L Brightspace, you can access your course from the Course Selector or My Courses widget.
What’s the Course Selector / “Waffle”?
While in D2L Brightspace, at the top of the page, you will see the Course Selector or “Waffle” as it is often referred to. Clicking on this icon will show you a list of your open courses. You can click the thumbtack icon next to a course to pin it to the top for quicker access. Use the waffle to quickly navigate between courses.
![Courses listed in the Course Selector or "Waffle" in the minibar](https://servicedesk.minnstate.edu/TDPortal/Images/Viewer?fileName=0448236b-ddb1-4d15-98ff-f79fafb2e6e8.png&beidInt=2)
Where can I view my list of courses?
While in D2L Brightspace, the My Courses widget will show you images of all your courses. Click on an image to access the course.
![Sample of two courses in the My Courses widget](https://servicedesk.minnstate.edu/TDPortal/Images/Viewer?fileName=43781479-4ef0-4e9d-8dca-5f7be6e297d5.png&beidInt=2)
Why is my course grayed out? It won’t open when I click on it.
If a course has not started yet or has already ended, the image will be grayscale. The course may list a date, such as “Starts August 13” or “Course Ended May 8”.
![A course that is not open yet, since it has a future start date](https://servicedesk.minnstate.edu/TDPortal/Images/Viewer?fileName=32514ec1-4942-4d1c-8d42-7f63e2fa371b.png&beidInt=2)