Brightspace
This page provides faculty with resources for using Brightspace. If you are looking for student resources for Brightspace please check the Student Resources page from IT Services.
Please refer to the following tips and FAQs for using Brightspace.
- Quick Tips for Using Brightspace to Support Student Learning [PDF]
- Brightspace Assignments Tool FAQ
How to Get Started
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Brightspace Overview
Here is a video on how to get started with Brightspace
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Login & Find a Course
Instructions on how to login and find a course [Video] [PDF]
By following the guide, you will be able to:
- Part 1: Login to Brightspace.
- Part 2: Find a course in Brightspace.
- Part 3: Pin a course to the My Courses widget.
- Part 4: Understand how courses appear in the My Courses widget.
- Part 5: Understand how courses appear in the Course Selector dropdown menu.
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Create and Impersonate a Demo Student
Instructions on how to create and impersonate a demo student. [Video][PDF]
The Demo Student Tool provides you the ability to add a fake student to your course and impersonate the Demo Student so that you can see the course from a ‘real’ student experience. You may want to use this tool for the following purposes to make sure your course is configured
correctly:- Test your course before it goes live.
- View content, submit assignments, and take quizzes.
- View published feedback and grades.
- Troubleshoot a live course when things don’t behave as you expected.
NOTE: The demo student is associated with each course independently and cannot be transferred to another course. Use the same steps in each course that you wish to use the tool.
- Brightspace Course Copy
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Course Templates
There are currently two course Brightspace templates available. The first one is a 16-week online course template and the second one is an eight-week course template. Both course templates are designed collaboratively with the Brightspace faculty advisory board committee members, CELT and ITS consultants. Please watch the short video to see what are included in the template.
Copy the template into your development shell or live course
- Download the corresponding course template zipped package
- Login to your Brightspace course.
- Follow the video instruction below to import the package
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Course Migration Checklist
Here are some instructions to perform a Course Migration Checklist [PDF]
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Change Course Start & End Date
Instructions on how to change a course start & end date [PDF]
There may be cases where opening your Brightspace course earlier or keeping it open a little longer than the scheduled dates from the Registrar’s office would be helpful. This is a setting that Instructors have.
By following the guide, you will be able to change your course Start and End dates.
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Identify Crosslist Course Sections
Instructions on how to identify crosslist course sections [PDF]
Currently, it can be difficult for an instructor to identify which sections have been crosslisted. These are instructions on how to look up the sections within a crosslisted course. Note: The following steps are only to view the crosslisted sections. You will not need to set/select anything
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Use Enrollment Manager
Instructions on how to use Enrollment Manager [PDF]
The Enrollment manager allows instructors to add new users, modify their roles, and delete existing users in their courses. As the instructor, you can currently add or modify users with five roles, including Grader, Teaching Assistant, Course Builder, Instructor, and SI Tutor.
By following this guide, you will be able to:
- Part 1: Add new users to your course.
- Part 2: Change an existing user’s role.
- Part 3: Delete an existing user from your course.
To learn more about the permissions associated with each role, review our Brightspace Roles and Permissions guide [PDF]
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Join Brightspace Community & Pie
Instructions on how to join Brightspace Community & Pie [PDF]
The Brightspace Community site is the primary resource for information and help about Brightspace. Use this site to get answers to your questions, find useful tips and tutorials, and participate in discussions with other Brightspace on topics of interest. The Product Idea Exchange (PIE) provides a place within the Brightspace Community where faculty, administrators, and other non-student roles can submit new feature requests to D2L, as well as promote and comment on existing feature requests.
By following the guide, you will be able to:
- Part 1: Join the Brightspace Community.
- Part 2: Login to the Brightspace Community.
- Part 3: Access, Search & Vote in the Product Ideas Exchange.
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Brightspace Roles and Permissions
Instructions on how to add and change roles in a course [PDF]
This document pertains to the Enrollment Manager tool which allows instructors to add and change the Grader, Teaching Assistant, Course Builder, and SI (Supplemental Instructor) Tutor roles in a course. The document indicates the permissions attached to each role.
Content Creation and Access Management
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Create Modules and Content
Instructions on how to create modules and content [PDF]
By following the guide, you will be able to:
- Part 1: Create Modules in Content.
- Part 2: Upload Files to Content.
- Part 3: Create a New File in Content.
- Part 4: Create a Link in Content.
- Part 5: Link to an Existing Activity (Discussion, Assignment, or Quiz)
- Part 6: Reorder Content in a Module.
- Part 7: Edit the Name of a Module.
- Part 8: Edit the Name of a Topic.
- Part 9: Delete a Module.
- Part 10: Delete a Topic.
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Link to External Learning Tools
Instructions on how to Link to Publisher & Other External Learning Tools [PDF]
Linking a 3rd party tool in Brightspace such as to a publisher’s tool is simple after the tool has been integrated by the Administrator. Refer to the following webpage for the status of 3rd party tools that are integrated with Brightspace and which are available by at the Fort Wayne (FW) campus: https://www.purdue.edu/brightspace/Integrations.php
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Kaltura Videos in Brightspace
Instructions on how to use Kaltura Videos in Brightspace [PDF]
By following the guide, you will be able to:
- Part 1: Find your media in Brightspace (My Media).
- Part 2: Upload new media to your Kaltura Media space using Brightspace.
- Part 3: Link your existing media in Content.
- Part 4: Link your existing media in Announcements.
- Part 5: Link your Kaltura Capture software to the new Common Kaltura.
- Part 6: Record a New Video using Express Capture. Part 7: Record a New Video using Kaltura Capture.
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Use Course Builder to Plan Your Course
Instructions on how to Use Course Builder to Plan Your Course [PDF]
The Course Builder allows you to map out your course by building a framework or skeleton. This tool helps you visualize and review your entire course from a map-like view. Use Course Builder to create modules and placeholders for content yet to be developed. When ready, you can populate your framework by creating new learning materials (ex: files, links discussions, assignments, quizzes) or linking to existing activities already in the course. You can switch between other Brightspace tools and Course Builder at any time by using the Course Admin link.
By following the guide, you will be able to:
- Part 1: Go to the Course Builder.
- Part 2: Add Modules using the Course Builder.
- Part 3: Add Placeholders using the Course Builder.
- Part 4: Rearrange modules in the Course Builder.
- Part 5: Edit Names in the Course Builder.
- Part 6: Add Content using the Course Builder.
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Add Release Conditions
Instructions on how to add Release Conditions [PDF]
Release conditions allow you to control when students can access different elements within the course, including modules, topics, and assessments. When you attach a release condition to an item in your course, students cannot see that item until they meet the associated condition. If multiple conditions are attached to an item, the student must meet all conditions before the item can be accessed.
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Group Creation and Management
Instructions on Group Creation and Management [PDF]
Groups can be created and used for restricted access, group assignment submissions, and a group file sharing locker (with limited file size). For group discussions and assignments, it is recommended that you create the Groups first. Users can be enrolled at a later time.
By following the guide, you will be able to:
- Part 1: Create a Group Category
- Part 2: Add a Group to an Existing Group Category
- Part 3: Enroll Users into Groups
- Part 4: Delete Groups and Group Categories [CAUTION!]
COMMUNICATION & ENGAGEMENT
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Completion Settings
Completion Settings [Video]
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Create Announcements
Instructions on how to create announcements [PDF]
By following the guide, you will be able to:
- Part 1: Create an Announcement in a Course.
- Part 2: Help Students Subscribe to Email Announcements.
- Part 3: Help Students Know Where to See Course Update Alerts.
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Create and Subscribe to Questions & Answers Discussion Topic
Instructions on how to create and subscribe to Questions & Answers Discussion Topic [Video]
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Email Your Class in Brightspace
Instructions on how to email your class in Brightspace [PDF]
Brightspace Classlist feature allows instructors to view all users enrolled in the course and email
the entire class. By following the guide, you will be able to:- Part 1: Email your Class using Classlist
- Part 2: See a List of All your Sent Mail
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Welcome Email to Students
Welcome Email to Students [Word]
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Create a Space for Student Introductions
Instructions on how to create a space for student introductions [PDF]
This document provides instructions for using the Discussion Forums Tool in Brightspace as a space for faculty and students to introduce themselves. Some instructors and students may find this analogous to how they used the Wiki in Blackboard.
By following the guide, you will be able to:- Part 1: Set up a Discussion topic
- Part 2: Provide a Video Demonstration for Students on How to Participate
- Part 3: Provide Text Instructions for Students on How to Participate
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Discussions: Create Discussions in Content
Instructions on how to create discussions in Content [PDF]
By following the guide, you will be able to Create a Discussion in the Content section. Note: Individual discussions can also be created using the Discussions tool accessed through Course Admin. The Assignments tool may include more setting options.
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Discussions: Manage and Grade Discussions
Instructions on how manage and grade discussions [PDF]
In the Discussions tool, you have multiple options on how discussion threads are displayed for you. This guide will cover the most common setting differences as well as a few different ways to assess student threads.
By following the guide, you will be able to:
- Part 1: Locate the Discussion Settings.
- Part 2: Familiarize Yourself with the Discussion Settings.
- Part 3: Familiarize Yourself with Using Reading Pane View.
- Part 4: Grade a Discussion Thread in Reading Pane View.
- Part 5: Grade a Discussion Post for an Individual Student in Reading Pane View.
- Part 6: Familiarize Yourself with Using Threaded Grid View.
- Part 7: Grade a Discussion (Threaded or Unthreaded) in Grid View.
- Part 8: Grade a Discussion Using the Grades Tool Part 9: View Discussion Threads from the Class Progress Tool.
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Discussions: Display Deleted Discussions Threads and Posts
Currently in Brightspace, students can delete their own threads and posts (replies to threads). However, deleted threads and posts are still viewable by instructors. This option can be toggled on or off, depending on your preference. The default is off. [PDF]
By following the guide, you will be able to:
- Set course preference to display or hide deleted threads and posts.
- View deleted threads.
- View deleted posts.
- Use the Grid View to view deleted threads and posts.
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Surveys: Create a Survey in Brightspace
Learn how to create a survey in Brightspace [PDF]
Surveys allow you to solicit feedback from students. You can gather anonymous or non-anonymous responses. Likert-style rating is available for surveys. Surveys can also be designed with branching questions for more advanced surveys.
By following the guide, you will be able to:- Part 1: Locate the Surveys tool
- Part 2: Create New Questions in the Question Library
- Part 3: Import a (properly formatted) csv file into the Question Library
- Part 4: Edit Existing Questions in the Question Library
- Part 5: Create a Survey
- Part 6: Import Questions to the Survey from the Question Library
- Part 7: Create New Questions Directly in the Survey
- Part 8: Manage Survey Settings
- Part 9: Make the Survey Available to Students
- Part 10: View Statistics of the Survey Results
- Part 11: Create a Survey Report
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Surveys: Mid-Semester Feedback Guide
Learn to create a mid-semester feedback survey [PDF]
Because midterm evaluation is a confidential process, this guide was created to help instructors develop their own practical and effective midterm evaluation strategy using four steps: (1) Design a survey, (2) collect feedback, (3) analyze feedback, and (4) create an action plan. Click any of the steps below for more detailed information and resources.
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Surveys: Midterm Survey Question Bank
This question bank contains numerous questions that you can use to create your own survey in Brightspace [EXCEL]
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Surveys: Track Survey Submissions to Give Credit to Students
Track Survey Submissions to Give Credit to Students [PDF]
To promote completion rates for course surveys, instructors may decide to track submissions and award extra credit to students who complete the survey. Unfortunately, Surveys cannot be directly linked to the gradebook. However, there are some tracking options to determine who
has completed the survey. This guide provides recommendations for surveys that are NOT set as anonymous, and a workaround for tracking anonymous surveys. Remember, once a survey is marked anonymous, the user submissions cannot be directly tracked.By following the guide, you will be able to:
- Part 1: Track Submissions for Non-Anonymous Surveys
- Part 2: Track Submissions for Anonymous Surveys
ASSESSMENT & GRADING
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Quizzes: Intro Brightspace Assessment Tools & Question Types
Instructions for Brightspace Assessment Tools & Question Types [PDF]
By following the guide, you will be able to:
- Part 1: Understand the difference between Quizzes, Surveys, and Self-Assessment
- Part 2: Learn about the different question types
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Quizzes: Create and Manage Quizzes
Instructions on how to create and manage quizzes [PDF]
By following the guide, you will be able to:
- Part 1: Locate the Quiz tool.
- Part 2: Create Quiz Questions in the Question Library.
- Part 3: Create a Quiz.
- Part 4: Create a Question Pool in a Quiz to Select Random Questions.
- Part 5: Import Questions into a Quiz from the Question Library.
- Part 6: Preview a Quiz.
- Part 7: Manage Quiz Settings.
- Part 8: Edit an Existing Quiz Question.
- Part 9: Rearrange the Order of Quiz Questions in a Quiz.
- Part 10: Import Questions into the Question Library from an Existing Quiz.
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Quizzes: Manage Quiz Submission Views
Instructions on how to manage Quiz Submission Views [PDF]
By following the guide, you will be able to:
- Part 1: Understand the Default View & Make it Visible to Students
- Part 2: Understand the Additional Submission View Options
- Part 3: Familiarize yourself with a Submission View Use-case
- Part 4: Know which Settings to Use to Display Feedback
- Part 5: Create an Additional Submission View
- Part 6: Release a Quiz Grade After a Quiz was Taken
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Quizzes: View Quiz Statistics
Instructions on how to View Quiz Statistics [PDF]
After students complete a quiz, instructors can view and download statistics about their performance. This guide shows the steps to view the student average and the detailed information about each quiz question. By following the guide, you will be able to view Statistics of the Quiz Results.
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Quizzes: Set Special Accommodations for Students in Quizzes
Learn how to add special accommodations/access for students in quizzes [PDF]
By following this guide you will be able to:
- Set a Time Extension Accommodation at the Course Level (all quizzes).
- Set an Accommodation/Special Access at the Quiz Level (specific quiz).
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Assignments: Create an Assignment
Instructions on how to create an assignment in Content [PDF]
This document provides a step-by-step guide for using the new assignments experience. Assignments can also be created using the Assignments tool. Although assignments can also be created through Content or Course Tools, some settings are only accessed/editable one way. Note specific instructions below. When new updates are available, a new guide will be created and shared.
By following the guide, you will be able to:
- 1. Create an Assignment in Content
- 2. Update the Assignment instructions with HTML Editor
- 3. Change the Assignment Point Value
- 4. Edit Special Access Settings
- 5. Edit Assessment Settings (Rubrics, Annotation Tools, Anonymous Marking or Turnitin)
- 6. Add Exemptions
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Assignments: Create an Individual Video Assignment
Instructions on how to create a video assignment [video]
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Assignments: Grade Individual Video Assignment
Instructions on how to grade a video assignment [video]
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Gradebook: Grade Tool Setup
Instructions on how to use the Grade Tool Setup [PDF]
By following the guide, you will be able to set up your gradebook and adjust the settings to fit your
grading needs. This guide will cover how to:- Part 1: Set up the Gradebook using the Setup Wizard
- Part 2: Change Grading System Settings after Setup
- Part 3: Create Grade Categories
- Part 4: Create a New Numeric Grade Item
- Part 5: Review your Gradebook using Manage Grades
- Part 6: Edit a Grade Item or Category
- Part 7: Delete Unneeded Grade Items
- Part 8: Reorder Grade Items
- Part 9: Select or Create a New Grading Scheme
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Gradebook: Export and Import Grades
Instructions on how to export and import grades [PDF]
By following the guide, you will be able to:
- Part 1: Export Grades as a CSV File
- Part 2: Add Scores to the CSV File
- Part 3: Add a New Numeric Grade Column to the CSV File
- Part 4: Import Grades using CSV File (basic: scores only)
- Part 5: Import Grades using CSV File (advanced: scores & new numeric column)
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Gradebook: Set/Remove Date Restrictions
By following this guide, you will be able to set or remove date restrictions for a grade item in your Brightspace Grades. [PDF]
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Gradebook: Release Final Calculated Grade
This guide is intended to help instructors release the Final Calculated Grade to students in Grades [PDF]
For students to view their current total grade in Grades, instructors need to automatically release the Calculated Final Grade. Currently, there is no “Final Grade Push” built to accommodate sending grades from Brightspace to Banner. Please following the instructions from the Registrar’s office to directly submit grades for students in your courses.
By following the guide, you will be able to
- Check if the Final Calculated Grade is automatically released
- Release the Final Calculated Grade to students
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Gradebook: Gradebook Checklist for Self-Checking
Use the Gradebook Checklist to self-check your gradebook settings. [DOC]
This checklist is intended to help instructors self-check their Gradebook before the grading starts. Use this checklist to ensure the gradebook displays accurate and organized information to students about their progress in your course.
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Rubrics: Creating and Using Rubrics in Brightspace
Here is a document on how to create rubrics in Brightspace. The tutorials below provide additional instructions. Click here for information and best-practices on using rubrics in your teaching.
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Grade and Add Feedback in Brightspace
Learn how to grade and add feedback [PDF]
By following this guide, you will be able to:
- Part 1: Understand the Different Types of Feedback in Brightspace
- Part 2: Grade and Add Feedback to an Assignment Submission
- Part 3: Grade and Add Feedback to a Discussion Post
- Part 4: Grade and Add Feedback to a Quiz Submission
- Part 5: Grade and Add Feedback from your Gradebook
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Troubleshoot Releasing Grades
The following guide is intended to help instructors troubleshoot common grade release issues [PDF]
By following the guide, you will be able to troubleshoot common grade release issues, such as:
- Part 1: Students cannot see the grade for a quiz.
- Part 2: Students cannot see the grade for an assignment.
- Part 3: Students cannot see the grade for a discussion topic.
- Part 4: Students are not seeing scores in their gradebook.
- Part 5: You are not seeing students’ scores in your gradebook.
- Part 6: Students cannot see their current total grade (Calculated Final Grade).
- Part 7: Your total points are not correct in your gradebook.