Skip to content

Published on Leave a comment on Brightspace Tip #532: August Continuous Delivery Updates

the word update written on a chalk board

D2L (the company that owns Brightspace) uses Continuous Delivery to update our Brightspace system. The Continuous Delivery model gives us regular monthly updates allowing for incremental and easily integrated changes with no downtime required for our Brightspace system.

Our Continuous Delivery update occurs on the 4th Thursday of each month. D2L provides release notes to help users stay up-to-date with the changes.

Here are some of the updates in the August 2025/20.25.08 release that were added to our system this month:

1) Brightspace – New Window icon for all menu items

To help users better anticipate navigation behavior in Brightspace, a New Window icon now appears next to all menu items that open in a new tab or window. This change applies to all applicable menu items across the platform interface.

The icon design is also updated to better align with current styles used in Brightspace.

View an example of this change in the Print Thread menu in a discussion topic (see image).

The New Window icon appears in a menu. The icon is a diagonal arrow in a partial box.
The New Window icon appears beside a menu item.

From a course, navigate to a topic in Discussions, select the actions drop-down for a thread, then view the New Window icon appears beside Print Thread.

2) Groups – Enrollment limit increase

To support growing class sizes, the Groups tool now allows enrollment of up to 3000 users per group within a group category. Previously, the limit was 200 users per group.

This increased limit applies to all enrollment workflows, including:

  • Automatic enrollment during group creation
  • Automatic enrollment during Classlist enrollment, where automatic enrollment group types exist
  • Manual enrollment using the Enroll Users and Import options within the Groups tool
  • Groups enrollment via the Bulk User Management tool
  • Enrollment using Brightspace APIs

The 3000-user limit is now strictly enforced across all methods of group enrollment. Previous workarounds that bypassed the former enrollment limit will no longer function for any group that has reached the 3000-user limit.

Currently, the automatic enrollment overflow functionality enrolls users into other groups in the same category if the selected group is full. However, when the 3000-user limit is reached in all groups, further enrollment attempts will fail. To continue processing enrollments, you must add additional groups to the category.

In cases where enrollment fails due to the user limit, the following indications appear:

  • Brightspace APIs return an error
  • Bulk User Management and Group Import CSV display user-specific errors in the import results
  • IPSIS and Banner integrations report failures
  • In the Groups tool, additional users cannot be selected without deselecting users already enrolled in the group

For more information about this feature and future developments, refer to the Improving groups with increased enrollment limits blog post.

This feature implements the following PIE items:

  • D6942 (Allow for more than 200 people in a group/section)
  • D4750 (Remove 200 member cap on Self-enrolling Groups)

3) Quizzes – Print your quiz

In response to customer feedback, this update provides instructors with a simple way to print an offline quiz that supports all native Brightspace quiz question types, shuffling and randomization options, question pools, multiple versions, and an Answer Key.

The Print option selected next to a quiz name on the Manage Quizzes page.
From the Manage Quizzes page, click the drop-down beside the quiz name and select Print.
Print preview of a quiz showing formatting options.
From the Print Quiz page, select a version tab, configure formatting, and click Print [Version].

Options to support multiple quiz versions include:

  • Shuffle Quiz (under Timing & Display) to shuffle quiz sections and questions.
    • The Timing and Display settings with Shuffle Quiz option enabled.
    In the Timing & Display section of the quiz settings, select Shuffle Quiz to randomize the order of questions and sections within the quiz.
  • Shuffle questions in this section (when creating or editing a section).
    • The New Section page with Shuffle questions option enabled.
    When creating or editing a quiz section, select Shuffle questions in this section to randomize questions, sections, and pools within the section.
  • Randomize answer order when creating or editing a supported question type, for example, Multiple Choice.
    • A multiple choice question with Randomize answer order enabled.
    When creating a multiple-choice question, select Randomize answer order to present answer choices in a different order for each learner.

To help instructors quickly and easily grade printed quizzes taken offline, an Answer Key is provided for each version. It includes the correct answers and, where applicable, the grading method.

Print preview of a quiz showing answer key and formatting options.
To grade a quiz, instructors can select Show correct answers and print the required version of the quiz with an Answer Key.

This feature implements the following PIE items:

  • D362 (Print Quiz and Quiz Key)
  • D3718 (Quizzes - Generate PDF of the Quiz for Printing)
  • D5909 (Make all screens which have "forms" exportable to PDF)
  • D8049 (Printing Quiz)
  • D11794 (Quizzes: Print Test for Offline Completion)

4) PIE – Enhancement to the Product Idea Exchange (PIE)

This update enhances the Product Idea Exchange (PIE) based on customer feedback and introduces a new idea submission pipeline. D2L is refocusing on using PIE for new product ideas only. For bugs, support issues, or feedback on existing features, customers should use the Customer Support Portal or speak with your Customer Success representative. Updated guidelines for PIE are available in the Community.

This update makes it easier to:

  • Engage directly with the D2L Product Management team
  • Receive faster updates on submitted ideas with simplified statuses and streamlined process
  • Gain visibility into how ideas influence the product roadmap

Released ideas are highlighted in Brightspace Release Notes.

D2L will provide feedback on submissions that do not follow the updated guidelines to provide an opportunity to update the submissions. Submitters receive a notification and have 90 days to enhance it.

D2L is also reviewing existing PIE submissions to inform migration plans. Customers are encouraged to revisit older submissions marked as Feedback Review Window and provide comments on those still relevant.

The current PIE interface remains open for commenting until August 31, after which it becomes read-only for six months to allow historical reference and migration.

If you are interested in getting more information about these and all the August Continuous Delivery updates, refer to the Brightspace Platform August 2025/20.25.08 Release Notes.

Additionally, refer to the Brightspace Release Notes for Continuous Delivery Releases, for details about current, past, and to preview upcoming continuous delivery updates.

Want more information?

View current, past, and preview upcoming Continuous Delivery release notes
Instructors Quick Start Tutorial
Brightspace Known Issues
Request a sandbox course
Sign-up for Brightspace training sessions
You can find Brightspace help at D2L's website.
Join the Brightspace Community.
Try these Brightspace How-To documents.
Visit our Brightspace FAQs for additional Brightspace information
or schedule a one-on-one session, email, or
call Janice Florent: (504) 520-7418.

Note: Are you doing something innovative in Brightspace or perhaps you've discovered a handy tip? Share how you are using Brightspace in your teaching and learning in The Orange Room.

Image credit: image by geralt from Pixabay

Published on Leave a comment on Brightspace Tip #531: Notifications

Notifications enable you to customize what methods you want to use to receive notifications, such as email, as well as what events will trigger notifications.

A man is seated on a bench, working intently on his laptop, enjoying the fresh air and natural surroundings.

Students can control how they receive information about course activity through their notification preferences. They can customize which actions in Brightspace will trigger a notification.

The Notification tool allows users to:

  • Subscribe to a summary of activity for each course and receive a daily email.
  • Specify your preferred email address for instant notifications and announcements.
  • Receive instant notifications about course activity, such as edited content, new discussion posts, assignments, grades, course announcements and upcoming quizzes.

Instructors can help their students to keep up with their coursework by encouraging them to setup their notification preferences. Additionally, there is a Getting Started for Learners Video Playlist that students should watch to get familiar with Brightspace.

Follow these steps to do it.

To customize notification preferences, users should:

  1. From your Personal Menu (located in the Minibar), select Notifications.

    2. select notifications from personal menu

  2. Select the email address to which notifications will be sent.
  3. Select the course activities for which you would like to receive notifications.
  4. Click the Save button at the bottom of the screen.

Want more information?

Navigate Brightspace - Notifications - Learner (video)
Getting Started for Learners Video Playlist
Change Personal Settings in Brightspace

View current, past, and preview upcoming Continuous Delivery release notes
Instructors Quick Start Tutorial
Brightspace Known Issues
Request a sandbox course
Sign-up for Brightspace training sessions
You can find Brightspace help at D2L's website.
Join the Brightspace Community.
Try these Brightspace How-To documents.
Visit our Brightspace FAQs for additional Brightspace information
or schedule a one-on-one session, email, or
call Janice Florent: (504) 520-7418.

Note: Are you doing something innovative in Brightspace or perhaps you've discovered a handy tip? Share how you are using Brightspace in your teaching and learning in The Orange Room.

Image credit: Photo by Jayson from Nappy.co

Published on Leave a comment on Spotlight on Part-time Faculty

Spring part-time faculty are often smaller in number than in fall semesters, and departments often rely on returning teachers to teach course offerings. Spring 2025 at Xavier was no different. This group included several returning teachers with tremendous experience in a range of disciplines.

Dr. Alla Rosca of the Political Science department completed the part-time faculty support program and is now CAT+FD certified! In addition to contributing greatly to our monthly meetings, Dr. Rosca also participated in the CAT+FD Faculty Writing Group. Dr. Rosca teaches quantitative analysis and research methods in Poli-Sci, serves on the board of the World Affairs Council, and has authored three books including her most recent, on the topic of democratic transitions, as well as over 60 academic articles. She is one of many powerhouse part-time teachers at Xavier and we are fortunate to have her in our teaching ranks.

A special shout out goes to Professor Christopher Hatten, maker-space and robotics teacher in XCOR, who contributed greatly to the monthly cohort. Professor Hatten stays busy between Xavier and his high-school robotics teaching, and Zoomed into our monthly meetings from the high-school. Excellent effort!

The XCOR and its interdisciplinary approach to a core, liberal-arts education, at a STEM-heavy school, is a big part of what makes Xavier competitive, appealing, and relevant to students. Having teachers from the part-time ranks teaching these courses, crafted around themes of New Orleans and the Xavier Mission, speaks volumes to the expertise and versatility of this group.

In the fall of 2025, we once again have a vibrant roster of part-time teachers. I've already met several at orientation and was excited to see some familiar faces as well, including some joining the group for the first time after teaching at Xavier for several years. I know these teachers will have a lot to bring to the table, and I look forward to hearing their insights on the challenges of the day.

Thanks again to Dr. Rosca and Professor Hatten, and I look forward to highlighting the next outstanding Xavier part-time faculty members!

1

Published on 1 Comment on Growing Our Community: 17 New Faculty Join Xavier University of Louisiana

Every August, I get to experience one of the highlights of my role as Director of the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Faculty Development: welcoming our newest faculty members to Xavier. There's something energizing about our New Faculty Orientation (NFO), bringing together scholars from different disciplines, watching them discover what makes this university special, and seeing the connections start to form.

Two weeks ago, over two intensive days, our CAT+FD team, along with dedicated Xavier community members, had the privilege of watching 17 exceptional new colleagues begin their journey at our institution. These two days are about transformation, connection, and laying the groundwork for the innovative teaching and scholarship that will shape our students' futures.

From seasoned scholars embarking on new chapters to freshly minted Ph.Ds., each new faculty member brought their own spark of curiosity and expertise. Watching them connect with our existing community, ask thoughtful questions, and share their visions for their work here reminded me exactly why I love what we do at the Center.

But enough about the process. Let me introduce you to the 17 remarkable individuals who are now a part of the Xavier family:

Xavier's newest full-time faculty members.
Photo credit: Bart Everson
  • Dr. Mamta Dalal, Department of Mathematics
    Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from New Mexico State University
  • Dr. Emily Highstreet, Physician Assistant Program
    D. Pharm. from Xavier University of Louisiana
  • Mr. Jonathan Slaughter, Department of Languages
    M.A. in French from Middlebury Language Schools and Université Sorbonne Nouvelle
  • Dr. Alana Peck, Department of Sociology
    Ph.D. in Sociology from Louisiana State University
  • Dr. Katherine Causey, Division of Business
    DBA in Management from Argosy University
  • Dr. Steven Battin, Department of Theology
    Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from the University of Notre Dame
  • Dr. Cindy Chava, Physician Assistant Program 
    MHS from Duke University
  • Dr. Dodie Arnold, Department of Public Health Sciences
    Ph.D. in Epidemiology from the University of Washington
  • Dr. Dominique Townsend, Department of English 
    Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of Rochester
  • Ms. Courtney Rookard, Archives & Special Collections
    MLS from Indiana University
  • Dr. Brian Balog, Department of Biology  
    Ph.D. in Integrated Bioscience from the University of Akron
  • Dr. Lisa Cole, Division of Business
    Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from St. Louis University
  • Dr. Leelannee Malin, Department of Mass Communication
    Ph.D.  in Mass Communication Media from Howard University
  • Dr. Ellen Walker, Department of Psychology   
    Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Texas at El Paso
  • Dr. Kenneth Rocker, Department of Mass Communication 
    Ph.D. in Communication from Massey University
  • Dr. Ezra Spira-Cohen, Department of Political Science 
    Ph.D. in Political Science from Tulane University
  • Dr. Hannah Baron, Department of Political Science
    Ph.D. in Political Science, Comparative Politics and Political Methodology from Brown University

Published on Leave a comment on Brightspace Tip #530: Brightspace Editor

Did you know, D2L rolled out a modern, upgraded, responsive, and accessible Brightspace Editor? The Brightspace Editor is the primary method of creating content in Brightspace. The Brightspace Editor allows users to enter text, pictures, or embed audio/video. Advanced users can even embed HTML code.

You can create course content using the Brightspace Editor. For example, the Brightspace Editor is available when you edit discussion topics, create custom instructions for assignment submission folders, create quizzes, create announcements, and create content topics.

Brightspace Editor
Brightspace Editor

I find myself using emojis to help convey tone and emotion, which can be difficult to express through text alone. 🙂 You can easily insert an emoji using the "Other Insert Options" button in the Brightspace Editor's toolbar.

The Brightspace Editor has many icons that match those of common word processing software: bold, left justify, bullets, tables, and so on. It’s important to remember the Brightspace Editor is not a word processor. When you add pictures, links or embed videos, you are creating references to items that are stored internally (in Brightspace) or externally (another web site). If those items are changed or deleted, the reference will not display properly.

A breakdown of the new features in the Brightspace Editor
Brightspace Editor: A Breakdown of New Features

Redesigning the editor provided opportunities for D2L to provide a better experience. Some new features were added to the Editor, but there was also a focus on improvements in accessibility, responsiveness, and ease of use:

  • Improved accessibility – D2L ensured that toolbars met the new WCAG 3.0 standards for button spacing and that the keyboard navigation makes sense to users, especially those using screen reader technology. They also recreated their great color picker that highlights WCAG AA compliance to end users.
  • Enhanced responsiveness – The toolbar collapses intelligently based on the size of your screen, with different breakpoints. This means that formatting options collapse together, alignment options, and 'insert' options - creating a great experience on any device.
  • Ease of use – The editor now looks more like a standard web text editor - with all formatting options at the top. Contextual menus are inside the editing experience for quick access while typing. They included the advanced code editor that makes editing html code easier. They upgraded the tables feature and added: format painter, word count, and @mentions in Discussions. All areas clients suggested for improvement in the Product Idea Exchange (PIE).

Enhancements to the Editor

  • More and different formatting options.
  • An improved color picker with WCAG compliance checking.
  • A full set of emojis and special symbols
  • The move of footer options like 'preview' ' source' 'accessibility checking' and 'expand' to the main toolbar.
  • Updates to the font size menu
  • Removal of Spellchecker*
  • Removal of Cut/Copy buttons (which no longer worked on most browsers anymore in any case)
  • A refreshed Accessibility checker
  • The Brightspace Editor now remembers the open or closed state of the More Actions button, per user, in order to reduce clicks for users that frequently use options in the expanded editor.

*NOTE: The Brightspace Editor does not have a built in spell checker. Your web browser’s built-in spell check functionality is available in the new Brightspace Editor and D2L recommends using it.

Additions to the Editor

  • Format painter that enables you to copy and apply text formatting.
  • New Advanced Tables that includes sorting options.
  • Contextual menus for editing text, links, and images (image editing is not available in all areas)
  • Word Count including character and selection word count
  • Advanced Source Code Editor that includes code suggestions and color coding for tags.
  • Lato font
  • @mentions support in Discussions
  • An 'Other Insert Options' menu for overflow items to improve responsiveness.
  • Limited text pattern support: * * for italics, ** ** for bold, ## for H2, ### for H3, etc until H6.

Want more information?

About the Brightspace Editor
Using the Brightspace (HTML) Editor (video)
Using the Brightspace (HTML) Editor

View current, past, and preview upcoming Continuous Delivery release notes
Instructors Quick Start Tutorial
Brightspace Known Issues
Request a sandbox course
Sign-up for Brightspace training sessions
You can find Brightspace help at D2L's website.
Join the Brightspace Community.
Try these Brightspace How-To documents.
Visit our Brightspace FAQs for additional Brightspace information
or schedule a one-on-one session, email, or
call Janice Florent: (504) 520-7418.

Note: Are you doing something innovative in Brightspace or perhaps you've discovered a handy tip? Share how you are using Brightspace in your teaching and learning in The Orange Room.

Published on Leave a comment on What’s All This About “A Quarter of Quiet”?

Meditation Room

The Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Faculty Development invites you to join us for a regular silent meeting. We'll meet each Wednesday afternoon throughout the 2025-2026 academic year. Drop in when you can.

What to expect?

As the Meditation Room of the Chapel is located directly beneath the bell tower, we are using the bells in our timer. They chime quarterly, so our period of silence begins at 2:00 and ends at 2:15.

But I've never done this before!

You needn't have any experience with meditating; just stop by and give it a try. There's no commitment and no pressure.

Why bother?

Try it and see. Sitting quietly has numerous well-documented benefits, including stress management, improved emotional balance, increased focus and awareness and increased responsiveness to student needs.

All welcome

This is open for everyone in the Xavier community, for people of any faith or no faith.

  • Date: Wednesdays during the school year (whenever classes are in session)
  • Time: 2 - 2:15 PM
  • Location: Meditation Room, St. Katharine Drexel Chapel
  • Sponsor: CAT+FD

Photo credit: Bart Everson

Published on Leave a comment on Brightspace Tip #529: Is Your Course Pulse Friendly?

Brightspace Pulse is a mobile app that can help learners stay connected and on track with their Brightspace courses. It provides one easy view of course calendars, readings, assignments, evaluations, grades, and announcement items. The app can help learners make better decisions about how to handle their workload, when to submit assignments, and when to prepare for tests. Real-time alerts can let learners know when classes are canceled, class is meeting in an alternate location, or new grades are available. The schedule view and weekly visualization enables learners to quickly at a glance view what is due today, this week, and upcoming across all their courses.

While the Brightspace Pulse app is designed for the learner, instructors can benefit too.

Brightspace Pulse App on iPhone

While the Brightspace Pulse app is designed for the learner, instructors can benefit too. When instructors enter due dates or end dates for assignments and activities the information is populated in the Pulse app enabling learners to stay connected and on track. Thus, instructors can spend less time reminding and more time teaching.

Additionally, using Quicklinks provides direct, easily clickable links to specific course content, assignments, announcements, and more, within Brightspace. This makes it significantly easier for students, especially when using the Pulse app, to quickly find the information or activity they need without having to manually search through modules and sub-modules. This enhances the overall navigation and accessibility of the course for all students, including those who may be using assistive technologies or have learning differences.

Instructors can make their courses Pulse friendly by including due dates or end dates for assignments and activities. When instructors do not enter due dates or end dates, no associated information is available in the Pulse app.

The Pulse app is great for helping students stay on track in face-to-face classes as well. Instructors can set up their face-to-face assignments and activities as events in the Brightspace course calendar. Students will get those date feeds in the Brightspace Pulse app.

Help keep students on track for success in all their courses by using Quicklinks and including a due date or end date for assignments and activities.

Want more information?

Brightspace Pulse App
Manage Your Course Workload with Brightspace Pulse - Learners
Brightspace Tip #528: Quicklinks
Brightspace Tip #404: Due Dates
Pulse Dates - Set Date Restrictions for Content (video)
Pulse Dates - Set Date Availability for a Calendar Event (video)
Brightspace Tip #527: Manage Dates
Brightspace Tip #248: Drip-Feeding

View current, past, and preview upcoming Continuous Delivery release notes
Instructors Quick Start Tutorial
Brightspace Known Issues
Request a sandbox course
Sign-up for Brightspace training sessions
You can find Brightspace help at D2L's website.
Join the Brightspace Community.
Try these Brightspace How-To documents.
Visit our Brightspace FAQs for additional Brightspace information
or schedule a one-on-one session, email, or
call Janice Florent: (504) 520-7418.

Note: Are you doing something innovative in Brightspace or perhaps you've discovered a handy tip? Share how you are using Brightspace in your teaching and learning in The Orange Room.

Published on Leave a comment on Brightspace Tip #528: Quicklinks

A Quicklink is a way for instructors to insert a direct link to content that is inside or outside of their course.

insert quicklink in Brightspace Editor

Quicklinks are useful because they allow instructors to provide students with a direct link to content in the course. For example, instructors can create an announcement or email for students with links that take students directly to specific content files or assignments inside of the course. When creating content, instructors can create a quicklink to a rubric so that students can have easy access to it.

Instructors should take advantage of Quicklinks, they are useful for pointing students to specific content in the course!

Follow these steps to do it.

Watch this short video for instructions on inserting Quicklinks:

Want more information?

Brightspace Tip #259: Brightspace Editor
Using the Brightspace (HTML) Editor (video)
About Brightspace Editor
Insert and Edit Images with Brightspace Editor
Insert and Edit Equations with Equation Editor

View current, past, and preview upcoming Continuous Delivery release notes
Instructors Quick Start Tutorial
Brightspace Known Issues
Request a sandbox course
Sign-up for Brightspace training sessions
You can find Brightspace help at D2L's website.
Join the Brightspace Community.
Try these Brightspace How-To documents.
Visit our Brightspace FAQs for additional Brightspace information
or schedule a one-on-one session, email, or
call Janice Florent: (504) 520-7418.

Note: Are you doing something innovative in Brightspace or perhaps you've discovered a handy tip? Share how you are using Brightspace in your teaching and learning in The Orange Room.

Published on Leave a comment on Brightspace Tip #527: Manage Dates

calendar

Instructors can use the Manage Dates tool to view, edit in bulk, and bulk offset date availability from one central location. You can also set the calendar status of all content topics and modules, discussion topics and forums, assignment submissions folders, grades categories and items, announcement items, quizzes, checklists, and surveys in their course in the Manage Dates tool.

Course objects display in a grid that you can sort by any of the column headings. You can also use the Type column to sort the Manage Dates page based on the tool-specific order and use advanced filter options to work with smaller sets of objects. If you filter your course objects, any bulk changes you make apply only to the filtered results. This enables you to update multiple availability dates based on specific criteria.

In addition to managing dates, you can open each course object in a new window by clicking on its name. This launches the object's edit page where you can edit additional properties for that object without leaving the Manage Dates tool.

The Manage Dates tool can be very useful after a course copy. For example, if you copied content from one course into another course, you can use the Manage Dates tool to easily adjust dates after the course copy. Additionally, if you've entered dates on items in your course and later need to adjust dates in bulk, try using the Manage Dates tool.

Follow these steps to do it.

To edit dates in bulk:

  1. Get into the course you want to change the dates of course objects.
  2. On the NavBar (of the course you want to change dates in), click Course Admin.
  3. Click Manage Dates.
  4. Select the check box of the items for which you want to bulk edit dates.
  5. Click Bulk Edit Dates.
  6. In the Bulk Edit Dates dialog box, update the due dates and availability dates.
  7. Click Save.

Want More Information?

About Manage Dates
Bulk edit dates in Manage Dates
Manage Dates - Offset Dates (video)

View current, past, and preview upcoming Continuous Delivery release notes
Instructors Quick Start Tutorial
Brightspace Known Issues
Request a sandbox course
Sign-up for Brightspace training sessions
You can find Brightspace help at D2L's website.
Join the Brightspace Community.
Try these Brightspace How-To documents.
Visit our Brightspace FAQs for additional Brightspace information
or schedule a one-on-one session, email, or
call Janice Florent: (504) 520-7418.

Note: Are you doing something innovative in Brightspace or perhaps you've discovered a handy tip? Share how you are using Brightspace in your teaching and learning in The Orange Room.


Image credit: calendar by tigerlily713 from Pixabay

Published on Leave a comment on Brightspace Tip #526: Copy Course or Copy Components

copy stamp

There are a some situations where you may want to copy components of a Brightspace course OR copy an entire Brightspace course into another one. For example,

  • You have a course from a previous semester and you would like to copy the course contents into your empty course shell for the current semester.
  • You have a Master Course Shell that you input content into and would like to copy the course contents into your empty course shell for the current semester.
  • You are teaching multiple sections of a course, you created all the content in one Brightspace course section and want to copy the content into the other sections.
  • You created content in one course (e.g. rubrics, discussions, quizzes, etc.) and would like to copy that specific content from one Brightspace course into another.

Copying an entire Brightspace course OR copying components of a Brightspace course into another Brightspace course is not hard. As long as you are the instructor for both courses, it is a simple process you can do.

Notes About Copying Between Courses

Here are some things to consider when copying a course or copying components of a course.

Overwriting and Duplicating Items

In general, course components already in the destination course will not be affected by copying course components. The only course component that can be overwritten is a course file, i.e., HTML pages that have been created in the course site or files that have been uploaded to it. A course file is overwritten if one of the files being copied into the course has the same name as an existing file.

If copying components from the same source multiple times, be careful not to copy the same items more than once, or this will create duplicates that may be visible to users in the course.

Student Data

Student data is not copied from one course to another; only the course structures are copied. For example, if a Discussion topic is copied, only the prompt and discussion settings are copied, not the individual student posts.

Links and Associations between Components

If copying linked or associated components, e.g., files attached to an Assignment Submission folder or the HTML files for pages that have been created, all of the related components must be copied at the same time. To do this, be sure to select the "Include Associated Content" checkbox when it appears. As long as that box is checked, all associated components are copied and the links between them are retained.

Copying VoiceThreads

We have integrated VoiceThread using LTI 1.3 with deep linking, that means that your VoiceThread activities will copy automatically when the course is copied in Brightspace. Review this VT Course Copying FAQ for some important things to know about how VoiceThread course copying works.

Respondus LockDown Browser (RLDB) Settings

Copied courses that have tests/exams with RLDB enabled require instructors to access the Respondus LockDown Browser Dashboard once after the copy to update the RLDB settings in the destination course. This has to be done before students will be able to take exams that require RLDB.

Turnitin-enabled Assignments

When you copy course components from one course to another, confirm that all settings are configured for the Turnitin-enabled assignments in the destination course.

Turnitin PeerMark Assignments

Our Turnitin integration does not support copying of PeerMark Assignments. You will have to recreate your PeerMark assignments in the destination course.

Follow these steps to do it.

If you want to copy an entire Brightspace course OR copy components from a Brightspace course into another course, you should:

  1. Get into the course you want the content copied into (i.e., the target course).
  2. In the NavBar (of the course you want the content copied to), click on "Course Admin".
  3. Click on the "Import/Export/Copy Components" link.
  4. Click on the "Copy Components from another Org Unit" radio button.
  5. In the Course to Copy option, click the "Search for Offering" button.
  6. Click on the magnifying glass in the "Search for" field OR enter the name of the course you want to copy from (i.e., the source course) in the search field.
  7. Click on the radio button to the right of the course you want to copy content from and then click on "Add Selected".
  8. Verify your selections are correct before proceeding.
  9. At the bottom on the browser window you will click on either "Copy all Components" OR "Select Components" and follow the prompts.

Important:

Double-check to make sure that you are in the course you want the content copied into AND that you have selected the correct course you want to copy content from. There is no way to reverse the copy process once the wrong course is selected and the copy request is submitted.

Want more information?

About Import/Export/Copy Components
Import/Export/Copy - Copy Components video [1:31]

View current, past, and preview upcoming Continuous Delivery release notes
Instructors Quick Start Tutorial
Brightspace Known Issues
Request a sandbox course
Sign-up for Brightspace training sessions
You can find Brightspace help at D2L's website.
Join the Brightspace Community.
Try these Brightspace How-To documents.
Visit our Brightspace FAQs for additional Brightspace information
or schedule a one-on-one session, email, or
call Janice Florent: (504) 520-7418.

Note: Are you doing something innovative in Brightspace or perhaps you've discovered a handy tip? Share how you are using Brightspace in your teaching and learning in The Orange Room.

Image credit: image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay