Tag: updates

1) Assignments – Flexible text or file submission options for enhanced learner choice

This feature enables instructors to create a new assignment type that accepts submissions in the form of an uploaded file, text entered in Brightspace Editor, or both.

To create this new type of assignment, instructors must go to the New Assignment page, expand the Submission & Completion panel, open the Submission Type dropdown, and select the new File or text submission option.

For these assignments, learners can choose how they want to demonstrate their learning. For example, if the assignment is an essay, learners can upload a file, paste a link to an external file in the text box, or type the entire essay into the text box. For assignments restricted to only one file, learners still have the option to add a text submission. Learners will also see an expanded Brightspace Editor for text submissions on the assignment submission page.

Previously, the available Submission Types were: File submission, Text submission, On paper submission, and Observed in person.

Note: Text submissions are not supported by the Annotations tool.

This feature implements the following PIE item:

• D4773 (Assignment Folders should accept BOTH a file and a text submission type not just one or the other)

2) Groups – All group enrollments now processed via background job

To support upcoming changes to increase group enrollment limits planned for August 2025, all group enrollment workflows are now consistently handled by a background job.

Previously, group enrollments created through the Groups tool, APIs, and course copy operations were processed asynchronously to reduce timeouts and errors. With this update, all group enrollment methods (through the Manage Users tool, Classlist enrollments that add users to groups, enrollment APIs, Banner integrations, and Self Registration) are processed using the same background job mechanism.

For end users, this update ensures that when they complete an enrollment in a course offering, any corresponding group enrollments within that course are also processed automatically. This background process may take one to two minutes to complete.

This feature provides consistent and efficient group enrollments across tools and workflows, ensuring a seamless experience as enrollment limits increase, and preventing timeouts and errors during high-volume events.

For more information about planned enrollment changes, refer to the Improving groups with increased enrollment limits blog post.

3) Groups – Bulk enroll and unenroll users by CSV file import

Instructors can now bulk enroll or unenroll learners in existing groups using a comma-separated values (CSV) file in the Groups tool. This feature adds a new Import button to the Manage Groups page and an Import option in the Category drop-down menu. Clicking Import opens a guided workflow with detailed instructions for correctly formatting the CSV file. Each line in the file must represent a single action: either enrolling or unenrolling a learner from a specific group in the course. CSV file modifications are limited to learners currently enrolled in the course.

Once uploaded, the system validates the CSV file. If the file contains no errors, the enroll or unenroll actions are performed, and once completed, the import results are displayed immediately. If there are any errors found in the file, the process stops and generates a list of errors found.

Cancelling the process does not reverse completed actions. Only one import process can run at a time.

Administrators can configure the CSV file format in the Form Elements tool using the new form element BulkGroupEnroll. The following form element properties are customizable:

• Username
• Org Defined Id
• Group Name
• Group Code

Either Username or Org Defined Id, and Group Name or Group Code, are required to ensure there is enough information to complete the enrollment or unenrollment action.

The new workflow is available to roles with the Groups and Sections Management > Create/Edit/Delete Groups and Categories permission enabled.

This feature implements the following PIE items:

• D8710 (Group enrollment from a file)
• D7963 (Improve Group enrollments for 100+ students)
• D294 (Create Groups and/or enroll students in Groups using a CSV Spreadsheet)
• D6790 (Enrolling students in groups)
• D11671 (Allow instructor to bulk enroll students across ALL group categories at once)

4) Quizzes – New Quiz Evaluation Experience is the default

Initially introduced in September 2024/20.24.9, the New Quiz Evaluation Experience is now enabled by default for all clients.

5) Quizzes – Full HTML Editor for Question Feedback

This update introduces the full HTML editor for question-level feedback in Quizzes, enhancing the instructor experience and aligning it with the editors already available for Attempt Feedback and Overall Feedback, including support for the equation editor and file upload features.

Previously, instructors could provide feedback on individual questions using only the inline HTML editor, which offered limited formatting and functionality. With this update, instructors can now:

• Upload files securely
• Insert equations
• Use advanced formatting and media tools

This feature implements the following PIE item:

• D12335 (Add the equation editor to the question feedback in the new quiz evaluation experience)

6) Quizzes – Reopen a submitted quiz attempt

Instructors can now reopen the most recently submitted quiz attempt, allowing learners to resume from where they left off. The new feature supports scenarios where learners run out of time or submit their attempt by mistake, reducing frustration from auto-submissions and improving overall quiz management flexibility.

Previously, instructors could not reopen a submitted quiz attempt. This update introduces the ability to return quiz attempts to an unsubmitted state and adjust time limits if needed.

This feature implements the following PIE items:

• D1993 (Allow instructors the ability to unsubmit a quiz attempt)
• D6069 (Re-Open a Quiz)
• D6230 (Resume Quiz with Set Time Limit)
• D7653 (Un-submit quiz option for instructor)
• D7804 (Change Reset Quiz Attempt Workflow)

7) Quizzes – Statistics available for rubrics on written response questions

Instructors can now view rubric statistics for rubrics associated with written response questions across all learners’ first attempts in a quiz. Both Overall Statistics and Criteria Statistics are included with this update.

Previously, rubric statistics were limited or inconsistent for written response questions. With this update, the rubric statistics display data per quiz question for all users, not just the quiz overall.

The user interface clearly indicates that only first attempts with text are included in the stats.

This update provides instructors with consistent rubric statistics across all assessment types for better insight into how learners perform on written response questions in particular.

8) Rubrics – Options to improve rubric management

To improve efficiency when reviewing assessments, instructors can now clear rubric scoring using the new Clear Selections option.

This update supports instructors who need to reset scoring and start from scratch. Clearing the rubric score does not remove any previously entered feedback.

Selecting Clear Selections requires users to confirm the action. The option to undo this action appears in a pop-up window for a brief amount of time after clicking Clear Selections.

Previously, to modify scoring, instructors had to manually clear each rubric level.

In addition to the Clear Selections menu option, the Set All Ungraded option is also updated. When no rubric levels are selected, the option now appears as Set All to Yes and Set All to No in the menu.

This improvement follows the recent release of the Set Ungraded option in the January 2025/20.25.01 release, to make it easier to manage rubric scoring.

This feature implements the following PIE items:

• D12054 (Reset/Clear Rubric)
• D9336 (Include a Clear All for Rubric Evaluation)

1) Awards – Replacement strings for award issuer on certificates

Administrators and instructors can now personalize certificates and certificate templates in the Awards tool using new replacement strings. The {IssuerFirstName} and {IssuerLastName} strings insert the first and last name of the user who manually issues a certificate to a learner.

For manually issued certificates, the issuer name will utilize the name of the user that issued the certificate. In cases where a certificate using these replacement strings is conditionally released, the issuer name areas of the certificate will utilize the name of the account set by the d2l.Tools.Awards.AwardUserId configuration variable.

Note:

• The replacement strings use preferred names if they are configured at the organization level.
• If the issuer updates their name, the name that displays on the certificate reflects the current name setting at the time of issuance. Previously issued certificates do not update.
• Depending on the certificate template, the inserted text may extend beyond the text box borders. Administrators and instructors may need to adjust the template layout to ensure issuer names appear correctly.

1) Assignments – Retract feedback in bulk on the Submissions page

The Submissions page in the Assignments tool now aligns with Discussions and Quizzes, allowing instructors to retract feedback in bulk. This enhancement improves consistency and eliminates the need to use multiple tools for retraction tasks.

The bulk Retract Feedback option allows instructors to choose how many learners to retract published feedback from.

Selective retraction is also supported. Instructors can select users by checking the box next to their names and then clicking More Actions > Retract Feedback.

The More Actions > Retract All option retracts feedback for all users, regardless of which users are selected.

After clicking Retract All, instructors are notified of the number of evaluations to be retracted and must confirm by clicking Retract.

Previously, instructors could only retract feedback individually in the Assignments tool.

This feature implements the following PIE items:

• D1361 (Allow method to bulk unpublish dropbox feedback)
• D5593 (Retract Assignment Feedback in Bulk)

2) Quizzes – Improved quiz monitoring with Session IDs in Attempt Logs

This release introduces the new d2l.Tools.Quizzes.ShowSessionId (Org Unit) configuration variable, which allows administrators to control whether instructors can view the Session ID column in quiz attempt logs.

When enabled, instructors can use session IDs to discern when learners have multiple sessions within a quiz attempt, helping detect potential academic dishonesty.

3) Quizzes – Enhanced Learner Submission View

The quiz submission page now features a sleeker, modernized layout. The previous banner image has been replaced with a checkmark icon, along with other visual updates.

4) Groups – Export group enrollment data

Instructors can now export group enrollment data from the Groups tool for group-specific class lists and contact list creation.

A new Export button now appears in the Groups tool for users with the Manage Groups and Categories permission. Instructors can use this button to export group data to a CSV file. The exported content includes:

• Group category details
• Group names
• User enrollment information
• Enrollment dates

You can choose a specific group or all groups within a selected category to include in the export.

Previously, there was no built-in method to export group data or user enrollment dates from the Groups tool.

This feature implements the following PIE items:

• D295 (Export Groups: Export Group Enrolments and/or Statistics to a CSV spreadsheet)
• D9175 (Add times and dates of students enrolled in groups created)

This feature partially implements the following PIE items:

• D7413 (Viewing Group Category/Group Enrollments Quickly)
• D345 (Show all Group Categories (or more than one Group Category) on the main Groups page)
• D5236 (Printing Groups)
• D454 (Group Statistics: View the date and time students self-enrolled in a group)

5) Quick Eval – Evaluate learners across Assignments, Discussions, and Quizzes

This release enables instructors to quickly iterate through their list of submissions in Quick Eval even if those submissions are sourced from different activity types or courses. For example, an instructor has activities to grade in Assignments, Discussions, and Quizzes and has been assigned items that appear in Quick Eval Submissions. The instructor directly accesses each submission to evaluate the items instead of navigating back to Quick Eval and going into each item again.

Previously, instructors had to click into each submission to view the evaluation and then click Back to Quick Eval to go to the Submissions view and then find the next submission to evaluate. With this release instructors are redirected to the next evaluation as listed in the Quick Eval.

This feature implements the following PIE items:

• D5475 (Add a "Next Item" button when grading from Quick Eval)
• D8199 (Auto Advance to next item in Quick Eval)

6) Pulse – View recurring events

Pulse now displays recurring events from the Events tab. This ensures that any recurring events that an instructor creates using the Calendar tool properly displays in Pulse. Previously, recurring events did not display in Pulse.

7) Notifications – Unsubscribe from all

To improve user experience and reduce unwanted emails, notification emails from Brightspace now include an Unsubscribe link. Selecting the link opens a confirmation screen that allows users to opt out of email notifications, including instant and summary notifications.

Previously, users without login access could not unsubscribe unless they logged in to adjust their notification settings.

1) Assignments – Update to assignment annotations software version

With this release, the software that powers annotations in the Assignments tool is updated to the latest version, Nutrient 1.0.0 (formerly called PSPDFKit).

This version update resolves the following defects:

• WCAG/A11y layout issues in the Layout tool are now resolved. Previously, the options were not read by the NVDA screen reader.
• Cursor behavior now works as expected. Previously, the cursor would return to the start when typing notes in Assignment Annotations.
• All formatted annotation text in text boxes now saves correctly. Previously, italicized and bold text elements would not save.
• The annotations software no longer crashes on iPad OS versions 16 and below.

Additionally, minor UI updates are introduced in Nutrient 1.0.0. In the previous version of PSPDFKit, the following buttons displayed tooltips when hovering with a cursor:

• Next Page
• Previous Page
• Page Mode buttons
• Page Transition buttons
• Page Rotation buttons

The previous version also highlighted the Search button when clicked.

Now, in Nutrient 1.0.0, the buttons tooltips are removed, and the Search button no longer highlights when selected.

2) Assignments and Discussions – Bulk feedback for instructors

This feature enables instructors to provide bulk feedback to learners directly within the Assignments and Discussions submission pages, enhancing efficiency and user experience.

Key capabilities:

• Add and save bulk feedback as a draft if none exists.
• Update existing drafts or published evaluations for multiple learners simultaneously.
• Apply feedback to selected learners using Add Feedback or to all learners using Add Feedback to All.
• Display a warning message when saving an empty Feedback dialog as bulk feedback, as this action overwrites existing drafts or published evaluations.

Notes:

• Due to how Quizzes records attempts and completion summaries, bulk feedback is not supported for Quizzes
• The Grid View in Discussions does not support bulk feedback.

File Attachments with Bulk Feedback

When using bulk feedback in Assignments or Discussions:

• Brightspace Editor includes the Insert Stuff functionality but does not support file uploads from My Computer. Instructors can insert links to YouTube videos or other external resources. These links are stored in Manage Files.
• Insert Image supports image file uploads from My Computer and the system stores them in Manage Files.

This feature implements the following PIE items:

• D10673 (Bulk Edit Discussion / Dropbox Feedback)
• D4921 (Bulk grading & Feedback in Dropbox / Assignments)
• D6429 (Bulk feedback upload for non-submitted assignments)
• D6739 (Assignment Bulk Edit Features)

3) Grades – Access Quiz Feedback

This new feature allows learners to quickly access quiz attempt feedback from the Grades page.

Previously, learners could view quiz attempt feedback only in the Quizzes tool, depending on how the instructor configured the review process. This option remains available.

This feature implements the following PIE items:

• D5170 (Learner Access Quiz feedback via Grades)

4) Media Library – New User Interface for Media Library

This release introduces a redesigned User Interface (UI) for Media Library, aligning it with the look and feel of other Brightspace tools. The updated interface allows administrators and instructors to manage media files more efficiently across multiple courses and content objects. Any change to a media file is automatically reflected in all courses it is added to, ensuring consistency and saving time.

All the functionality of the old Media Library still exists but is now presented in a modern way:

• The Add Assets button launches a dialog where users can upload new assets and record audio or video. It replaces the previous Upload and Record buttons.



• The Recycle Bin icon has been moved to the top-right corner. The updated interface now displays how long files will be stored before permanent deletion.

The Source filter was removed from the Media Library due to lack of relevance.

5) Quizzes – New Quiz Evaluation Experience transitioning to default, with opt-out until July 2025

Originally released for the Quizzes tool in September 2024 / 20.24.9, this update now turns on the new Quiz Evaluation Experience by default for all clients, promoting broader adoption while still allowing users to opt out until July 2025, at which time it will be made the default experience for all users.

This update streamlines the transition to the new Quiz Evaluation Experience, enhancing grading workflows and ensuring consistency while allowing clients to adjust settings before the opt-out option is removed. Administrators can continue to offer users the choice to manually opt into the new Quiz Evaluation Experience through the June 2025/20.25.06 release. However, starting with the July 2025/20.25.07 release, all clients will be automatically transitioned to the new experience, and the opt-out option will no longer be available.

Previously, administrators had to manually enable the new Quiz Evaluation Experience as an opt-in feature.

1) Awards – Option to enter Issue Date when manually issuing awards

To provide greater flexibility when issuing awards, instructors can now use the Issue Date field in the Issue Award dialog. Instructors can manually enter an Issue Date when issuing awards, allowing them to backdate awards as needed. The Issue Date field defaults to the current date.

Previously, instructors could only edit the issue date of an award via API.

2) Quizzes – Additional question types in new quiz evaluation experience

The new quiz evaluation experience, introduced in September 2024/20.24.09, initially supported a subset of question types, including Multiple Choice, Written Response, True or False, Short Answer, Fill in the Blank, and Multi-Select. It also allowed Question Pools containing these question types.

To fully support the new quiz evaluation experience, this release expands support to include the following additional quiz question types:

• Arithmetic
• Matching
• Ordering
• Multi Short Answer
• Significant Figures

With full question type support, organizations can now transition entirely to the new quiz evaluation experience for a seamless and feature-complete workflow.

For additional information about the new quiz evaluation experience and planned updates, refer to the Release of the new quiz evaluation experience blog post.

3) Rubrics – Added Rubric Level Range Visual

This release introduces rubric level ranges in rubric headings, improving clarity for instructors and learners:

• Instructors can now see rubric level ranges while creating and evaluating rubrics, except for holistic rubrics and non-sequential custom points.
• Learners can view rubric level ranges in assessments, ensuring a clear understanding of point distributions.

Previously, instructors had to manually explain rubric level ranges to learners. This feature enhances consistency and reduces ambiguity.

The following behavior is expected:

• Instructors can see the rubric level ranges when creating and evaluating rubrics, except for holistic rubrics and custom points that are not sequential.

• Learners can see the rubric criteria level range when viewing rubrics, except for holistic rubrics and custom points that are not sequential.

This feature implements the following PIE items:

• D10881 (Hide rubric overall grade range and make it clearer)
• D8693 (Make Rubric Levels Ranges)

1) Brightspace Editor – Updated Accessibility Checker icon

This release updates the Accessibility Checker icon in Brightspace Editor to improve user recognition and understanding.

2) Email – Validation required when using the Copy external mail on all sent messages option

Users must validate their external email addresses whenever they use the Copy external mail on all sent messages option. This option is selected in either Email Settings or the Account Settings > Email tab.

Once users save their changes, the system sends a validation email message to the external email address. Users click the link in the email to validate the setting and email address. Unverified email addresses display a Not Verified - Click to Resend Verification Email status next to the Send a copy of each outgoing message to [external email] option. Users can resend validation emails, but the system does not copy messages to the external email address until it verifies the address. If users change their external email address, they must repeat the validation process.

Previously, Copy external mail on all sent messages did not require validation of external email. Any users who have previously configured Copy external mail on all sent messages do not require validation unless their external email address is altered.

Note:

• An external email is considered any email outside of Brightspace, regardless of whether it is within your institution's domain or not.
• Once you have an external email address configured, the text of the option changes to Send a copy of each outgoing message to [external email].

1) Brightspace's minimum for supported browser versions

Brightspace's minimum for supported browser versions increases every January and July. The January update increases the minimum supported browser versions to:

• Chrome 129
• Edge 129
• Safari 18
• Firefox 130

The minimum legacy browsers are now:

• Chrome 94
• Edge 94
• Safari 15
• Firefox 92

The following browsers are no longer supported:

• Chrome 67
• Edge 80
• Safari 12
• Firefox 67

D2L has also added support for Firefox ESR, versions 115 and above. For an optimal experience that offers better performance, accessibility, and security, D2L recommends using the latest version of a supported browser to access Brightspace. D2L is also updating the browser classification system with this release; browsers are either Supported, Legacy, Unsupported (Warning), or Unsupported (Blocked). For more information, refer to this updated Browser support topic.

2) Consistent Evaluation – Assignment and Discussion evaluations now synchronized with Grade Book

The individual scores and feedback from Assignment and Discussion grade items are now synchronized with the grade book using the Update button regardless of whether a change was made. The Update button in Assignments and Discussions evaluations is always available to update, even when no changes were made. This feature also enables instructors to verify that the information between the grade book and the Assignment or Discussion tool is properly synchronized.

Previously, In Brightspace, when an instructor evaluated an assignment, discussion, or quiz using a rubric and saved it as a draft, then added feedback directly in the grade book and saved, the feedback did not sync back to the evaluation page when the instructor clicked Update.

Note: Consistent Evaluation for quizzes is excluded from this update as Grades sync works seamlessly. Individual quiz question attempts are not sent to Grades upon saving, and publishing the quiz using the Completion Summary ensures no sync issues occur.

3) Rubrics – Streamline grading with minimum or maximum score for ungraded rubric criteria

This feature updates the instructor workflow of evaluating a rubric and providing feedback to learners. Now, instructors can quickly assess all ungraded Rubric criteria and then go back through to add feedback where necessary. To provide a more streamlined experience for instructors using analytical type rubrics for assessments in the Consistent Evaluation experience for assignments, discussions, and written response quiz questions, the instructor can automatically set ungraded levels to a minimum or maximum value.

From a drop-down beside the rubric name in each assessment pop-out, or from a context menu in Consistent Evaluation, there are two options:

• Set Ungraded to [top rubric level name]: where all ungraded levels within this rubric are set to the maximum value using the top level of the rubric.
• Set Ungraded to [lowest rubric level name]: where all ungraded levels within this rubric are set to the minimum value using the bottom level of the rubric.

When an instructor selects an option, a confirmation dialog appears to advise of the bulk action and provides an option to undo the update.

Previously, instructors were required to click individual criteria, which, for large rubrics was a time-consuming task involving many clicks to set the rubric score to 100%.

Note: The updated functionality does not appear as an option in the following scenarios:

• If there is only one level in the rubric
• If the rubric is holistic type. It is only available for analytical type rubrics

This feature implements the following PIE items:

• D10306 (Tick all rubric options automatically/remove tick boxes)
• D9336 (Include a Clear All for Rubric Evaluation)
• D7630 (Auto-Populate Rubrics for Students with Perfect Score)
• D7372 (Rubric Grading)
• D6165 (Select All option for Rubric)

1) Brightspace Editor – TinyMCE version

This release updates Brightspace Editor to TinyMCE version 7.2.1 across all production instances, following its initial rollout to test environments in October. This update provides minor defect fixes from TinyMCE, but introduces no functional changes to the editor itself. While no known issues have been identified, D2L recommends that all clients review their course content edited with the Brightspace Editor to ensure all content functions as expected.

2) Consistent Evaluation – Learner View of Grade in Assignments, Discussions, and New Quiz Evaluation experiences

Consistent Evaluation enables instructors to evaluate learner submissions to Assignments, Discussions, and Quizzes using an improved and optimized experience. With this release, the Consistent Evaluation and the New Quiz Evaluation experiences are updated to provide instructors the ability to view the grade scheme that is applied to learners in real time, based on the grade they enter during the evaluation process. For example, if the grade scheme applied to a course is a Letter Grade, instructors can view that letter grade instantly from the consistent evaluation experience. The letter grade is based upon the grade entered during an evaluation. The instructor can also choose to Hide Learner View of Grade or Show Learner View of Grade directly from the evaluation experience. This update also applies to the Completion Summary option available in the New Quiz Evaluation experience.

Note: The Consistent Evaluation experience is the only available evaluation experience for Assignments and Discussions. However, it is still an optional and opt-in experience for Quizzes. For more information about how to opt-in to the New Quiz Evaluation experience, refer to Quizzes – Optimize productivity with an improved quiz evaluation experience | New. For more information about the New Quiz Evaluation experience, refer to Visual tour of the new quiz evaluation experience.

Previously, instructors could not view the applied grade scheme grade when evaluating a submission. Instructors would have to save the grade they entered during their evaluation, and then navigate to Grades to compare the grades entered in the evaluation experience to the applied grade scheme grade.

Note: Grade Schemes are set up using the Grades tool. Schemes can be set up with different representations of grades, including Letter Grades. In the following examples, the Grade Scheme applied is Letter Grade and the submissions are linked to that grade scheme. For more information about how to create a Grade Scheme, refer to Create Grading Schemes using the Grades tool.

This feature implements the following PIE item:

• D7572 (New Assignment Grade Experience - Add Letter Grade Preview for Overall Grade and Rubric Score).

3) Lumi Chat – Improved user experience with generative AI and surveys

Originally known as Brightspace Virtual Assistant (BVA), Lumi Chat is an inline help tool that is integrated into Brightspace for clients with the End User Support package. It is the first point of contact for end users to ask product questions directly within Brightspace and receive persona-specific documentation from Brightspace Community. Two new changes are coming to Lumi Chat this month:

• Generative AI responses for users' questions
• CSAT (Customer Satisfaction) Surveys

Lumi Chat now provides generative AI responses to users' queries. Generated answers take the user query, identify the user's intent, and create a freeform text answer with information from D2L's knowledge bases while also linking to related documentation resources where applicable. The update improves user experiences with increased precision and problem-solving power at no additional cost to End User Support-subscribed clients.

Note: Lumi Chat functions independently of other D2L Lumi products and does not use any D2L Lumi generations.

Additionally, CSAT (Customer Satisfaction) Surveys are now integrated into Lumi Chat to gather feedback on the user experience. The survey is prompted automatically when the user closes the chat window after entering queries and is accessible any time through the star icon in the Lumi Chat window. Participation in the prompted survey is optional for users and does not include an additional cost or enablement steps.

4) Rubrics – The Criteria descriptions limit increased to 500 characters

To support larger criteria descriptions, administrators and instructors can now add up to 500 characters to the description of the criteria when creating and editing rubrics. This new limit provides more context about learning expectations.

Full descriptions of criteria are available in the Learner view.

For instructors, when evaluating, up to three lines are displayed. To display the complete text, they must click more.

Previously, the Criteria description field was limited to 256 characters.

Important: This change applies only to new rubric items created or edited after this release. Existing rubrics retain their original 256-character limit unless manually updated.

This feature implements the following PIE items:

• D6443 (Brightspace Rubrics – Expand characters allowed in description of criterion)
• D9982 (Increase the Character limit for the Rubric criteria description)
• D5135 (Rubric Criteria Description)

5) Pulse – External links open in native browser

The November 20.24.11 Release Notes General Announcements communicated that the Brightspace Pulse app would stagger the release of updates until January 2025.

As part of that staggered update cadence, external links now open in a device's native browser to improve user experience and enable new functionality.

Additionally, this update applies new security upgrades that strengthen login and content access for a safer learning environment, including an update to the log in process to include Proof of Key Code Exchange (PKCE) and deep linking for a more secure mobile app log in experience.

Previously, external links opened using the in-app browser, which had limited functionality and did not strengthen log in with new security features.

To ensure that users can access these improvements, they must first update their Pulse app to the latest version. Then, they must log out and log back in to their Pulse app to apply the required update.

Step 1: Update the Pulse app to the latest version

Users can refer to either the Google Play Store or Apple App Store to update the app.

Step 2: Log out and log back in to the Pulse app

The Pulse app will prompt users to log out to apply the latest security updates and gain access to the ability to view external links in your native browser.

Users can choose one of the following methods to log out:

• Use the in-app prompt to log out
  • From the prompt, users can tap Log out now and then log back in to apply updates.
• Remove account from Pulse app
  • Users can also tap and hold their account name in Pulse to select Remove Account. Then they can tap Add Account to find their institution and log in again with their credentials. This also applies the required security updates.

Important: For security purposes, users have 30 days from when they are notified by the prompt to log out of the Pulse app. After 30 days, users will be automatically logged out of all Pulse accounts, and they will need to manually log in to Pulse again to continue using Pulse.

Note: For more information about how to log out of all accounts, or remove and add accounts in the Pulse app, refer to Manage multiple Brightspace Pulse accounts. If users encounter difficulties logging back in, refer to the Logging in section of Troubleshooting Brightspace Pulse.

1) Brightspace Community – Increased usability with Community enhancements

The Brightspace Community now provides increased usability with the following enhancements:

• Suggested Results in question workflows (English only): Quickly get answers with automatic searches across the Community as you type your questions.



• Community announcement banners (English only): Keep up to date with essential news via announcements on specific category pages and within knowledge bases.
• ASC Homepage Known Issues automated search (English only): Search directly from the ASC homepage using the new ASC global search bar. Immediately find Known and Fixed Issues that may provide a workaround or a new workflow, speeding up your return to teaching and learning. Note that Known Issues and Fixed Issues can not currently link to cases.
• Learning Center course filters in Community search using course tags (English only): Use simple tag filters to find the course that meets your needs.
• Quicker search loading times: Search results now load faster with this update.
• Event tags for Group or Community-wide Events (English only): Identify group-specific or community-wide events with ease using the new tags in your search experience.
• Quicker access to the Best Answers (English only): Look for the Accepted tag on question results to quickly find the most reliable answers to your Brightspace inquiries. Comments on questions also appear in search results.
• Persistent saved filters: Maintain your selected search filters on the Search Results page even when switching content sources (for example, from articles to discussions), ensuring your filters stay intact.
• Specific documentation article feedback (English only): Use the new feedback feature to vote and provide detailed feedback on Community articles.

2) Groups – Restore groups and categories

A new Recycle Bin option is available in the Groups tool, enabling you to restore individual group units or entire categories within a course offering. When you restore groups, existing enrollments and lockers are also reinstated (if present). Any activities linked to the restored groups, such as discussions or assignments, can then be individually restored through their respective restore pages.

Note: Groups and categories deleted before this feature was introduced in this November 2024/20.24.11 CD update do not appear in the Groups Recycle Bin. To restore these previously deleted items, contact D2L Support for assistance.

This feature implements the following PIE item:

• D5136 ( Restore groups and group categories)

1) Assignments – Retract button removed for users without the Give Feedback permission

With this release, the Retract button is removed from submission evaluation pages for users who have the Assignments > Delete Feedback permission but not the Assignments > Give Feedback permission.

Previously, all users with the Delete Feedback permission could click the Retract button on submission evaluation pages. However, when they clicked the button, nothing happened unless they also had the Give Feedback permission.

2) Brightspace Editor – Path detection warning and configuration variable

A warning now appears when a user attempts to add an object (such as a link or image) in Brightspace Editor that has a path outside of the current course offering. The warning tooltip explains that if the item is copied to another course, the incorrect path would also be copied, potentially preventing learners from accessing the object.

This new warning alerts the content creator to ensure a consistent experience for learners.

Note: Files shared from Public Files or external URLs are not affected and will not trigger the warning.