Brightspace Content
Quick Start Guide
Brightspace supports many types of content including links, media, uploaded documents, and web pages built directly in Brightspace. Depending on your subject matter, modality of your course, and existing material, different content types may be more suitable.
Content
Web pages are created in Brightspace to host content. Open the Upload / Create menu and select Create a File. This opens the Brightspace Editor to create web pages specific to your course. The Brightspace Editor is a robust “what you see is what you get” editor. Web pages can be styled with templates, include images, videos, and links, and are user-friendly, accessible, and a consistent format to enhance student experience.
Read more about managing content in Brightspace and other file types supported in Brightspace.
Web pages
Once you have created a file (web page), you can add content to that page. The Brightspace Editor toolbar across the top of the text editor window includes tools for formatting and structuring content.
Use the Brightspace Editor to:
- Add content to the Editor by typing or copying and pasting from existing material.
- Format and insert additional elements like lists, media, links, images, and more.
- Click Hide from users if content is not ready to be published or if you would like to release content to learners at a later date.
- Or if content is ready to be public, click Save and Close to finish.
More about the Brightspace Editor Toolbar
Available tools on the Brightspace Editor Toolbar include:
- Formatting options, including headings/paragraphs, bold, italics, underline, colour, alignment, and lists
- Insert Stuff button, for inserting media
- Quicklinks button
- Insert image
- Equation tool
- Insert table
- Other Inser Options
- Font style
- Font Size
- Format Painter
- Accessibility Checker
- Word Count
- Preview
- Source Code
- More actions (expand toolbar)
- Fullscreen toggle
When creating content, use the Accessibility Checker to ensure your content is accessible for all learners. Open the Accessibility Checker by selecting the button on the Editor Toolbar.
Learn more about the Brightspace Accessibility Checker.
Learn more about the Brightspace Editor.
Embedding
Embedding refers to the process of integrating external resources, such as videos, audio files, documents, or interactive elements, directly into a web page. This means students can watch YouTube videos, input data into a Microsoft Form, or contribute to a Padlet without leaving the Brightspace course page.
Unlike linked content, where a user clicks on a hyperlink to access content in a new tab or window, embedded content displays as a page of the page, allowing for an integrated user experience. For instance, an embedded YouTube video displays the video player directly in a Brightspace page, allowing students to watch the video without leaving the course page.
Learn more about how embed Kaltura videos in Brightspace.
Templates
Brightspace has built-in templates that allow you to create responsive, accessible, and well-designed pages. The templates require no coding, are available in several layout options, and include a variety of elements to organize content.
Available templates include:
Blank includes placeholder text and branded footer.
Intro includes a Langara banner image, placeholder text for course introductory content, and branded footer.
Module Intro includes a Langara banner image, placeholder text, a Learning Outcomes example list, and branded footer.
Meet your instructor includes a heading structure, placeholder text, an image placeholder, and branded footer.
Basic Page includes a Langara banner image, heading structure, elements, and branded footer. Basic page is recommended for general content.
Video Page includes a video placeholder, instructions to add videos, and a branded footer.
Conclusion includes a Langara banner image, heading structure, Next Steps placeholder text, and branded footer.
The remaining template pages include elements that can be copied for use in the above listed templates.
Elements includes a Langara banner image, examples of elements to copy to other pages (such as lists, callouts, and panels), and a branded footer.
Images includes a Langara banner image, instructions for using images, examples of image alignments to copy to other pages, and a branded footer.
Accordions includes a Langara banner image, instructions for using the accordion element, samples to copy to other pages, and a branded footer.
Tabs includes a Langara banner image, instructions for using the tabs element, samples to copy to other pages, and a branded footer.
Learn how to use Brightspace templates.
Elements Repo
Brightspace templates have a number of visually appealing, accessible, and useful elements to organize and present content. If using templates, it is recommended to make a repository to easily access the desired elements.
Creating a repository of HTML elements:
Create a new module called “Templates”
Select the Actions button beside the module title and select Hide from Users.
Open the Upload / Create menu and select Create a File
Select 007_elements_v3 template.
Add a title of “Elements” or similar.
Copying from elements repository
Use the following guide for best practices and tips on copying elements in Brightspace.
Use caution when copying elements from your elements repository to your content. Selecting too much or too little and/or pasting over too much or too little can result in strange formatting. Click Undo on the Brightspace editor or press Control (Command on macOS) z to undo your most recent action.Further Resources
Consider general course accessibility best practices to make your course accessible and inclusive.
Learn more about adding and organizing Brightspace content.
If you encounter difficulties with formatting when creating web pages in Brightspace please contact EdTech.Contact edtech@langara.ca for more information.
