{"id":1587,"date":"2024-07-11T16:19:01","date_gmt":"2024-07-11T20:19:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=1587"},"modified":"2026-04-25T19:01:27","modified_gmt":"2026-04-25T23:01:27","slug":"semester-start-checklist","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/chapter\/semester-start-checklist\/","title":{"raw":"Semester Start Checklist","rendered":"Semester Start Checklist"},"content":{"raw":"<h1 style=\"text-align: center\">Semester Start Checklist<\/h1>\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--icon\"><div>To ensure your Brightspace course is fully prepared and ready for students at the start of semester, please complete the semester start checklist below. This checklist covers essential steps to provide a seamless learning experience for your students.<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<details class=\"checkbox\"><summary><h3>View your course on your phone<\/h3><\/summary><\/details>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 53px\">Many students use their phones to access course content on Brightspace. Try viewing your course content on your own mobile device to see if any content you've created is inaccessible.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 53px\">Things to consider:<\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Does your content reflow?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Is the font large enough?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Does important information appear at the top on your course homepage?<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<details class=\"checkbox\"><summary><h3>Preview your course as a student<\/h3><\/summary><\/details>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 53px\">Previewing your course in advance will give you a sense of what your students see when they are navigating through your course. In addition to previewing your course you can also preview quizzes, assignments and grades.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 53px\">Watch this playlist <a href=\"https:\/\/mediaspace.langara.ca\/playlist\/details\/0_htxydef3\/categoryId\/71327\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">demonstrating how to preview Brightspace content as a student<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<details class=\"checkbox\"><summary><h3>Add a welcome announcement<\/h3><\/summary><\/details>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 53px\">A detailed\u00a0welcome message or video at the beginning of the course introducing the instructor, course objectives, and what students can expect sets a warm, engaging tone and clarifies the course's purpose.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 53px\">Here are instructions on <a href=\"https:\/\/community.d2l.com\/brightspace\/kb\/articles\/1705-create-a-welcome-message-using-the-announcements-widget#:~:text=Use%20the%20Announcements%20widget%20to%20create%20a%20welcome%20message%20for%20your%20students.&amp;text=From%20your%20Course%20Homepage%2C%20locate,Click%20New%20Announcement.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">how to create a Welcome Announcement<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<details class=\"checkbox\"><summary><h3>Review accessibility features<\/h3><\/summary><\/details>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 53px\">Check that your course meets accessibility standards. Use the Brightspace Accessibility Checker to determine if content pages are accessible.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 53px\">Click here for more information about the <a href=\"https:\/\/community.d2l.com\/brightspace\/kb\/articles\/1382-improve-your-course-with-brightspace-accessibility-checker\">Brightspace Accessibility Checker<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<details class=\"checkbox\"><summary><h3>Provide your contact information<\/h3><\/summary><\/details>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 53px\">Opening avenues for communication, and providing easy access to those channels supports learner-instructor interaction, and facilitates engaging in supportive contact and interaction, a key component of social presence.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<details class=\"checkbox\"><summary><h3>Test multimedia elements<\/h3><\/summary><\/details>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 53px\">Ensure all videos, audio files, and interactive elements work correctly on various devices and browsers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<details class=\"checkbox\"><summary><h3>Check all hyperlinks<\/h3><\/summary><\/details>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 53px\">If time permits, click all your hyperlinks to ensure they are working properly. Brightspace content that is copied from other courses can sometimes contain broken Quicklinks or broken Topics.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<details class=\"checkbox\"><summary><h3>Verify assessment settings<\/h3><\/summary><\/details>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 53px\">Double-check the settings for quizzes, assignments, and discussions. Ensure <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/chapter\/dates-deadlines-and-availability-new\/\" target=\"_blank\">due dates, availability dates<\/a>, and grading settings are correct.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<details class=\"checkbox\"><summary><h3>Set up your gradebook<\/h3><\/summary><\/details>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 53px\">Ensure your gradebook matches your course syllabus. A clear and transparent gradebook will help your students understand their progress through the course. Consider releasing Final calculated grade at the start of term so students can see their overall progress throughout the term. Refer to <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/chapter\/grades-setup-wizard\/\" target=\"_blank\">Gradebook Setup Wizard<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/chapter\/grades-tool\/\" target=\"_blank\">Grades Quick Start Guide<\/a> for our recommended best practices and instructions to set up an effective gradebook.<\/p><p style=\"padding-left: 53px\">If you have questions reach out to EdTech or consider attending our <a href=\"https:\/\/iweb.langara.ca\/professional-learning\/events\/list\/?tribe-bar-search=gradebook+bootcamp\" target=\"_blank\">Gradebook Bootcamp workshop<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<details class=\"checkbox\"><summary><h3>Set your Brightspace course to Active<\/h3><\/summary><\/details>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 53px\">Your course is not automatically available to your students. It needs to be set to Active <b>AND <\/b>the semester needs to have officially started.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 53px\">Follow these <a href=\"https:\/\/iweb.langara.ca\/brightspace-instructor-help\/course-admin-other\/other-tools\/setting-your-course-to-active\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">instructions to set your course to Active<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<details class=\"checkbox\"><summary><h3>Talk to EdTech<\/h3><\/summary><\/details>\r\n<div class=\"speechleft\" style=\"margin-left: 53px;margin-bottom: -4.25em;max-width: 69%\">If you have questions about setting up your course, organizing content, using tools, or the accessibility of your course, please contact EdTech to arrange a review of your Brightspace course.<\/div>\r\n<img class=\"noborder wp-image-1866 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/07\/specialist-question-e1722287168552.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"290\" height=\"409\" \/>\r\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n\r\n<hr \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Contact edtech@langara.ca for more information.<\/p>\r\n<img class=\"noborder img.chapter aligncenter wp-image-63\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0em\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/01\/edtech-transparent-rgb-black-394pxh-300x131.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"66\" \/>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"border: 1px #555 solid;padding: 1em;margin-top: 1em\">If you are a Langara employee, <a href=\"https:\/\/iweb.langara.ca\/edtech\/blog\/2025\/08\/28\/self-register-for-essentials-to-excellence-a-brightspace-companion-for-instructors\/\">self-register for Essentials to Excellence: A Brightspace Companion for Instructors<\/a>. This Brightspace course compliments the technical instructions found here with use cases, examples, and advice.<\/div>","rendered":"<h1 style=\"text-align: center\">Semester Start Checklist<\/h1>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--icon\">\n<div>To ensure your Brightspace course is fully prepared and ready for students at the start of semester, please complete the semester start checklist below. This checklist covers essential steps to provide a seamless learning experience for your students.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<details class=\"checkbox\">\n<summary>\n<h3>View your course on your phone<\/h3>\n<\/summary>\n<\/details>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 53px\">Many students use their phones to access course content on Brightspace. Try viewing your course content on your own mobile device to see if any content you&#8217;ve created is inaccessible.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 53px\">Things to consider:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li>Does your content reflow?<\/li>\n<li>Is the font large enough?<\/li>\n<li>Does important information appear at the top on your course homepage?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<details class=\"checkbox\">\n<summary>\n<h3>Preview your course as a student<\/h3>\n<\/summary>\n<\/details>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 53px\">Previewing your course in advance will give you a sense of what your students see when they are navigating through your course. In addition to previewing your course you can also preview quizzes, assignments and grades.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 53px\">Watch this playlist <a href=\"https:\/\/mediaspace.langara.ca\/playlist\/details\/0_htxydef3\/categoryId\/71327\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">demonstrating how to preview Brightspace content as a student<\/a>.<\/p>\n<details class=\"checkbox\">\n<summary>\n<h3>Add a welcome announcement<\/h3>\n<\/summary>\n<\/details>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 53px\">A detailed\u00a0welcome message or video at the beginning of the course introducing the instructor, course objectives, and what students can expect sets a warm, engaging tone and clarifies the course&#8217;s purpose.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 53px\">Here are instructions on <a href=\"https:\/\/community.d2l.com\/brightspace\/kb\/articles\/1705-create-a-welcome-message-using-the-announcements-widget#:~:text=Use%20the%20Announcements%20widget%20to%20create%20a%20welcome%20message%20for%20your%20students.&amp;text=From%20your%20Course%20Homepage%2C%20locate,Click%20New%20Announcement.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">how to create a Welcome Announcement<\/a>.<\/p>\n<details class=\"checkbox\">\n<summary>\n<h3>Review accessibility features<\/h3>\n<\/summary>\n<\/details>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 53px\">Check that your course meets accessibility standards. Use the Brightspace Accessibility Checker to determine if content pages are accessible.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 53px\">Click here for more information about the <a href=\"https:\/\/community.d2l.com\/brightspace\/kb\/articles\/1382-improve-your-course-with-brightspace-accessibility-checker\">Brightspace Accessibility Checker<\/a>.<\/p>\n<details class=\"checkbox\">\n<summary>\n<h3>Provide your contact information<\/h3>\n<\/summary>\n<\/details>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 53px\">Opening avenues for communication, and providing easy access to those channels supports learner-instructor interaction, and facilitates engaging in supportive contact and interaction, a key component of social presence.<\/p>\n<details class=\"checkbox\">\n<summary>\n<h3>Test multimedia elements<\/h3>\n<\/summary>\n<\/details>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 53px\">Ensure all videos, audio files, and interactive elements work correctly on various devices and browsers.<\/p>\n<details class=\"checkbox\">\n<summary>\n<h3>Check all hyperlinks<\/h3>\n<\/summary>\n<\/details>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 53px\">If time permits, click all your hyperlinks to ensure they are working properly. Brightspace content that is copied from other courses can sometimes contain broken Quicklinks or broken Topics.<\/p>\n<details class=\"checkbox\">\n<summary>\n<h3>Verify assessment settings<\/h3>\n<\/summary>\n<\/details>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 53px\">Double-check the settings for quizzes, assignments, and discussions. Ensure <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/chapter\/dates-deadlines-and-availability-new\/\" target=\"_blank\">due dates, availability dates<\/a>, and grading settings are correct.<\/p>\n<details class=\"checkbox\">\n<summary>\n<h3>Set up your gradebook<\/h3>\n<\/summary>\n<\/details>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 53px\">Ensure your gradebook matches your course syllabus. A clear and transparent gradebook will help your students understand their progress through the course. Consider releasing Final calculated grade at the start of term so students can see their overall progress throughout the term. Refer to <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/chapter\/grades-setup-wizard\/\" target=\"_blank\">Gradebook Setup Wizard<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/chapter\/grades-tool\/\" target=\"_blank\">Grades Quick Start Guide<\/a> for our recommended best practices and instructions to set up an effective gradebook.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 53px\">If you have questions reach out to EdTech or consider attending our <a href=\"https:\/\/iweb.langara.ca\/professional-learning\/events\/list\/?tribe-bar-search=gradebook+bootcamp\" target=\"_blank\">Gradebook Bootcamp workshop<\/a>.<\/p>\n<details class=\"checkbox\">\n<summary>\n<h3>Set your Brightspace course to Active<\/h3>\n<\/summary>\n<\/details>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 53px\">Your course is not automatically available to your students. It needs to be set to Active <b>AND <\/b>the semester needs to have officially started.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 53px\">Follow these <a href=\"https:\/\/iweb.langara.ca\/brightspace-instructor-help\/course-admin-other\/other-tools\/setting-your-course-to-active\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">instructions to set your course to Active<\/a>.<\/p>\n<details class=\"checkbox\">\n<summary>\n<h3>Talk to EdTech<\/h3>\n<\/summary>\n<\/details>\n<div class=\"speechleft\" style=\"margin-left: 53px;margin-bottom: -4.25em;max-width: 69%\">If you have questions about setting up your course, organizing content, using tools, or the accessibility of your course, please contact EdTech to arrange a review of your Brightspace course.<\/div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"noborder wp-image-1866 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/07\/specialist-question-e1722287168552.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"290\" height=\"409\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/07\/specialist-question-e1722287168552.png 476w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/07\/specialist-question-e1722287168552-213x300.png 213w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/07\/specialist-question-e1722287168552-65x92.png 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/07\/specialist-question-e1722287168552-225x318.png 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/07\/specialist-question-e1722287168552-350x494.png 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 290px) 100vw, 290px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Contact edtech@langara.ca for more information.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"noborder img.chapter aligncenter wp-image-63\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0em\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/01\/edtech-transparent-rgb-black-394pxh-300x131.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"66\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/01\/edtech-transparent-rgb-black-394pxh-300x131.png 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/01\/edtech-transparent-rgb-black-394pxh-768x336.png 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/01\/edtech-transparent-rgb-black-394pxh-65x28.png 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/01\/edtech-transparent-rgb-black-394pxh-225x99.png 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/01\/edtech-transparent-rgb-black-394pxh-350x153.png 350w, https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2149\/2024\/01\/edtech-transparent-rgb-black-394pxh.png 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/p>\n<div style=\"border: 1px #555 solid;padding: 1em;margin-top: 1em\">If you are a Langara employee, <a href=\"https:\/\/iweb.langara.ca\/edtech\/blog\/2025\/08\/28\/self-register-for-essentials-to-excellence-a-brightspace-companion-for-instructors\/\">self-register for Essentials to Excellence: A Brightspace Companion for Instructors<\/a>. This Brightspace course compliments the technical instructions found here with use cases, examples, and advice.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":2227,"menu_order":1,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-1587","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":3534,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1587","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2227"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1587\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3677,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1587\/revisions\/3677"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/3534"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1587\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1587"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=1587"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=1587"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=1587"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}