{"id":3270,"date":"2025-12-05T16:20:46","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T21:20:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=3270"},"modified":"2026-02-25T14:56:26","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T19:56:26","slug":"brightspace-essentials-for-student-success","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/chapter\/brightspace-essentials-for-student-success\/","title":{"raw":"3 Brightspace Essentials Every Course Needs","rendered":"3 Brightspace Essentials Every Course Needs"},"content":{"raw":"<h1 style=\"text-align: center\">3 Brightspace Essentials Every Course Needs<\/h1>\r\nWhether you're teaching face-to-face, online, or hybrid, these three essential practices create a consistent foundation for student success. They support clear communication, transparent assessment, and organized workflow - helping students understand what's expected and track their progress throughout the term.\r\n<div class=\"quick\"><strong>Why these three essentials?<\/strong> These practices are universal - they apply across all courses, teaching contexts, and disciplines. They directly support student success without prescribing pedagogy or limiting your autonomy in course design. Beyond these essentials, decisions about which Brightspace tools to use, how to structure content, and what assessments to create should be driven by your learning outcomes and teaching expertise.<\/div>\r\n<h2>1. Post Regular Announcements<\/h2>\r\n<strong>What this means:<\/strong> Use the Announcements feature to keep students informed about upcoming activities, deadlines, and important course information.\r\n\r\n<strong>Why it matters:<\/strong> Regular communication reduces student anxiety about what's coming next and helps them prioritize their work. Even in face-to-face courses, announcements keep students connected between class sessions.\r\n\r\n<strong>Getting started:<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Post at least weekly (or match your course pacing)<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Highlight key deadlines and activities<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Keep announcements focused and action-oriented<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Consider scheduling announcements in advance<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<strong>Resources:<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/community.d2l.com\/brightspace\/kb\/articles\/1705-create-a-welcome-message-using-the-announcements-widget\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Create announcements and welcome messages<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/iweb.langara.ca\/brightspace-instructor-help\/communication\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Using the Announcements tool<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/iweb.langara.ca\/lts\/how-to\/brightspace\/how-to-use-brightspace\/#brightspacenotifications\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Help students set up notifications<\/a> so they receive your announcements<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>2. Set Up Your Gradebook Before Term Starts<\/h2>\r\n<strong>What this means:<\/strong> Configure your gradebook to match your syllabus - including all categories, weights, and grade items - before classes begin. Make sure students can view their current grade and track their progress.\r\n\r\n<strong>Why it matters:<\/strong> When students can see where they stand, they can make informed decisions about where to focus their effort and when to seek help. A transparent gradebook reduces \"what's my grade?\" emails and enables early intervention when students struggle.\r\n\r\n<strong>Getting started:<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Create grade categories that match your syllabus (e.g., Assignments 40%, Quizzes 30%, Final Exam 30%)<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Add all grade items students will be assessed on<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Double-check that weights and calculations are correct<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Configure settings so students can view their current grade<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Test the student view to confirm everything displays correctly<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<strong>Resources:<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/chapter\/grades-tool\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Grades tool overview and setup instructions<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li>Need help? Book a consultation with EdTech at <a href=\"mailto:edtech@langara.ca\">edtech@langara.ca<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>3. Use Assignment Submission Folders (When Appropriate)<\/h2>\r\n<strong>What this means:<\/strong> For major assignments and assessments, have students submit their work through Brightspace rather than via email or paper.\r\n\r\n<strong>Why it matters:<\/strong> Digital submission creates consistency across courses so students know where to submit work. It provides a clear record for both you and your students, enables better feedback tools (like inline comments and rubrics), and keeps student work secure within a single system.\r\n\r\n<strong>When to use Brightspace submissions:<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Major assignments and projects<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Essays and written work<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Digital portfolios or presentations<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Any assessment where you want a documented submission record<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<strong>When paper might make more sense:<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Quick in-class activities or exit tickets<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Short reflection responses during class time<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Assignments where immediate hands-on feedback is part of the learning process<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<strong>Best of both worlds:<\/strong>\u00a0Even for paper-based or in-person assignments, you can still create an Assignment folder in Brightspace and set the submission type to \"On paper\" or \"Observed in person.\" This gives you the benefits of linking to your gradebook and providing feedback through Brightspace while still collecting physical work or observing in-person demonstrations.\r\n\r\n<strong>Getting started:<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Create Assignment folders for your major assessments<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Link them to your gradebook items<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Set clear due dates and submission requirements<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Attach rubrics when applicable to clarify expectations<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Communicate clearly to students how each assignment should be submitted<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<strong>Resources:<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/chapter\/assignments-new\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Creating assignment submission folders<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/chapter\/rubrics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Creating and using rubrics in Brightspace<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/chapter\/dates-deadlines-and-availability-new\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Adding dates and deadlines<\/a> to assignment folders<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>Quick Start Checklist<\/h2>\r\nUse this checklist to ensure your course includes the essentials for student success:\r\n\r\n<strong>Before your course starts:<\/strong>\r\n<details class=\"checkbox\"><summary>Post a welcome announcement introducing yourself and the course<\/summary><\/details>\r\n<details class=\"checkbox\"><summary>Set up your gradebook with categories, weights, and all grade items<\/summary><\/details>\r\n<details class=\"checkbox\"><summary>Configure gradebook settings so students can view their current grade<\/summary><\/details>\r\n<details class=\"checkbox\"><summary>Create assignment submission folders for major assessments<\/summary><\/details>\r\n<details class=\"checkbox\"><summary>Link assignment folders to gradebook items<\/summary><\/details>\r\n<strong>During the term:<\/strong>\r\n<details class=\"checkbox\"><summary>Post announcements at least weekly with upcoming activities and deadlines<\/summary><\/details>\r\n<details class=\"checkbox\"><summary>Enter grades in a timely manner<\/summary><\/details>\r\n<details class=\"checkbox\"><summary>Monitor assignment submissions and provide feedback<\/summary><\/details>\r\n\r\n<h2>Support and Resources<\/h2>\r\n<strong>Need help meeting these essentials?<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Review the <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/chapter\/self-registration\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Essentials to Excellence: A Brightspace Companion for Instructors<\/a> self-paced course<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Attend an EdTech workshop (check the EdTech website for upcoming sessions)<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Book a one-on-one consultation with an EdTech Advisor<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Contact EdTech at <a href=\"mailto:edtech@langara.ca\">edtech@langara.ca<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\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\" \/>","rendered":"<h1 style=\"text-align: center\">3 Brightspace Essentials Every Course Needs<\/h1>\n<p>Whether you&#8217;re teaching face-to-face, online, or hybrid, these three essential practices create a consistent foundation for student success. They support clear communication, transparent assessment, and organized workflow &#8211; helping students understand what&#8217;s expected and track their progress throughout the term.<\/p>\n<div class=\"quick\"><strong>Why these three essentials?<\/strong> These practices are universal &#8211; they apply across all courses, teaching contexts, and disciplines. They directly support student success without prescribing pedagogy or limiting your autonomy in course design. Beyond these essentials, decisions about which Brightspace tools to use, how to structure content, and what assessments to create should be driven by your learning outcomes and teaching expertise.<\/div>\n<h2>1. Post Regular Announcements<\/h2>\n<p><strong>What this means:<\/strong> Use the Announcements feature to keep students informed about upcoming activities, deadlines, and important course information.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why it matters:<\/strong> Regular communication reduces student anxiety about what&#8217;s coming next and helps them prioritize their work. Even in face-to-face courses, announcements keep students connected between class sessions.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Getting started:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Post at least weekly (or match your course pacing)<\/li>\n<li>Highlight key deadlines and activities<\/li>\n<li>Keep announcements focused and action-oriented<\/li>\n<li>Consider scheduling announcements in advance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/community.d2l.com\/brightspace\/kb\/articles\/1705-create-a-welcome-message-using-the-announcements-widget\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Create announcements and welcome messages<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/iweb.langara.ca\/brightspace-instructor-help\/communication\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Using the Announcements tool<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/iweb.langara.ca\/lts\/how-to\/brightspace\/how-to-use-brightspace\/#brightspacenotifications\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Help students set up notifications<\/a> so they receive your announcements<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>2. Set Up Your Gradebook Before Term Starts<\/h2>\n<p><strong>What this means:<\/strong> Configure your gradebook to match your syllabus &#8211; including all categories, weights, and grade items &#8211; before classes begin. Make sure students can view their current grade and track their progress.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why it matters:<\/strong> When students can see where they stand, they can make informed decisions about where to focus their effort and when to seek help. A transparent gradebook reduces &#8220;what&#8217;s my grade?&#8221; emails and enables early intervention when students struggle.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Getting started:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Create grade categories that match your syllabus (e.g., Assignments 40%, Quizzes 30%, Final Exam 30%)<\/li>\n<li>Add all grade items students will be assessed on<\/li>\n<li>Double-check that weights and calculations are correct<\/li>\n<li>Configure settings so students can view their current grade<\/li>\n<li>Test the student view to confirm everything displays correctly<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/chapter\/grades-tool\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Grades tool overview and setup instructions<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Need help? Book a consultation with EdTech at <a href=\"mailto:edtech@langara.ca\">edtech@langara.ca<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>3. Use Assignment Submission Folders (When Appropriate)<\/h2>\n<p><strong>What this means:<\/strong> For major assignments and assessments, have students submit their work through Brightspace rather than via email or paper.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why it matters:<\/strong> Digital submission creates consistency across courses so students know where to submit work. It provides a clear record for both you and your students, enables better feedback tools (like inline comments and rubrics), and keeps student work secure within a single system.<\/p>\n<p><strong>When to use Brightspace submissions:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Major assignments and projects<\/li>\n<li>Essays and written work<\/li>\n<li>Digital portfolios or presentations<\/li>\n<li>Any assessment where you want a documented submission record<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>When paper might make more sense:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Quick in-class activities or exit tickets<\/li>\n<li>Short reflection responses during class time<\/li>\n<li>Assignments where immediate hands-on feedback is part of the learning process<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Best of both worlds:<\/strong>\u00a0Even for paper-based or in-person assignments, you can still create an Assignment folder in Brightspace and set the submission type to &#8220;On paper&#8221; or &#8220;Observed in person.&#8221; This gives you the benefits of linking to your gradebook and providing feedback through Brightspace while still collecting physical work or observing in-person demonstrations.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Getting started:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Create Assignment folders for your major assessments<\/li>\n<li>Link them to your gradebook items<\/li>\n<li>Set clear due dates and submission requirements<\/li>\n<li>Attach rubrics when applicable to clarify expectations<\/li>\n<li>Communicate clearly to students how each assignment should be submitted<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/chapter\/assignments-new\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Creating assignment submission folders<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/chapter\/rubrics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Creating and using rubrics in Brightspace<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/chapter\/dates-deadlines-and-availability-new\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Adding dates and deadlines<\/a> to assignment folders<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Quick Start Checklist<\/h2>\n<p>Use this checklist to ensure your course includes the essentials for student success:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Before your course starts:<\/strong><\/p>\n<details class=\"checkbox\">\n<summary>Post a welcome announcement introducing yourself and the course<\/summary>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"checkbox\">\n<summary>Set up your gradebook with categories, weights, and all grade items<\/summary>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"checkbox\">\n<summary>Configure gradebook settings so students can view their current grade<\/summary>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"checkbox\">\n<summary>Create assignment submission folders for major assessments<\/summary>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"checkbox\">\n<summary>Link assignment folders to gradebook items<\/summary>\n<\/details>\n<p><strong>During the term:<\/strong><\/p>\n<details class=\"checkbox\">\n<summary>Post announcements at least weekly with upcoming activities and deadlines<\/summary>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"checkbox\">\n<summary>Enter grades in a timely manner<\/summary>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"checkbox\">\n<summary>Monitor assignment submissions and provide feedback<\/summary>\n<\/details>\n<h2>Support and Resources<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Need help meeting these essentials?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Review the <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/langaraquickguides\/chapter\/self-registration\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Essentials to Excellence: A Brightspace Companion for Instructors<\/a> self-paced course<\/li>\n<li>Attend an EdTech workshop (check the EdTech website for upcoming sessions)<\/li>\n<li>Book a one-on-one consultation with an EdTech Advisor<\/li>\n<li>Contact EdTech at <a href=\"mailto:edtech@langara.ca\">edtech@langara.ca<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\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\" 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