As we kick off 2021, we are one step closer to the launch of our new LMS, Brightspace, in May. There’s a lot to look forward to. The new LMS will be faster, more reliable, modern and feature-rich to meet Carleton’s online teaching and learning needs. To date, two academic years’ worth of courses (~6500) have been copied into Brightspace, and many more will be migrated in the coming weeks.
Pilot launch
This term, our Brightspace pilot launches, with 31 courses representing graduate and undergraduate programs across the disciplines. Instructors, students and TAs in the pilot will test out the settings and integrations in Brightspace and report back any adjustments that need to be made. This important project will help ensure that the new system will be optimized for the entire campus community when Brightspace launches for all courses in May.
Coming soon – sandboxes and training
Campus-wide access to Brightspace and to sandbox courses will be granted in February – just a few short weeks away! With the access to Brightspace, TLS will be offering a range of online training workshops next month. Registration will be available on our events page. Check back in the coming weeks to sign up for a session.
In the spring, Brightspace pilot instructors will be showcasing their courses and inviting the campus in to explore what teaching and learning can look like in the new system. TLS will be taking the LMS on the road in a few weeks too! We’ll be visiting departments across Carleton to discuss Brightspace, and the training and support plans for the campus.
Support
In preparation for course development, we’ve launched a new Brightspace Support website with some preliminary support pages, with many more pages to come over the next few months. Round-the-clock direct support for the LMS has also started with 24/7/365 support from D2L for instructors, staff and students.
Curious to look inside the Brightspace interface? Check out the Student Tour of Brightspace video for a short introduction from the student point of view, or join the Brightspace Community to start your journey on a self-guided learning path.
We look forward to working with you to get your course ready in Carleton’s new LMS, Brightspace!