Brightspace Course Setup Resources

Course Setup Guides
Brightspace Support Information
Need help setting up your course?
D2L Brightspace Technical Support Contact
Teaching and Learning Services Contact

Staring at a blank course shell can be daunting. Teaching and Learning Services has compiled these resources to help get you started building an engaging course on Brightspace.

Some of the resources you’ll find on this page include links to self-enrollment example courses, quick build resources such as templates, Brightspace support information and a video tour of Brightspace interface.

To get more familiar with Brightspace, start with these resources:

Welcome to Brightspace for Instructors — (8:45 minute) video overview
Brightspace Support Site — step by step instructions for course setup tasks
TLS Brightspace channel — Mediaspace channel with a range of videos about Brightspace at Carleton
Brightspace Tools Course (carleton.ca) — a self-enrollment course that provides an overview of the tools inside Brightspace
Brightspace Basics Online Course — a self-enrollment course with 21 topics to explore, including instructions and videos

If you have any difficulty enrolling in any of these courses or viewing any of the resources, please submit a support ticket.

Watch the video below for a brief overview of Carleton’s supported EdTech tools:

Course Setup Guides

Brightspace Course Setup Checklist: Use the Course Setup Checklist as a guide to building the basics of your course. You’ll find the main course elements you need listed with links to instructional support pages.
Brightspace Course Pre-Launch Checklist: Finished setting up your course and thinking of making it active? Use this simple checklist to make sure all the components of an engaging, well-designed course are available for students.
Brightspace Glossary: Finding the new terminology of Brightspace confusing? Visit the Brightspace Glossary for some definitions and explanations of the new lingo.
Brightspace Migration page: Interested in using existing course content from cuLearn in a Brightspace course? Visit our Migrations support page for helpful links and resources to help you get started.

Sample Brightspace Courses

Explore sample courses and course layouts by self-enrolling in the showcase courses listed below. To self-enrol in any of these courses, go to the Discover page of Brightspace, search for the course name, and click the course tile to enrol:

Brightspace Tools Course: This course contains samples of the various tools available in Brightspace. Each tool has its own module with a description of the tool and some examples to demonstrate the options for setup. Helpful resources and support links have also been included.
Brightspace Example Course: This course is setup to demonstrate a basic course arrangement and design, using a weekly module format.
Brightspace Sample Course–Module Outlines: This showcase course contains 3 sample module outlines. Each module showcases a possible structure for different types of courses: a lecture based course, a lab based course, and a seminar based course. If you see a module you’d like to use in a course, please submit a support ticket for assistance with copying the module.

Download Course Templates

Course template files are available for instructors to download and copy into their Brightspace course. Course templates can add instant modules, submodules, and customizable content to help lend your course structure. Two course templates are available, a compressed 6 week course template, and the full 12 week course template.

Course template files can be downloaded below:

Visit the Instructor Support Site for instructions on Importing TLS Course Templates into your Brightspace course.

Review Video Tutorials

Brightspace Support Information

Need help setting up your course?

Request a Brightspace consultation: Request assistance with your course design and setup from Teaching and Learning Services staff. If you need help, connect with us for support. We’re here to support your course needs.
Sign up for a Brightspace workshop: Let TLS staff guide you through your Brightspace course setup in online training workshops as you learn more about navigating and using Brightspace to setup a course that maximizes student engagement.
Browse the Brightspace Instructor Support site: For instructions and help guides on most basic course setup tasks, visit the Brightspace Instructor Support Site. For the student experience, visit the Brightspace Student Support site.

D2L Brightspace Technical Support Contact

EMAIL: Fill out the Email Support Request Form
PHONE: 1-877-325-7778
LIVE CHAT: Go to the Brightspace Community, then click CHAT WITH SUPPORT.

Teaching and Learning Services Contact

Educational technology support – Submit a ticket to the TLS support portal
Course design or pedagogical support -Fill out the consultation request form

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