Upgrading Our LMS, Enhancing Your Experience
The Brightspace Next initiative is a strategic project aimed at modernizing the D2L Brightspace Learning Management System (LMS) to better meet the evolving needs of students, faculty, and staff.
By focusing on improving the user experience, updating courses, and providing comprehensive training, Brightspace Next strives to deliver a consistent, intuitive, and easy-to-use learning environment for the entire university community.
Projects
In Progress
D2L Brightspace Student Survey
Fall 2024
A collaborative effort between UCATT and Assessment and Research will conduct a campus-wide survey in Fall 2024 to gather student feedback on D2L Brightspace usage and effective instructional practices. The results will provide valuable insights into student preferences and needs, helping instructors optimize their use of the Learning Management System and improve teaching methods to better support learning outcomes.
- Survey Development- Spring 2024
- Pilot Survey- Summer 2024
- Survey Active- September 23-October 25
- Data Analysis and Report- Fall 2024
D2L Brightspace EDGE Trainings
Summer 2024-Spring 2025
New faculty training on D2L Brightspace will be available through the EDGE Learning platform. These courses offer various learning paths to enhance instructors' skills in using the LMS effectively. Participants can earn certifications while expanding their knowledge, helping them to better leverage Brightspace in their teaching.
D2L Brightspace Health Check
Fall 2024-Spring 2025
UCATT is partnering with D2L to conduct a comprehensive review of how we use Brightspace institutionally. Through this review, we are identifying and implementing changes that will improve our use of Brightspace.
Rebrand to from D2L to Brightspace
Fall 2024-Spring 2025
In 2014, D2L changed the name of the Learning Management System to Brightspace, however, the U of A never updated our naming conventions and branding. With the new contract, we are ready to fully adopt Brightspace branding across all of our websites and documentation.
Course Lifecycle Process
Summer 2024-Ongoing
The University is implementing a new policy for course site retention in D2L Brightspace, effective Fall 2024. This initiative aims to enhance system performance, strengthen privacy, and align with other student data retention policies on campus. The policy will establish a standard lifecycle for course sites, ensuring efficient use of our Learning Management System.
Upcoming
Course Building Style Guide
Spring 2025
Establish a Course Building Style Guide to provide consistency in suggestions and training for faculty and instructional support staff. The key priorities of this style guide are accessibility, functionality, sustainable design, and navigation, ensuring that courses are user-friendly, effective, and easily maintainable.
Brightspace Institute
Spring 2025-Spring 2026
The Brightspace Institute offers instructors a hands-on, supportive environment to enhance course design and instruction skills in the LMS. This immersive program is designed to boost confidence and proficiency in using Brightspace, empowering faculty to create engaging online learning experiences.
Course Redesigns
Summer 2025-Spring 2027
Instructors will receive guidance to update existing courses to support student learning. Student survey results will be used to identify courses for redesign, and corresponding instructors or course developers will be invited to partake in the redesign process.
Excellence in Course Design Award
Spring 2026
Establish an award to honor instructors and staff who demonstrate commitment and excellence in online course design. By recognizing outstanding courses, we aim to encourage and promote effective approaches to online learning across the university.
Completed
RFP for the Learning Management System
Spring 2023-Fall 2023
The RFP Committee reviewed all vendor submissions, and with consideration and discussion, the committee recommended D2L Brightspace due to its high scores across all evaluation criteria.