Tips for setting up your course in Brightspace
Get your syllabus finalized before you begin working in Brightspace. Then, using your syllabus as your guide:
- Are you copying content from a previous course? Here’s how to copy in contents from another course.
- Set up your gradebook first! Join us for an upcoming Drop-in Gradebook Help Session
- Create your assignments, quizzes, and discussions, and link them to your grade items.
- Set up your content modules by week or unit.
- Add course content (videos, readings, etc.), and link assessments (assignments, quizzes, discussions) to each module.
- Include a weekly “to-do” list or “sequence of tasks” in each module description. Consider also adding a brief module description, weekly learning objectives, and/ or class agenda.
- Don’t forget to add your syllabus to the “Syllabus” section, and make your course “Active” once it’s ready!
Brightspace Best Practices:
- Add a “Welcome!” or “Start here” module. Include things like an introduction video, instructor bio, materials list, etc. Try to open your course a week or two before classes start so students can get acquainted with it, even if you start with all other content hidden.
- Provide a way for students to introduce themselves.
- Break long lecture videos into smaller videos by topic. (15 minutes or less is recommended.)
- Work with the library to make sure PDFs and readings are accessible, and review your video captions for accuracy.
- Consider adding free textbook and article access through Electronic Reserves or Open Educational Resources (OERs). Email william.sargent@maine.edu to learn more.
