Creating Course Content in Brightspace

Introduction:

In Brightspace, instructors can easily build and organize course content using units, lessons, and pages. You can also add weblinks, upload files, and reuse existing course materials such as assignments, quizzes, or discussions. Structuring content in this way helps students navigate your course more clearly and ensures resources are accessible where they need them.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. 1. To access the Content area, go to your course's homepage and click on Content on the navigation bar.
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3. 2. Once on the Content Page, create New Units to get started with your unit/module/weekly folders.
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5. 3. Title your unit folder to your preference (e.g. Week 1, Syllabus, ZOOM, Start Here, Course Materials)
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7. 4. (Optional) Add a photo and make it decorative to edit the widgets on the home page. Then Save and Close.
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9. 5. After creating your unit folder, click on it and either [a] Add existing or [b] Create New.
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11. [a] Add Existing

    

    In the Add Existing options, you can add:

    • • Existing
      • assignments, discussions, quizzes/exams, checklists
    • • External Tool Activities (offered by our department)
      • Zoom, Ally, ALEKS, BryteWave, OneNote Classroom, Panopto folder, Persuall, etc.
      • There is an option to create your own LTI link.
    • • SCORM/xAPI Object
      • "SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model) is a set of standards for creating and delivering online learning content in Brightspace that allows instructors to upload and manage SCORM-compliant learning courses." -D2L Knowledge
    • • LOR (Learning Repository)
      • An online library for storing, managing, and sharing your learning objects (quiz, presentation, image, video, or any other kind of document or files).
    • • Direct Links
      • Hypothesis Reading, Perusall Assignment Link, SoftChalk Cloud Link Selector, 

    Under More, you have

    • • Course File
      • existing content you may have deleted, or, if you wish to reuse an item
    • • Media Library
      • for videos created in Brightspace
    • • Rubrics
    • • Self Assessments
    • • Surveys
    • • All applicable Third Party tools.

    This option is also selected to drag and drop files from your File Explorer

    [b] Create New

    

    In the Create New button, you have the options to

    • • Create a New Lesson folder
      • often used for organizing slides, chapter readings, reviews, etc.
    • • Create an HTML Page to embed files or manually create lessons or list various links.
    • • Insert a link using WebLink to any site allowed.
    • • Create new Assignments, Discussions, Quizzes, Checklists, Self Assessments, and Surveys directly from the page.
12. 6. Save and Close, and then continue to customize your course for your students.
    • New unit folders will always appear at the bottom of other folders.

Optional Decor Ideas:

• • Edit the Unit folder upon creating it to change the color display.
  • The sub-folder(s) color will automatically change in accordance with the unit folder.
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• • In the editing page of a new or blank HTML page, you can Select Template to view pre-made course material to use.
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• • In the editing page of a new or blank HTML page, add mini activities for students to interact with with Creator+:
  • Insert Element, Insert Practice, Layouts, and interactives
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• • In the editing page of the Unit, Lesson, or HTML page, you can add files, links, or third-party tool sections using Insert Stuff.
  • Can be found in Other Insert Options if the browser is zoomed in.
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• • Additionally, depending on the way the Other Insert Options is zoomed by the browser, you can add:
  • Equations, a table, page attributes, divider, emojis, symbols, and insert code [to embed videos or LTI].

Be mindful of where you click on in the sidebar.

1. 1. Click on the Unit Folder to add content within the unit folder.
2. 2. Click on the Lesson folder to add content in the sub-folder.
3. 3. Drag and drop items or sub-folders into Unit folders.
   • Unit folders cannot be inside each other
4. 4. Drag Unit Folders to change the order.

Troubleshooting Tips:

• • Content not visible to students? 
  • Check the Availability Dates & Conditions and ensure the item is not hidden.
• • Can’t find Add Existing? 
  • Make sure you are inside a unit or lesson, not at the course homepage.
• • File upload fails? 
  • Confirm the file size does not exceed Brightspace’s upload limits and that the file type is supported.

Additional Resources:

• • Creator+
• • Brighspace Editor
• • Setup Your Brightspace Course
• • Upload a Custom Banner to your Course Homepage
• • Using Replacement Strings
• • Set Custom Availability Dates for Your Course in Brightspace
• • Managing Dates in Brightspace for Instructors
• • HTML Page Templates
• • How to Embed Videos from Library Sources in Brightspace
• • Brightspace Release Conditions Guide for Instructors

FAQ Section:

• • Q: Can students see units before I finish adding content?
  • A: Yes, unless the unit is hidden. Use the visibility toggle to hide content until it’s ready. (Looks like an eyeball)
• • Q: Can I reuse content from another course?
  • A: Yes. Use the Import/Export/Copy Components tool under Course Admin to bring in content from another course shell. See: Copy Content from one Brightspace Course to Another 
• • Q: What’s the difference between a Unit and a Lesson?
  • A: A Unit is a top-level folder (e.g., Week 1), while a Lesson is a sub-folder inside the unit (e.g., Readings or Assignments).