ITS Blog

WHY THE TRANSITION TO BRIGHTSPACE?

Published:
Sam Nelson: ITS Communications

NEW TO BRIGHTSPACE? NEED HELP?




Binghamton University is transitioning from myCourses (Blackboard) to a new Learning Management System (LMS), Brightspace by Desire2Learn (D2L). It offers greater flexibility to faculty and students, and is cloud-based, mobile optimized and designed for collaboration for a better learning experience. The campus will use Brightspace for all courses and organizations starting with the fall 2021 semester. This decision was made through LMS Pilot testing with faculty and students over a two-year period. It has been found that it is much more than just an LMS. Brightspace combines all powerful tools and necessary support needed to offer a smooth teaching and learning experience for students and instructors.


About Brightspace


Brightspace is a cloud-based learning platform built by educators, for educators that works on any device. It is a secure, reliable platform that lets you create engaging courses using your technology to fit your needs. With Brightspace, you can easily set up individualized learning paths for your learners, keep them on track with automated nudges, give them personalized feedback and engage them through gamification (a concept that involves picking the best part from games and applying them in our normal activities, social tools, video and other powerful features. Brightspace allows you to transform the experience to meet educators’ and learners’ needs—no matter where or who they are. Moreover, Brightspace offers a lot more advantages comparitively.


Also, Brightspace is the only learning platform chosen as a partner of the National Federation of the Blind’s Centre of Excellence in Nonvisual Access. Brightspace was also named the Best K-12 Learning Management System and Best Professional Learning Solution for Faculty and Administrative Staff at the SIIA CODiE Awards.

 

From Fall 2021 Onwards


  • No courses are taught in myCourses (Blackboard.)

  • All Courses and Organizations will be conducted through Brightspace.

  • Access to myCourses (Blackboard) will end on December 21, 2021.

Accessing Brightspace


You can access Brightspace by going to my.binghamton.edu, clicking on myCourses, and selecting Brightspace. If you are prompted, enter your Binghamton University  username and password to login. 

For Faculty/Staff:


  • The intuitive design makes it easy for all users to accomplish tasks quickly in the LMS, leaving more time to focus on what really matters: teaching and learning; An intuitive interface that makes it easy for instructors to design courses, create content and grade assignments.

  • Easy course creation by dragging and dropping from your desktop into the LMS. Course templates that make it easy for instructors to create new and engaging content.

  • Course templates that make it easy for instructors to create new and engaging content.

  • It is enabled with varied tools to create engaging courses. Also, A Class Progress dashboard allows instructors to quickly compare each learner’s performance in the course.

  • Instructors have 2 options for migrating their courses from myCourses to Brightspace. Instructors have two options for migrating their course content:


  1. Migrating content themselves - Instructors can export (not archive) a course package out of myCourses and import that course package into Brightspace.  Watch this three-minute video that walks you through the export/import process.  


  1. Have ITS migrate your content - Instructors will need to complete the myCourses to Brightspace Course Migration Information form detailing the course information that they would like ITS to migrate. Allow two weeks for the migration to take place. Instructors will be notified via email once the migration is complete.


Brightspace training will be available through various modes. Visit Brightspace Training to learn more about faqs, how to’s and training opportunities.


There are SEVERAL WAYS that instructors can learn more about the Brightspace platform: 

For Students:


  • Click PLAY ALL above to learn how to navigate Brightspace.

  • Brightspace  is a mobile-friendly LMS that provides a modern way to learn, with no need to pinch-and-zoom or scroll to view content on mobile devices.

  • Brightspace’s platform can be accessed from any mobile device for a true anywhere, anytime, any device learning experience.

  • Student-level reports and detailed grade statistics allow for granular analysis of learner performance to help them improve and excel in their courses.

  • Brightspace is reliable and accessible with a unique overall learning experience.

  • Brightspace is built from the ground up using an inclusive design with best practices for each and every learner. Operating on a reliable, and secure global cloud infrastructure, It has 99.9% uptime with no downtime or maintenance.



If you need any further help/assistance with Brightspace, contact Brightspace 24/7 Technical Support. 24/7 Support is available to all faculty, staff, and students. 

 

Have a question? Visit Brightspace FAQs for any quick queries.


For any other technology related questions or assistance, please contact the ITS Help Desk at 607-777-420 or HelpDesk@binghamton.edu.