Preparing Brightspace Modules for the start of term

As we prepare for the Spring Trimester, we wanted to bring to your attention a couple of items that we feel could assist you in the use of Brightspace to support your teaching for the Spring Trimester. 

UCD VLE Module Standards Policy

The Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) module standards policy is developed with a view to supporting Faculty, School Heads of Teaching and Learning, Educational Technologists and all staff who support teaching and learning to make decisions about the appropriate use of the VLE, based on their own pedagogical requirements and contexts. At a minimum, UCD's VLE Module Standards Framework should be adhered to with considering your module design. Guidance and a link to the VLE standards are here.

UCD Teaching and Learning have prepared a guide on Module Design in Brightspace  which overviews how the Learning materials section should adhere to the UCD's VLE Module Standard Framework

Module Checklist

To assist you in getting your Brightspace modules ready for the start of term check out our (opens in a new window)module setup checklist.

Brightspace Training and Workshops

New to UCD or just want to refresh your knowledge of how to use Brightspace? We offer a number of on demand training sessions and details of upcoming workshops to assist you in the use of Brightspace. For a full list of training and workshops see the Brightspace Training Overview webpage and our Booking Centre offerings. 

Turnitin Originality Checker

The pilot of (opens in a new window)Turnitin’s Originality tool in Brightspace is still open to all instructors, both for teaching modules and for instructor sandbox modules.  If you are interested in piloting Turnitin during the Spring Trimester, please complete this (opens in a new window)form and a member of the project team will be in touch with the next steps. 

Video Management

YuJa is the Video Management solution for the University for media files eg. including video or audio. When using video or audio media within your Brightspace modules, the requirement is that the media files should be stored in the Video Management system (YuJa).  Your module can then (opens in a new window)link to the media required and this will embed the file within the module.

Uploading media files directly into Brightspace is not recommended as Brightspace is not a media storage tool and does not have the same ongoing storage capacity for these file types. For information on uploading your media content to YuJa see this (opens in a new window)knowledge base article.  

ArcGIS class accounts

Did you know?  Lecturers can log a call with the IT Helpdesk https://www.ucd.ie/ithelp with a list of students to request that accounts be created for the full class in one batch.  The classlist must be provided in the format of firstname, lastname, email address for each student.

Peer Assessment

PeerScholar is the peer assessment tool integrated into Brightspace. PeerScholar activities now have a tick box to facilitate whole class peer review of presentations. For information on getting started with peerScholar can be found on the (opens in a new window)knowledge base article.

Brightspace Groups

If you have a large class (greater than 50), IT Services can assist you in creating groups by CRN or from a CSV file. Further information on creating groups in Brightspace can be found on the (opens in a new window)IT Support Hub.  

Information on services offered by IT Services relating to Brightspace can be found on the IT Services website, with further information and support available on the IT Support Hub.