Center for Excellence in TeachingITS and CET are partnering to support USC faculty through the transition from Blackboard to the Brightspace Learning Management System (LMS). We encourage you to review all of the Summer 2024 training options below, and register now if you are interested in facilitated training.
Training Modalities
To facilitate a smooth transition to Brightspace, we have created multiple options for you to train the way you prefer to learn. Each option provides the same training information; it is just presented in different contexts to suit your learning preference and schedule. Simply choose the training options that work best for you.
A quick overview of Summer 2024 Brightspace faculty training options is provided in the following graphic. Below the graphic, the “Training Options” section contains accordion links that can be expanded to view detailed descriptions of each training option, as well as session dates and registration links.
Training and Support Options
Click on the accordions below to view details for each training option, and dates and registration links for facilitated training and individual support. Facilitated workshops dates and Zoom links are available on the CET events calendar and will be emailed to faculty who are registered for the institutes and those who are on the subscriber list for CET’s Newsletter.
USC Brightspace Faculty Institutes
Institute sessions will provide 1) the pedagogical purpose of Brightspace tools, 2) a demonstration of how to access and use them, and 3) time to practice in break-out rooms with tech support.
Sessions will be recorded to allow flexibility in attendance and review of the sessions. All faculty will have access to these recordings regardless of whether they are registered for the institute. These recordings are archived in the Brightspace Guided Training course folders. To access them, click on the widget with the moose on the landing page of your Brightspace account.
We encourage you to register for the institutes, even if you cannot attend, so that you also have access to the institute course materials for your reference.
The Foundation Institute includes seven 90-minute sessions and one asynchronous introduction module on basic Brightspace tools, including creating modules, assignments, quizzes, surveys, communication tools, discussions, groups, and setting up the grade book.
The Advanced Institute includes six 90-minute sessions. Topics will include Creator+ elements, class progress analytics, intelligent agents, and release conditions.
Register for the institute section that best meets your teaching and scheduling needs below.
Foundations Institute, May 13-June 24 (Mondays, 1-2:30 pm Pacific in Zoom)
- Monday, May 13, 1:00-2:30 pm–Module 1
- Monday, May 20, 1:00-2:30 pm–Module 2
- Tuesday, May 28, 1:00-2:30 pm–Module 3
- Monday, June 3, 1:00-2:30 pm–Module 4
- Monday, June 10, 1:00-2:30 pm–Module 5
- Monday, June 17, 1:00-2:30 pm–Module 6
- Monday, June 24, 1:00-2:30 pm–Module 7
- Registration link
Advanced Institute, May 16-June 20 (Thursdays, 10-11:30 am Pacific in Zoom)
- Thursday, May 16, 10:00-11:30 am-Module 1
- Thursday, May 23, 10:00-11:30 am–Module 2
- Thursday, May 30, 10:00-11:30 am–Module 3
- Thursday, June 6, 10:00-11:30 am–Module 4
- Thursday, June 13, 10:00-11:30 am–Module 5
- Thursday, June 20, 10:00-11:30 am–Module 6
- Registration link
Foundations Institute, July 2-August 13 (Tuesdays, 10-11:30 am Pacific in Zoom)
- Tuesday, July 2, 10:00-11:30 am–Module 1
- Tuesday, July 9, 10:00-11:30 am–Module 2
- Tuesday, July 16, 10:00-11:30 am–Module 3
- Tuesday, July 23, 10:00-11:30 am–Module 4
- Tuesday, July 30, 10:00-11:30 am–Module 5
- Tuesday, August 6, 10:00-11:30 am–Module 6
- Tuesday, August 13, 10:00-11:30 am–Module 7
- Registration link
Advanced Institute, July 12-August 16 (Fridays, 10-11:30 am Pacific in Zoom)
- Friday, July 12, 10:00-11:30 am–Module 1
- Friday, July 19, 10:00-11:30 am–Module 2
- Friday, July 26, 10:00-11:30 am–Module 3
- Friday, August 2, 10:00-11:30 am–Module 4
- Friday, August 9, 10:00-11:30 am–Module 5
- Friday, August 16, 10:00-11:30 am–Module 6
- Registration link
Brightspace Bootcamp
Brightspace Bootcamp consists of four 1-hour sessions, held Monday-Thursday within the same week, covering Brightspace essentials. Bootcamp will start the week of April 29, and will be held throughout the summer. Bootcamp dates and Zoom links are available on the CET events calendar and will be emailed to faculty who are registered for the institutes and those who are on the subscriber list for CET’s Newsletter.
If you are not on either of these lists, but want to be notified of upcoming workshops, please subscribe to CET’s newsletter to be added to our mailing list. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Workshops
The Survivor's Guide (1 hour workshop)
The Survivor's Guide workshop is intended for faculty who have asked for the briefest possible Brightspace training. This one-hour workshop will show you how to access and navigate Brightspace and do 2-3 very basic tasks, such as uploading a syllabus, emailing students, and accessing the grade book.
Just One Thing (20 minute demo)
Just One Thing demonstrations are micro-workshops where one Brightspace task is demonstrated for 10 minutes, followed by 10 minutes of questions and answers. These are intended to be quick "show me how" training on key tasks and tools.
Brightspace Workshops (1 hour workshops)
Our typical Brightspace Workshops will continue to be held, demonstrating in more depth how to use Brightspace tools that require greater support and practice.
Stay Informed!
Because of the number of offerings, we won’t be announcing them on the “all faculty” listserv.
Workshop and demo topics, dates, and links are available on the CET events calendar and will be emailed to faculty who are registered for the institutes and those who are on the subscriber list for CET’s Newsletter.
If you are not on either of these lists, but want to be notified of upcoming workshops, please subscribe to CET’s newsletter to be added to our mailing list. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Webinars
D2L Webinar on Instructor Essentials (2 hours)
This webinar is facilitated by our Brightspace vendor, D2L, and covers essential tasks in Brightspace. Register by selecting the hyperlinked date and time of your choice below.
- Monday, April 29, 10:00 am Pacific.
- Thursday, May 9, 10:00 am Pacific.
- Thursday, June 20, 10:00 am Pacific.
Technical Support
Brightspace Technical Support Phone Line (24/7)
888-895-2812
Brightspace Email Support
usc@d2l.com
ITS LMS 1:1 Consultations
Schedule your one-on-one consultation with the USC Brightspace Team for personalized technical support on how to navigate and use Brightspace tools.
Pedagogical Support
CET Consultations
Schedule your CET consultation for pedagogical support on designing your course using Brightspace tools.
Decision Tree
To help you decide which do-it-yourself resource is right for you, please review this decision tree document (pictured below) for a summary of available options and guidance on how to access them.
Brightspace Guided Training
Brightspace Guided Training (BGT) is a self-paced, asynchronous training course, with written and video guides, that ITS has customized for the USC community. You can also find recordings of our Brightspace institute sessions and workshops within this course in their own designated folder. Please inform your TAs that they can access BGT in their Brightspace account as soon as they are designated in the system as a TA. The course is located on the landing page, once you log in to your Brightspace account. Look for the Moose.
Brightspace 24/7 Virtual Assistant
Virtual Assistant is an AI-based support tool that can list helpful “how-to” documents, and connect users to 24/7 "real person" chat and phone support. Once users are logged in to Brightspace, the Virtual Assistant is accessed by clicking the blue speech bubble in the lower right corner of any Brightspace page in your account.
USC Brightspace Help Website
ITS has created a Brightspace help website with resources that show where tools are and what they look like within USC’s configuration of Brightspace. The site includes FAQs, step-by-step instructions, and a search function. The support tab includes information on how to contact the USC Brightspace support team and sign up for individual consultations.
Brightspace Community Website
Brightspace's Community website provides “how-to” articles, and a platform for Brightspace users to answer questions and share ideas with other users.
