The purpose of this article is to provide a step-by-step procedure for setting up your course in the Brightspace learning environment.

1. Outline Course
2. Log in to Brightspace
3. Edit Homepage
4. Create Gradebook
5. Build Groups
6. Build Assessments
7. Build Instructional Content
8. Add Quicklinks
9. Make Course Active
10. Grade Students

Step 1

Outline your course

• Decide on a structure for the modules (weeks, topics, units, etc.)
• Determine what kind and how many assessments you will have.
• Consider the types of activities and files you will use.
• Determine if you will have groups or not.  If yes, how will students be organized?

Step 2

Log in to Brightspace at:

https://brightspace.vanderbilt.edu

Step 3

Edit your course Homepage

• Add a Banner, START HERE information, and Welcome Announcement

Step 4

Create the course Gradebook

• Use the gradebook Setup Wizard to setup your gradebook the first time
• Create grade items (columns) for the assessments you plan to give

Step 5

Setup your Groups

• Create groups
• Enroll users in groups

Step 6

Build Assessments

• Create Gradable Assignments
• Create Gradable Quizzes
  • VUSN Test Conversion tool for quizzes created in MS Word
  • Register Remote Proctor Exam
• Create Gradable Discussion Boards

Step 7

Build  Instructional Content

• Upload the syllabus
• Create & Organize Modules
• Copy from a previous course 
• Create New Content
  • Upload a file
  • Create a file
  • Add Video/Audio files
  • Create a Link
  • Add New or Existing Kaltura videos
• Add Release Dates, Descriptions, and Status

Step 8

QuickLink Assessments to modules

• Add Assessments
• Add Quicklinks
• Add Descriptions, Release Dates, and Status

Step 9

Make course Active

• How to Make a Course Active

Step 10

Grade students

• Navigating the gradebook
• Download and grade assignments
• Manually evaluate quizzes
• Grade discussion board topics
• Grade students in groups
• Analyze Quiz Statistics or Reports
• Give back points