Brightspace Newsletters

Welcome to the Brightspace newsletter archive where you will find the most recent newsletter along with all the previous editions.

To Access each newsletter click on the Relevant Title, you will then see a link to the newsletter with an outline of the Content.

📰 Newsletter No. 12 Aug 2026.

📰 Newsletter No. 12 Aug 2026.

This Newsletter is created by the Training and Comms Working Group of the VLE structure (John Morrisey & Angélica Rísquez - CTL, Siobhán Gleeson, Kristofer Harte & Jonathan Tobin - ITD)

WELCOME TO THE LATEST BRIGHTSPACE NEWSLETTER
HOW TO VIEW AND NAVIGATE THIS NEWSLETTER
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- SEM 1 2026/27 Module Overlay/Template updates
- Portflow CoP event: Using Portflow to build my teaching portfolio
- Microsoft LTIs in Brightspace are being retired
MICROSOFT IS RETIRING LTI INTEGRATIONS IN BRIGHTSPACE
FUNCTIONALITY UPDATES
- New Module Information Widget
- Content Navigator Widget
- Navbar Changes
THIRD PARTY TOOLS UPDATES
- Introducing the new Microsoft Office LTI
- Vevox: updated user interface, AI content creation and more
- New in Portflow: Quick & Easy Signature Sign-Offs
EARLY SEMESTER TIPS
- New to UL? Getting started in Brightspace
- Leganto Module Reading Lists in Brightspace for 2026/27
- Use the VLE to establish rapport with your students
- Making your Brightspace module content more accessible
- Resources to help you get started.
HAVE YOUR SAY
- PIE Items
- Feedback and suggestions
NEED SUPPORT
STAY CONNECTED

📰 Newsletter No. 11 Jun 2026

Table of Contents

WELCOME
- How to view and navigate this newsletter
ANNOUNCEMENTS

- Portflow is sailing strong

- Using Portflow for my Teaching Portfolio - Reflections on practice

FUNCTIONALITY UPDATES

- Brightspace new functionality (May/June)

CHANGE WINDOW UPDATES

- Navigation and Widget Updates

- Vevox Updates

SEM1 2026/27 MODULE OVERLAY/TEMPLATE UPDATES

- ATOM Project page in module overlay

HAVE YOUR SAY

- PIE Items

- Feedback and suggestions

GETTING STARTED OR NEED SUPPORT
STAY CONNECTED

📰 Newsletter No. 10 Mar 2026

📰 Newsletter No. 10 March 2026

Table of Contents

WELCOME
- How to view and navigate this newsletter
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- 2026-27 Sem1 Site Creation
- Portflow update and upcoming Portflow Community of Practice event (June 2nd, 12-1pm).
- Rollout of TRUST Suite of Evaluations – Semester 2, 2025/6
- New SEM1 2026/7 Module Overlay/Template
UPCOMING TRAINING
- Brightspace Learning Analytics webinar (April 14th, 2-3pm)
FUNCTIONALITY UPDATES
- Brightspace new functionality
- Vevox new functionality and upcoming training
END OF SEMESTER TOP TIP
- Grades visibility when assignments are linked to the grade tool
HAVE YOUR SAY
- PIE Items
- Feedback and suggestions
GETTING STARTED OR NEED SUPPORT
STAY CONNECTED

📰 Newsletter No. 9 Jan 2026

📰 Newsletter No. 9 January 2026

WELCOME
- How to view and navigate this newsletter
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- ePortfolio tool launch (Portflow)
- Get ready for the TRUST-SET rollout!
GETTING STARTED WITH BRIGHTSPACE?
SEMESTER 2: TOP TIPS
- Start-of-Semester Checks
- Supporting Early Student Engagement
- Accessibility and Inclusive Practice
- Library Resources in Brightspace
FUNCTIONALITY UPDATES
- Nav Bar and Org nav changes
- Discover sites
- Decommissioning of legacy ePortfolio tool
- Other vendor updates
HAVE YOUR SAY
- PIE Items
- Feedback and suggestions
LEARN MORE AND GET SUPPORT

📰 Newsletter No. 8 Dec - 2025

📰 BrightSpace Newsletter No. 8 DEC- 2025

Table of Contents

WELCOME

- How to view and navigate this newsletter

ANNOUNCEMENTS

- ePortfolio tool launch (Portflow)

- Brightspace Discover Update

ASSESSMENT AND GRADING TIPS

- Assessment functionality updates

- Best practice for using the Grades tool

- Grade with Quick Eval

- Reminder: Imported Turnitin Assignments

RECENT BRIGHTSPACE FUNCTIONALITY IMPROVEMENTS
HAVE YOUR SAY

- PIE Items

- Feedback and suggestions

LEARN MORE AND GET SUPPORT

📰 Newsletter No. 7 - Oct 2025

📰 Brightspace Newsletter No. 7 - October 2025

WELCOME

- How to view and navigate this newsletter

ANNOUNCEMENTS

- New institutional ePortfolio tool

- Final reminder: BBB end of life

STUDENT RESOURCES

BRIGHTSPACE DISCOVER UPDATE

TEACHING TIPS

- Use the MS Teams desktop app for teaching

- Quiz printing is now available

- Vevox Updates

REMINDER: IMPORTED TURNITIN ASSIGNMENTS

RECENT BRIGHTSPACE FUNCTIONALITY IMPROVEMENTS

- Media Library Update

- Assignment Update

- More Quiz Updates

- Other Updates

HAVE YOUR SAY

- PIE Items

- Do you have feedback and suggestions?

LEARN MORE AND GET SUPPORT

📰 Newsletter No. 6 Sept - 2025

📰Brightspace Newsletter No. 6 - Sept 2025

Announcements

CTL Digital Education new website page
New institutional ePortfolio tool
New training videos available
Leganto in Brightspace
Big Blue Button is now discontinued

Tips to start the semester

Getting set up
Use the VLE to establish rapport with your students
Explore Library resources in ‘Discover’
Engage your students in class with Vevox
Peer Assessment in Brightspace with peerScholar

Recent Brightspace functionality improvements

Learn more and get support

📰 Newsletter No. 5 Jun - 2025

WELCOME

- How to view and navigate this newsletter

GOOD TO KNOW

- Academic satisfaction levels with Brightspace

- Intelligent agents

- Change windows

- Product Idea Exchange Update

RECENT BRIGHTSPACE FUNCTIONALITY IMPROVEMENTS

- New Quiz Evaluation experience

- Assignments – download improvements

- Rubrics – Added Rubric Level Range Visual

- Groups – Export group enrolment data

ADMINISTRATION UPDATES

- New Faculty Learning Technologist - Manually Added Role

- Updates to PowerApps and Local Guest Accounts

- Multi-Factor Authentication for Local Guest Accounts

VEVOX UPDATES AND TRAINING
BIG BLUE BUTTON DISCONTINUATION FROM SEPTEMBER
PANOPTO - NEW CONTENT MANAGEMENT PLAN
LEARN MORE AND GET SUPPORT

📰 Newsletter No. 4 Apr - 2025

Brightspace Newsletter No. 4 - 2025

Table of Contents

WELCOME
WHAT’S NEW IN BRIGHTSPACE

- The Visual Table of Contents (VTOC)

- Weblink on Brightspace

HIGHLIGHT ON TURNITIN
IMPORTANT UPDATES

- Big Blue Button discontinuation from September

- Summer Sites and SEM1 2025-26

- Reminder: Partner Access Management System (PAMS)

USER TIPS

- Visibility of grades in Brightspace when an assignment is linked to the grade tool.

WHAT’S COMING UP

- Bulk feedback feature

- New Quiz Evaluation experience

- Upcoming changes to Panopto video storage and archiving

LEARN MORE AND GET SUPPORT

📰 Newsletter No. 3 Mar - 2025

BrightSpace Monthly Newsletter March 2025

WELCOME
EVENTS AND TRAINING

Vevox
Ally

FUNCTIONALITY UPDATES

Big Blue Button discontinuation from September
2025-26 SEM1 - Site Creation
Advanced functionality in Assignments tool

SPOTLIGHT ON BRIGHTSPACE DISCOVER

DID YOU KNOW?

LEARN MORE AND GET SUPPORT

📰 Newsletter No. 2 Feb- 2025

Brightspace Monthly Newsletter February 2025

WELCOME
IMPORTANT NOTES ON ACCESS TO BRIGHTSPACE
- Partner Access Management System (PAMS)
- Changes to Brightspace Local Guest Accounts
- Confirmation of Attendance
EVENTS AND TRAINING
- Ally (new accessibility tool)
- Accessible Digital Content
- PeerScholar
- Vevox
FUNCTIONALITY UPDATES
- Advanced functionality in the Assignments tool
- Deep Linking in Leganto
- MS Teams
- Instant Messaging End of Life
USEFUL TIPS FOR THIS MONTH
LEARN MORE AND GET SUPPORT