Working with the Brightspace Module Overlay/Template
Working with the Brightspace Module Overlay/Template
This guide walks you through the Brightspace module overlay/template what it is, why it exists, and how to make it work for your module.
It covers:
- The rationale for a consistent module overlay/template
- Working with module sections 1 & 2
- Importing content from previous module sites
- Moving and organising materials within the overlay structure
- Removing sections you don't need
- Understanding the Support and Resources section and how it is applied
Rationale for a consistent module overlay/template
Students demand consistent module site design
- The Irish National Digital Experience (INDEx) Survey (HEA, 2020) places VLE consistency as the highest-priority student demand nationally.
- Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a driver of consistency, linking consistency of module design explicitly to inclusion and accessibility.
- Common sectoral practice with other Brightspace institutions (UCD, TUD) is for all modules to include "VLE Standards Units" by default and to require instructors to ensure modules follow this consistent structure.
The legacy Brightspace overlay/template
- Since the start of Brightspace at UL, only recently approved new modules have had a module overlay/template applied.
- Any other module site starts out as an empty shell, and the instructor needs to manually import previous course material.
- This has resulted in aging content and "link rot", as the legacy overlay/template is now four years old.
Governance
ULTAC > VLE Management Board > working groups.
h2>What's in the overlay
The overlay includes three main sections:
- Module Overview
- Learning Pathway
- Support and Resources 2026/27
How the process works
The overlay is applied to module sites automatically, giving you a consistent starting structure that you then populate and tailor for your module.
Working with module sections 1 & 2
Sections 1 and 2 form the spine of every module: the Module Overview and the Learning Pathway.
Section 1 — Module Overview
- Module Aims & Learning Outcomes
- Key Dates & Schedule
- Assessment & Feedback
- Module Handbook (placeholder)
- Leganto Reading List
- Trust Evaluations (closing the feedback loop)
Section 2 — Learning Pathway
The Learning Pathway is where weekly or topic-based teaching content lives, structured consistently so students always know where to look.
Importing content from previous module sites
If you have content from a previous run of your module, you can bring it across rather than rebuilding from scratch.
User guides
Video walkthroughs
Moving and organising materials within the overlay structure
Time-saving tips
- Add and organize learning materials
- Editing pages directly in the new content experience
- Copying and pasting content in from a previous layout
- Drag and drop pages to reorder
- Course Builder for bulk restructuring
Windows clipboard shortcuts
- On Windows, use the Windows clipboard: Win + V then paste, which keeps destination formatting.
- Win + Shift + V = paste as plain text.
Removing sections not required in your module
If you're already satisfied with the layout of your content, you may not want Sections 1 and 2 of the overlay at all. Removing them is straightforward.
Three clicks and they're gone.
Understanding the Support and Resources 2026/27 section
The Support and Resources 2026/27 section contains institutional guidance covering:
- Academic integrity
- Accessibility
- LevUL UP / digital skills
- Learning centres
- Library support
How it is applied
- The Support & Resources unit drops in during August, guaranteeing those policies and resources are current before the semester starts.
- To protect your work, this new section appears at the very bottom of your existing course content. It will not overwrite, reorder, or interfere with anything you already have in place.
Remember: use the toggle to make content visible to students.
