Brightspace is the virtual learning environment and Learning Management System (LMS) the College uses.

This means all your course content, assignments, resources, discussions and so much more will be there!

Brightspace Dashboard Navigation

Once you login to your Brightspace page, you will find your dashboard. You will see your navigation options, courses and customizable features. Here are key items on your dashboard to help get you started:​​​​​

1. My Courses: Here you will see a list of the courses you are registered in that are hosted in Brightspace. These will only appear as of the first official day of classes. Once you click on each course, you will see all the information and options related to that course.
2. Resources: You'll find direct links for getting started, connected and supported at the college through services and supports in this section.
3. Get Help: This tool will assist you wherever you are in Brightspace. You will see a button at the bottom right of your browser. You can use it if you’re stuck with something in the system or need to contact them for support.
4. Your Name: This is where you can customize your profile (including changing your profile picture), settings, notifications and more account details.
5. Message, Subscription, & Update Alerts: Here you can view all your notifications to stay on top of work and deadlines.
6. Announcements & Calendar: Important announcements from the college and your faculty are housed here. You can see all your upcoming deadlines, event dates and more in the calendar. You can also subscribe to calendars and import your Outlook calendar to keep everything in one place!

Joining an Online Zoom Class

Once you have opened your Course panel select the class you are joining.

Once selected, the course information and options will open for that course on your screen.

In Brightspace, you will see the Zoom link in the top banner. Click on that link to view the online classroom links.

Your college Zoom account is separate to any personal account and will use your GBC credentials as your log in.

Once the Zoom portal is open, you will see a list of Upcoming Meetings. This is a list of your Zoom classes. Select the right link and click "Start" to join your online class. You can view recordings of your online Zoom classes by selecting "Cloud Recordings."

If you haven't set up your GBC Zoom account, it's easy. Visit the GBC Zoom site and log in with your student ID and password to activate your account. If you are joining events hosted on Zoom, like orientation or student workshops outside of the class, you may be required to authenticate to join the Zoom session. If you’re stuck, visit our Student Zoom Support page for more information.

Brightspace allows you to set your preferences to make sure that you never miss any communication from your courses, instructors or even your classmates.

Check out these sections for some quick tutorials on making the most of these functions in Brightspace!

Your instructors can add different types of content to your courses, such as files, text, assignments, images, multimedia and links. They can organize content in folders, learning modules and lesson plans.

You can access course content from the links on the course menu. Links that hold content are called content areas. For example, an instructor may add a content area that contains a week's worth of course material. So, week 1 could include content such as readings, assignments, a discussion and a link to a website. You have to select each item individually to open it.

“The course menu is the panel in the centre of your screen in Brightspace which contains links to all course areas. Instructors control the content and tools available on the course menu. Instructors can even customize the style of the course menu. They can change the colour, add sub-headers and dividers, and choose buttons or text for the links. These customizations create variations in the look and organization of your courses.”
Brightspace

What if you don't see some content?

Remember that instructors can limit which content items you see based on date, time, individual users, course groups and your performance on graded items. Ask your instructor about content that you think may not appear for you but should.

The college uses a classroom streaming tool that is familiar to most students, Zoom. Visit our Student Zoom Support page for information on how to use Zoom.

Your faculty will create a virtual classroom to share presentation material and communicate with you and your classmates through audio, video and chat tools. These direct links will appear in your course shells in Brightspace and they will direct you to the Zoom link your class is being held on. This is where you'll have your online lectures, live discussions and presentations when studying online.

Webinar rooms include a collaborative whiteboard tool that allows you to interact with your classmates and your instructor in real time. Desktop applications and web resources such as multimedia can be displayed directly within the web conference room.

An interactive recording can be created for each session allowing you the opportunity to review material following the live online webinar. Check with your instructor to see if they provide this option in your course.

How to use Virtual Classroom Tools

Platforms require certain permissions to function as desired. For example, you need to grant permission to access your camera and microphone so you can use audio and video. Give Zoom or Teams permission when asked, and/or set up permissions in your browser preferences.

There are a few browsers that support these tools, so make sure you are working within those browsers when you use this system:

A few things to do before your first virtual class:

• Make sure you are using a supported web browser.
• Check your internet connection.
• If you are presenting use the Share Files option to load your PowerPoint file before the session starts, rather than sharing your Desktop.
• Find out how to use the accessibility tools for the platform so you can engage with the content and your class best.

Try these things to make a strong impression during your virtual class:

• Join the session early. Give yourself time to learn what you can and can't do in the session.
• Be on time. If you can't be early, be on time. Let the moderator know if you are going to be late or absent.
• Introduce yourself. Don't assume everyone automatically recognizes your voice. State your name the first few times you speak. Let moderators know who is participating. Give everyone a chance to know you.
• Make eye contact. If you are sharing video, look at the camera and not the session. It may feel weird but it shows you are engaged in the session.
• Mute yourself when not speaking. Nothing is more distracting than background noise.
• Be professional. You may be joining the session from somewhere private but you are not alone. You are face-to-face with your peers, instructors, and guest experts. Make a good impression. Participate. Don't talk over someone. Type questions and feedback in the chat.
• Take an active part. Use the feedback feature and chat to show your engagement.
• Raise your hand. If you have a question or comment, use the Raise Hand button under Reactions to alert your instructor and they’ll call on you when appropriate.

As you progress through your course, you'll complete different types of assignments: problems to solve, chapter questions to answer, research papers, presentations, creative writing and so on.

You can easily upload your files and receive files back, along with your grade and feedback. Your instructor controls the date when assignments are ready for you to access and when they are due. Make sure you read your course outline thoroughly and make note of all important dates so you don't miss anything. Adding them to your calendar will help you stay on track.

Your instructors may also use tests to assess your mastery over course content and objectives. You can only access a test when it has been deployed by your instructor in a course. When the instructor lets you know that test is available, and where to find it, enter that area of the course and click on the test link to start it.

Quick tips for taking a test online

Start your test as soon as you can.

• If your instructor makes a test available for three days, plan to take the test early on the first day. This way, if you have an issue, you will have time to contact technical support and your instructor.

Read all of the instructions.

• If you have any trouble with your test or understanding test questions or requirements, contact your instructor immediately.

Check your internet connection.

• A wired connection is usually more reliable than a wireless connection.
• Check with your instructor and institution before you take a test with a cellular data connection.

Don't refresh the page, close the window or use the browser's back button while you take a test.

• If you have problems during a test, contact your instructor immediately.

You may see your score immediately after you complete the test if all questions are auto-graded and your instructor releases this information. Your instructor may also choose a future date to release test scores. In the next section, you'll learn how to view feedback and grades.

In Brightspace, click on each individual course, and then select "Grades" from the top banner.

Every grade associated with projects and assignments for that class will be housed within the course page. Faculty will also include feedback in this section.

Viewing your grades and feedback:

Your official final grade for the class will be posted to your STU-VIEW under the Academic Records tab at the end of the semester.

Brightspace is a fully accessible learning management system that includes many tools to make the most of your experience.

Some of the customizations include adjusting the text size and contrast, screen reader compatibility, and enabling assistive technologies to provide a better learning experience.

To get started, log in to your Brightspace and click on your name at the top right. Then select "Account Settings" to get started.

Brightspace has easy-to-use tech support within the platform called Get Help, which you can find in the bottom right of your browser.

Get Help can give simple instructions to fix your issues, connect you with an agent or create a support ticket.

Further GBC account help can be found via the Help Desk at 416-415-5000 x4357, helpdesk@georgebrown.ca or the Ask George chatbot in the MyGBC Student Portal. 

You can also find more Brightspace support and FAQ here.