D2L Shines a Spotlight on Exciting Innovations in D2L Brightspace to Support…

D2L Highlights New D2L Brightspace Product Features to Help Enhance Accessibility and Ease of Use

Contextual AI support and easier partner integrations can help enhance the learning experience

D2L, a global learning technology company, has recently announced the release of enhanced product features for its Brightspace platform. These features have been developed over the past six months and aim to simplify the learning experience for global learners and educators by bringing learning solutions together in one place. The new features focus on enhancing accessibility and ease of use, making it easier for educators to offer effective learning in online and blended environments.

Rajesh Talpade, Senior Vice President of Product Management at D2L, expressed his enthusiasm about the company’s investment in its existing solutions and its efforts to broaden its portfolio of products, partner solutions, and services. According to Talpade, D2L‘s new and enhanced product features can make it easier than ever to offer effective learning and ensure that learners have the opportunity to succeed.

New D2L Solution for Businesses

In September 2023, D2L introduced a new, all-in-one solution for businesses called D2L for Business. This integrated, easy-to-use corporate solution combines the benefits of an existing network of world-class education providers, skill development solutions, and expert consulting services as a learning experience platform (LXP). This solution aims to empower learners, educators, and administrators in the business sector.

Brightspace Functionalities and Offerings

The enhanced Brightspace platform now offers even more Creator+ tools for educators. These include new accessible layouts, expanded types of interactive elements, and a fully accessible hotspot practice question type. These tools enable educators to continue building beautiful and instructionally sound content using familiar Brightspace workflows.

Another notable feature is the AI-driven Brightspace Virtual Assistant, which provides contextual help and support embedded within Brightspace. This AI support can assist learners and educators in navigating the platform and accessing resources more efficiently.

Furthermore, D2L has improved the data dashboards in Brightspace, providing educators and businesses with more datasets and insights to understand metrics in their organizations. These improvements aim to make it easier for educators and administrators to track learner progress and make data-informed decisions.

Simplifying Workflows

D2L continues to make significant improvements to the Brightspace platform to simplify and enhance workflows for users. The Quiz experience has been improved to support high-stakes exams with strict time limits, synchronous quizzing windows, and other enhancements. The Discussion experience has also been upgraded, offering educators new functionality and improved workflows.

Additionally, D2L has introduced new content authoring functionality to help educators manage both the required and optional course materials more easily. The Media Library has been made more user-friendly, with new time-saving indicators to track progress and surface common actions. Moreover, educators can now benefit from changes to course merging options, empowering them to save administrative time.

The latest Brightspace updates also include self-enrollment enhancements, providing professional development opportunities for learners. These enhancements ensure that learners are enrolling in the right courses and acquiring the necessary skills for their personal and professional growth.

Uniting a Stronger Ecosystem

D2L has taken steps to enhance its robust learning ecosystem by simplifying access to Brightspace and encouraging new interactions among educators, administrators, and learners. This includes partnerships and integrations with other platforms and services that complement and expand the capabilities of Brightspace.

D2L has made the course registration process easier through its partnership with Course Merchant. Course Merchant, previously a key integration partner, now offers its front-end course catalog, payment, and enrollment system as a D2L product. This seamless integration provides a modern e-commerce experience for course registration.

Additionally, D2L has integrated Brightspace Analytics within Ellucian Experience, enabling advisors to quickly identify at-risk learners by aggregating Brightspace data with external data. This holistic approach allows educators to determine appropriate intervention strategies and support learners effectively.

D2L has also introduced D2L Link, which facilitates integration between Brightspace and the systems of record that clients use daily. This integration minimizes manual tasks and ensures data synchronization between systems, streamlining administrative processes for educators and administrators.

Furthermore, D2L has launched IntegrationHub, a catalog site that lists partner solutions available for integration with Brightspace. This platform makes it easy for Brightspace users to browse D2L‘s extensive list of integrated technologies and solutions, including accessibility tools, student information systems, and secure proctoring assessment platforms.

Editorial

D2L‘s commitment to enhancing accessibility and ease of use in its Brightspace platform is commendable. The new features and improvements address the needs of learners and educators in today’s rapidly evolving learning landscape. By offering a comprehensive suite of tools, D2L aims to provide a seamless learning experience that fosters engagement and success.

The integration of artificial intelligence through the Brightspace Virtual Assistant will undoubtedly be a valuable resource for users. The contextual help and support provided by this AI tool can assist learners and educators in navigating the platform, accessing resources, and troubleshooting issues, ultimately enhancing the overall user experience.

Furthermore, D2L‘s partnerships and integrations with Course Merchant, Ellucian Experience, and other platforms expand the capabilities of Brightspace and create a more comprehensive and interconnected learning ecosystem. These collaborations empower educators and administrators to access a wide range of resources and streamline administrative processes, ultimately saving time and enhancing productivity.

Advice

Educators and organizations utilizing the Brightspace platform should take advantage of the new features and enhancements to optimize the learning experience. The Creator+ tools, improved workflows, and expanded functionalities in Brightspace can help educators create engaging and accessible content, saving time and effort in their course development process.

Additionally, educators should explore the AI-driven Brightspace Virtual Assistant to support learners and provide instant help and guidance. This tool can greatly enhance learners’ independence, allowing them to navigate the platform and access resources with ease.

Administrators should benefit from the improved data dashboards and analytics in Brightspace. Leveraging these tools can provide valuable insights into learner progress, engagement, and overall performance, enabling data-driven decision-making and ensuring the delivery of effective learning experiences.

Lastly, educators and administrators are encouraged to explore the available partner solutions and integrations through D2L Link and IntegrationHub. These resources can enhance the functionality of Brightspace and provide additional tools and services that align with specific educational goals and requirements.

Overall, D2L‘s commitment to continuous improvement and innovation in its Brightspace platform is a positive step towards creating an inclusive and user-friendly learning environment. By leveraging these new features and partnerships, educators and organizations can enhance their teaching and learning experiences, ultimately benefiting learners and preparing them for success in the future.