Brightspace: Add Widgets to Your Homepage

Overview

Use a widget-based homepage to display Brightspace tools and course information on your course homepage. After creating or selecting a widget-based homepage, you can add, arrange, edit, or remove widgets as needed.

Instructions

Note: The default homepage is locked, so you will need to copy or create a homepage first (using the instructions below) before you can add widgets.

Copy a Homepage

1. From your course navbar, click Course Admin, and then select Homepages.
2. On the Homepages page, open the actions menu next to the homepage you want to copy, and then select Copy.
3. Open the copied homepage.
4. Update the Name and make any other changes you want to the homepage.
5. Click Save and Close.
6. From the Active Homepage drop-down menu, select the copied homepage and click Apply.

Create a Widget-Based Homepage

1. From your course navbar, click Course Admin, and then select Homepages.
2. On the Homepages tab, click Create Homepage.
3. On the Create Homepage page:
   • Enter a Name and Description.
   • From the Type drop-down menu, select Widget-based.
   • If needed, select Include homepage header and enter the replace string information you want displayed below the navbar.
   • Click Change Layout and choose the panel layout you want to use. 
4. Click Save and Close.
5. From the Active Homepage drop-down menu, select the homepage you created and click Apply.

Note: Replace strings are placeholders that display course information, such as the course name, when the homepage is applied.

Add Widgets to the Homepage

1. Go to your course homepage.
2. Scroll to the bottom of the page, click on the three-dot menu, and select Edit this homepage. 

   Note: If you do not see Edit this homepage, you are likely using the default course homepage. You will need to copy an existing homepage or add a new one to change what widgets appear.

    
3. 
4. In the Widgets section, click Add Widgets.
5. Select the checkboxes for the widgets you want to add, then click Add.
6. Drag widgets to change their vertical order or move them to another panel.
7. Click Save and Close.

Note: The widgets available in Add Widgets depend on the tools enabled for your Brightspace environment and course. If a widget is missing, it may need to be enabled by a Brightspace administrator.

Edit or Remove Widgets

1. From your course homepage, click Homepage Options and select Edit this homepage.
2. In the Widgets section, do one of the following:
   • To remove a widget, click Remove next to that widget.
   • To edit a widget's appearance, click the widget name and adjust the available display options.
3. Click Save and Close.

Note: If you do not see Edit this homepage, you are likely using the default course homepage. You will need to copy an existing homepage or add a new one to change what widgets appear. ​​​​​​​

For more information: Add widgets to your homepage (Brightspace Community)