Brightspace: Key Differences Between Blackboard & Brightspace

Overview

This article details key differences between Blackboard and Brightspace. 

What are the 3 key differences between Brightspace and Blackboard?

  • To access your course content (readings, videos, files, links), click on Content on the blue navigation bar in your course.

Red arrow pointing to Content

  • To access Assignments, Quizzes, Discussions, Grades, click on the item on the blue navigation bar in your course.

Arrow pointing to Assignments, Quizzes etc.. in header.

  • Important: The blue navigation bar in your course will be the exact same in all of your courses.

Red arrow pointing to header.

Interested in learning even more about the differences between Blackboard & Brightspace?

  • The table below summarizes how each comparable Brightspace feature differs from Blackboard.
  • Each row includes a link to the official Brightspace support article for further reading.
Blackboard Feature Brightspace Equivalent What's Different for Students Want to learn more?
Content Homepage & Folders on the left-hand course navigation Content → Modules & Sub-modules A linear, progress-aware Content experience with completion tracking and a progress bar; materials can appear in the Work To Do widget if dated. Article
Video
My Grades Grades Students see released grades, comments, rubric feedback, and (optionally) distribution graphs; final grade visibility is controlled by instructor. Article
Video
Assignments Assignments Modern upload flow with file type validation, text/audio/video submissions, rubric preview. Students can access via Content or Assignments tool. Article
Video
Tests Quizzes Quiz List shows Future/Current/Past; timing, attempts, Respondus, synchronous/asynchronous modes; results display controlled by instructor. Students can access via Content or Quizzes tool. Article
Video
Calendar Calendar Multiple views (Agenda/Day/Week/Month/List); automatic entries from due/end dates; iCal subscribe to Outlook/Google/iCloud. Students can see all-course or per-course events depending on placement. Article
Video
Discussion Board Discussions (Forums → Topics → Threads) Students post to Topics within Forums; can subscribe for notifications, include audio/video. Article
Video
Announcements Announcements Announcements also surface in Pulse mobile and can be exposed via RSS; instructors can schedule and pin items. Article
Sign-up Lists Groups Students can self-enroll into groups when enabled; grouped discussions/assignments respect enrollments and appear in Work To Do when dated. Video
Course Dashboard Work To Do widget Brightspace homepage widget that aggregates due/overdue items across courses; course widget scopes to that course; shows Assignments, Discussions, Quizzes, Content (dated). Article
Activity Stream Update Alerts / Notifications Brightspace uses a global Alerts bell and Pulse app for push/email summaries. Students subscribe to Announcements/Discussions and receive consolidated updates across tools rather than a single course stream UI. Video
Email Email tool & Notifications Course email is sent via Brightspace; students manage notification targets (email, push). Reply paths allow you to respond directly to instructor messages from your email. Article
Global Notifications Notifications & Pulse Students can opt into instant and daily/weekly digest notifications (email/push) for grades, announcements, content updates, discussions, etc.; controls exist at user level and can have org defaults. Video
Retention Center Class Progress Students have a consolidated view of activity/feedback across tools (Assignments, Discussions, Quizzes, Content progress). Students see their own progress. Article
Video
SafeAssign (plagiarism reports) Turnitin (Similarity in Assignments) If enabled, students may see Similarity Reports and feedback inline within Assignments. Availability and visibility are controlled per assignment. Article
Print Article