Brightspace: Navigating Brightspace (Students)

Overview

This article details how to navigate Brightspace and its interface. 

Learn how to navigate Brightspace as a student and understand common elements across courses.

Brightspace Homepage (landing page)

Get to know some of the main features on your Brightspace homepage:

1. Click on the “Villanova” logo to navigate back to the Brightspace landing page with all the courses.
2. The Course Selector will show all courses in a drop-down menu.
3. Message Alerts allows you to send an email to a Villanova email.
4. Subscription Alerts notify you about new or updated announcements, grades, and due or end dates for course activities or assessments.
5. Update Alerts notify you about new blog posts or discussion posts you are subscribed to.
6. The learner’s Name opens a personal menu to edit settings such as profile, notifications, account settings, and preferred language.
7. Villanova Resources – access Textbook Access Program Portal, CATS Surveys, Bookstore Course Material Finder, and important policies.
8. Brightspace Help – access support documentation on using Brightspace.

Brightspace Course

Get to know some of the main features on your Brightspace course:

1. Content – find course files, links, videos, and other materials.
2. Assignments – access all course assignments.
3. Quizzes – access all course quizzes.
4. Discussions – access all discussion boards for the course.
5. Zoom – access Zoom links and Cloud Recordings for the course.
6. Calendar – view Course Calendar with due dates entered by the instructor.
7. Grades – view your grades for the course.
8. Class Progress – track your progress using built‑in progress indicators.
9. Classlist – view who is enrolled and send emails to classmates or instructors.
10. Groups – view or join available Groups in your Brightspace course.