Unveiling Brightspace: A UFV Community-Centered Transition

The Teaching and Learning Centre (TLC) at UFV recently hosted an engaging and collaborative event to introduce Brightspace, the university’s new learning management system. The session brought together faculty, staff, and IT professionals to explore the platform’s capabilities and discuss the transition process.

The event opened with a thoughtful territory acknowledgment from Dr. Awneet Sivia, AVP, who emphasized the importance of community, collaboration, and relationship-building—values that have been at the heart of the LMS transition. She expressed gratitude to the Stó:lō people for their teachings and recognized the dedication of the teams involved in this transformative process.

Fizza Haider, Sabine Décamp and Michelle Johnson led the unveiling of Brightspace, igniting excitement about its potential to enhance teaching and learning.

The session included:

a live demonstration,

showcasing Brightspace’s user-friendly interface,

improved grading tools,

and streamlined course management features.

We heard from three Faculty members who were part of the Winter Pilot, Dr. Luisa Giles from Kinesiology, Patrick Watchorn from Carpentry, and Maya Grant from Nursing who shared their experiences using Brightspace, challenges and successes, and their tips for a smooth transition. Attendees also had the opportunity to ask questions and share insights on how the new system could support innovative teaching practices.

The event highlighted UFV’s dedication to fostering an inclusive and supportive digital learning environment. By strengthening collaboration among IT, TLC, and faculty, the university is embracing this exciting change and is committed to making the transition as smooth as possible. With ongoing support, training sessions, and valuable resources, UFV is ensuring that faculty feel confident and well-equipped to navigate and maximize the potential of Brightspace.

Stay tuned for upcoming training sessions and resources to help faculty and staff make the most of Brightspace!

Video:

Sign up for a Brightspace workshop here.

TLC’s Brightspace repository of videos, and written documents linked here.

Check out the full list of Brightspace events on UFV’s Events calendar here.