Brightspace Implementation Updates

Dear colleagues,

Today we want to formally introduce Chris Patterson, Knox’s new Digital Scholarship Coordinator. Chris joined us at Knox on July 14th and has made an immediate and substantive impact on our Brightspace Implementation. He brings a wealth of experience working with faculty on creating courses in learning management systems. 

Chris will be offering Brightspace training throughout August and September, and today we are pleased to announce the schedule for August and September to learn how to navigate Brightspace as an instructor. Our goal is to help you all feel confident in using Brightspace to heighten our students’ learning experience!

You can learn more about the topic of the workshops and sign up for each of them via this sign-up form. Specifically, we are starting with two types of training:

1. Introduction to Brightspace: This 2-hour, in-person workshop will help instructors become familiar with the necessary tools in Brightspace to create their courses. As a result of this workshop, instructors will be able to:

Use Brightspace to shape the flow of their courses

Upload existing and create new content for their courses

2. Assessing Student Learning: This 2-hour, in-person workshop will focus on the ways instructors can assess student learning throughout the course. As a result of this workshop, instructors will be able to:

Organize a gradebook in line with a grading scheme

Upload existing and create 3+ types of assessments to populate the gradebook

If you are interested in either of these workshops, please sign up for a specific time via the sign-up form link. If you are unable to attend any of the sessions, do not worry. The team will start posting other helpful materials to the Brightspace FAQ page. Chris will also soon offer individual or group appointments to review specific questions about navigating Brightspace. 

Look for reminders and more information from Chris in the coming weeks.

Thank you, and please visit the LMS Implementation website to review past emails and for more information. Email lms@knox.edu with any questions. 

Best,

Anne Thomason

On behalf of the LMS Implementation Team

Ole Forsberg

Todd Heidt

Matthew Jones-Rhoades

Angela Mak

Chris Patterson

Chad Simpson

Tiffany Springer

James Stevens

Dear Colleagues,

The LMS implementation remains on track with J1 integration and Moodle migration well underway.  Two quick training updates:

• Our August training cohort has filled up--thank you for your interest and questions. If you signed up, you will hear from us soon about logistics and topics to be covered. 
• Next week a full schedule of Brightspace training happening in August and September will be available.

For previous updates and FAQ's please visit our website: https://library.knox.edu/brightspace

Email lms@knox.edu with questions, concerns, or kudos.

All the best,

Anne Thomason on behalf of the LMS Ad Hoc Implementation Team

Ole Forsberg

Todd Heidt

Matthew Jones-Rhoades

Angela Mak

Chris Patterson

Chad Simpson

Tiffany Springer

James Stevens

Dear colleagues,

The LMS Ad Hoc Implementation Team would like to invite you to Brightspace training sessions in August. These sessions are meant for serious (and fun) exploration and experimentation with Brightspace. 

There will be 3-4 online sessions with a Brightspace Trainer, along with opportunities to meet in person in the Abolition Lab with the others in the group to talk about what is working well, experiment, commiserate, and learn together. These opportunities will include coffee and other snacks.

The group will be limited to 15 participants. If interested, we have a few requests:

• Commit to attending the following online training sessions:

  • August 13, 11:00 am -1:00 pm

  • August 19, 9:00 am -11:00 am

  • August 25, 9:00 am - 11:00 am

• Commit to attending in person sessions in the Ab Lab to discuss and work on Brightspace together:

  • August 14, 10:00 am - 11:00 am

  • August 20, 10:00 am - 11:00 am

  • August 29, 10:00am - 11:00 am

• Genuine interest in learning how Brightspace works and an interest in using Brightspace in the fall

If you are interested, please follow this link to RSVP (sign up by July 29): https://forms.gle/jM9U6zqcEDarc2Bg9

Please note that very soon we will offer other training opportunities to help you get going on the basics, including 

• individual consultations with Digital Scholarship Coordinator Chris Patterson; 

• open office hours in the Abolition Lab; and

• group trainings on frequently asked topics. 

Thus, this August experience is the first of many opportunities.

All the best,

Anne Thomason on behalf of the LMS Ad Hoc Implementation Team:

Ole Forsberg

Todd Heidt

Matthew Jones-Rhoades

Angela Mak

Chris Patterson

Chad Simpson

Tiffany Springer

James Stevens

See past updates at our website:

https://library.knox.edu/brightspace

Dear Colleagues,
I write today with the latest update about the implementation of our new Learning Management System (Brightspace). 

• We remain on schedule to provide faculty and staff access to Brightspace by early August.
• Key integrations underway include Single Sign-On (SS0), J1, and the migration of course content from Moodle. 
• All existing Moodle courses will be fully migrated to Brightspace by early August. Moodle's retirement date remains December 31, 2025. 
• Our implementation team is starting instructor training with Brightspace on July 9, and starting July 8 is also meeting as a team weekly. 
• In the next two weeks we will be inviting you to take part in a variety of training opportunities that will be available starting in early August.
• Training will continue throughout Fall Term, and will include a December training opportunity.
• We are also excited to welcome our new Digital Scholarship Coordinator(DSC), Chris Patterson, who will be joining us at Knox on Monday, July 14. The DSC will be instrumental in supporting faculty, staff, and students as we learn about and implement Brightspace. 

Thank you for your continued support and engagement throughout the implementation. Please email questions, concerns, and kudos to lms@knox.edu and visit https://library.knox.edu/brightspace for an archive of all updates and a FAQ. 

All the best,

Anne Thomason on behalf of the LMS Ad Hoc Implementation Team:

Ole Forsberg

Todd Heidt

Matthew Jones-Rhoades

Angela Mak

Chad Simpson

Tiffany Springer

James Stevens

Dear Colleagues,

I write today with information about the implementation of our new Learning Management System (Brightspace).

Our LMS Implementation Team is committed to providing timely information about our Brightspace implementation. Beginning the week of July 7th, there will be at least biweekly communications from the team. We have created a website that will be updated regularly that will include all updates, links, and an FAQ.

https://library.knox.edu/brightspace
Please send questions, concerns, and kudos about the Brightspace implementation to lms@knox.edu
Some key dates:

• Faculty and staff will have access to Brightspace in early August; the exact date will be announced as soon as it is available.
• We will be providing workshops and training to fit a variety of needs. The implementation team will be actively training and learning about Brightspace in July with our Brightspace trainer. Training will be available for those ready to learn in August, will continue throughout Fall Term, and will include a December training opportunity.
• Moodle will officially retire on December 31st. Feel free to toast farewell that evening!

I look forward to working with everyone as we make the transition to Brightspace.

All the best,

Anne Thomason and the LMS Implementation Ad Hoc Team