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D2L Brightspace

D2L Brightspace

Overview

What is D2L Brightspace?

Brightspace is an academic and corporate learning management platform. It provides core e-learning features, as well as mobile accessibility and granular personalization and analytics insights.

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Recent Reviews

TrustRadius Insights

D2L Brightspace has proven to be a versatile and essential tool for a wide range of users. For instructors, it has been instrumental in …
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Love it!

9 out of 10
April 06, 2019
We use Brightspace for all of our classes. All students have access to Brightspace in order to access their classes, and many of the staff …
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D2L does the job

8 out of 10
March 12, 2018
D2L is being used by the entire state university system. It has been, as I understand it, since 2010. The decision was made by the system …
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My D2L Experience in Higher Ed

9 out of 10
September 30, 2015
There are 31 colleges within the MN State Colleges and Universities System (MnSCU). To improve access to higher education, Minnesota State …
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Popular Features

View all 11 features
  • Learning content (9)
    9.6
    96%
  • Assignments (10)
    2.1
    21%
  • Learning reporting & analytics (10)
    2.1
    21%
  • Course authoring (10)
    2.1
    21%

Reviewer Pros & Cons

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Pricing

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Unavailable

What is D2L Brightspace?

Brightspace is an academic and corporate learning management platform. It provides core e-learning features, as well as mobile accessibility and granular personalization and analytics insights.

Entry-level set up fee?

  • No setup fee

Offerings

  • Free Trial
  • Free/Freemium Version
  • Premium Consulting/Integration Services

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Product Demos

D2L Brightspace | Tips & Tricks | How to Use Virtual Classrooms to Increase Student Engagement

YouTube

D2L Brightspace | Tips & Tricks | Using Intelligent Agents to Automate a Welcome Message

YouTube

D2L Brightspace v10.4 Creating Dropbox Folders

YouTube

D2L Brightspace v10.4 Grading Discussion Topics

YouTube

D2L Brightspace v10.4 Creating Discussion Forums

YouTube

Demo of Shuffling Quiz Questions in Brightspace

YouTube
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Features

Learning Management

Features of LMS and LCMS systems, related to designing, administering, and consuming learning content in an educational, corporate, or on-the-job context.

5.9
Avg 8.2
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Product Details

What is D2L Brightspace?

Brightspace is a learning management platform used to drive better learning outcomes by offering every learner a personalized, digital experience. From the kindergarten classroom, to college campuses, to global corporations, Brightspace aims to help create inspired and engaging learning for all.

It's key capabilities and benefits include:

  • Mobile-first design - Brightspace works on any device – whether a laptop or hand-me-down smartphone or tablet.
  • Personalized learning - Release Conditions and Intelligent Agents in Brightspace offer a high level of granularity and control over individual learning paths.
  • Teaching tools for educators and instructors.
  • Automation of routine course management tasks. ​
  • Built-in analytics to improve decision-making. ​
  • Tools like gamification, videos, badges, and others to increase learner engagement.
  • Learning experience that meet all accessibility standards.
  • Support for in-the-moment feedback as well as automation of assessments.


D2L Brightspace Features

Learning Management Features

  • Supported: Course authoring
  • Supported: Course catalog or library
  • Supported: Player/Portal
  • Supported: Learning content
  • Supported: Mobile friendly
  • Supported: Progress tracking & certifications
  • Supported: Assignments
  • Supported: Learning administration
  • Supported: Learning reporting & analytics
  • Supported: eLearning
  • Supported: Assessments
  • Supported: Live online learning
  • Supported: In-person learning
  • Supported: Micro-learning
  • Supported: Video learning
  • Supported: SCORM-compliant
  • Supported: Social learning

Additional Features

  • Supported: Social Assessment

D2L Brightspace Screenshots

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D2L Brightspace Videos

D2L Brightspace 101: Building Better Learning Experiences
Establishing Student Engagement and Confidence with Brightspace Pulse
Virtual Classroom for Brightspace
D2L Brightspace for K-12 Learning

D2L Brightspace Technical Details

Deployment TypesSoftware as a Service (SaaS), Cloud, or Web-Based
Operating SystemsUnspecified
Mobile ApplicationApple iOS, Android, Mobile Web
Supported CountriesGlobal
Supported LanguagesEnglish, Arabic, Danish, German, Spanish, French, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Portuguese, Swedish, Turkish, Chinese

Frequently Asked Questions

Brightspace is an academic and corporate learning management platform. It provides core e-learning features, as well as mobile accessibility and granular personalization and analytics insights.

Blackboard Learn by Anthology, Canvas, and Schoology Learning are common alternatives for D2L Brightspace.

Reviewers rate Course catalog or library highest, with a score of 10.

The most common users of D2L Brightspace are from Enterprises (1,001+ employees).
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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(77)

Community Insights

TrustRadius Insights are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, 3rd-party data sources. Have feedback on this content? Let us know!

D2L Brightspace has proven to be a versatile and essential tool for a wide range of users. For instructors, it has been instrumental in facilitating online and face-to-face courses, eliminating the need for paper and allowing for the review and assessment of student coursework in a digital format. The platform has also served as a communication tool within educational institutions, enabling customized training, departmental collaboration, and the distribution of course materials. Moreover, it has supported faculty advancement portfolios, continuous learning in administrative departments, and the delivery of professional development training.

Additionally, D2L Brightspace has been widely utilized by students across various educational settings. It has provided a unique and personalized continuing educational tool, offering options for presenting and managing content to create efficient and engaging learning opportunities. The platform has served as a common repository for storing information, allowing students to access course materials, submit assignments, participate in discussions, and take quizzes online. With its user-friendly interface and flexibility in posting material and grading, D2L Brightspace has made online learning accessible and convenient for students.

Overall, D2L Brightspace's use cases span from supporting traditional classroom environments to facilitating distance learning and hybrid courses. Its integration with other technologies further enhances the learning experience by embedding tools like the Google Suite and Adobe Cloud. The customizable nature of D2L Brightspace enables instructors and institutions to tailor the platform to their specific needs and deliver classes in various formats – in-person, hybrid or fully online. Additionally, its mobile accessibility ensures that users can access course materials anytime and anywhere. With positive feedback from faculty regarding its functionality and ease of use, D2L Brightspace continues to serve as a reliable Learning Management System for universities, colleges, community colleges, and other educational organizations nationwide.

Seamless migration process: Several users have stated that the migration process from ANGEL to D2L Brightspace was smooth and hassle-free. This suggests that D2L Brightspace has effective tools and support in place to ensure a seamless transition, minimizing disruptions for educational institutions.

Flexible customization options: Many reviewers have appreciated the ability to customize widgets and change the layout of home pages in D2L Brightspace. This feature allows instructors to personalize their course pages and create a tailored learning experience for students. It highlights the software's flexibility and adaptability in catering to individual instructor preferences and instructional needs.

Commitment to user feedback: The user community has expressed appreciation for D2L Brightspace's collection and prioritization of new ideas. This showcases the software's dedication to incorporating user feedback and continuously improving its features based on customer input. The emphasis on user feedback demonstrates D2L Brightspace's commitment to meeting the evolving needs and expectations of its users.

Confusing and Non-Intuitive User Interface: Some users have found the user interface of D2L Brightspace to be confusing and not intuitive, requiring multiple steps to complete tasks.

Limited Customization Options: Several reviewers have mentioned that the customization options for page layouts and graphics in D2L Brightspace are limited. Users desired easier customization capabilities to personalize their courses.

Difficulties with Calendar Tool: The Calendar Tool in D2L Brightspace has been reported as difficult to navigate and manage by some users. They have expressed challenges in using this tool effectively for scheduling and keeping track of important dates.

Based on user reviews, there are three common recommendations for Brightspace. One important recommendation is to carefully consider the ease of use and quality of customer service. Users recommend thoroughly exploring all available options, asking questions, and taking into account potential future updates and improvements. Brightspace stands out for its highly intuitive interface and responsive customer service, making it an excellent choice for educational purposes.

Another key recommendation is to ensure proper setup and configuration of Brightspace during implementation in order to align with long-term goals. Users highly advise engaging a Technical Account Manager for comprehensive support and successful deployment. It is also recommended to compare costs and assess essential features when evaluating competing alternatives.

Users strongly advocate for utilizing the abundant resources and features offered by Brightspace. They recommend taking advantage of the available tutorials and other platform resources to enhance usage and instruction. While Brightspace is generally considered reliable, user-friendly, and intuitive, some users have noted that entering notes may not be as seamless as desired. It is also suggested to explore different areas within Brightspace to become familiar with its functionalities, and to enable direct communication between the messaging system and external email platforms for improved correspondence.

Overall, Brightspace is regarded as an outstanding learning management system (LMS) that offers great control and customization options for instructors. Users highly recommend it for effectively organizing students' classwork and facilitating video conferences. However, it is advised to carefully evaluate the pros and cons of implementing Brightspace, considering the additional time commitments it may require for professors.

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(1-25 of 25)
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Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
While some of the members of our department view Brightspace as not being as intuitive or powerful as alternatives, I am sure our institution will renew our contract for the foreseeable future. There are several departments utilizing the tool, and due to its ease of use on mobile platforms, it will remain a strong contender. If the UI can be tweaked to be even easier to use, and some quality of life features such as batch deletion and click to hide are implemented, I cannot see a better product.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Again; this is a state system decision, but I do sit on the MnSCU Technology Advisory Council and we make recommendations to the Senior Vice Chancellor.
Steven Mitchell | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
I don't have much input in the decision process, but if I did I would recommend it for its functionality, its ease of use and the ability for faculty and students across a wide range of areas of study to use. I feel it is an excellent tool for distance learning.
April 29, 2015

Desire2Learn Review

Score 1 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
My current position is with a much smaller, private institution of about 3500 students. We do have budget limitations that exclude the use of an LMS such as Desire2Learn because of cost. If it was more affordable - we certainly would consider it as an option in an LMS evaluation process.
Michelle Fisher | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
I am not on the selection committee for this product's renewal. I do know that D2L is less expensive than Blackboard and that was a deciding factor in the original transition from Blackboard to D2L as was a bad history with Blackboard customer support. The main problem I have with D2L based on my role, is the back-end user interface design. This impacts faculty, instructional designers, and course designers.
February 06, 2015

Desiring to Learn

Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Other than the user access issues, the system is very solid and stable. Speed and accessibility were our largest hurdle, but most of that was because of hosting and location. There were plenty of manuals and system materials available online, but we were left to our own most of the time.
Erik Richter | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Even though I do not have a say in the choosing of the product I feel that Desire2Learn is the best online program that I have worked with so far. Moving from version 9 to version 10 they made good improvements to the program with on going support in case something happens where the professor runs into a problem, even if this occurs at midnight.
Ed Lovitt | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
I would never give any system a perfect score. In the technology environment today we need to be constantly looking at ways to improve the user experience and LMS companies like Desire2Learn need to know that we have options today with other systems and they need to stay current with features and listen to their customers.
Score 6 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Our faculty and students are satisfied with D2L, find its features to be mostly intuitive, and it is sufficient for our needs. After version 10.4, D2L will be going to a continuous incremental release model, which will allow them to innovate more frequently. The introduction of version 10 has been a tremendous improvement over prior versions. D2L has integrated well with our ERP (Peoplesoft) and it has become a core part of our technology suite.
Randi Tucker Barr, MBA, PhD | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
In my position as online course facilitator the decision is not mine to renew use of Desire2Learn; however, if asked I would vote to continue with this integrated learning platform. Course delivery is organized and efficient. Resources promote ease in instructional design.
Score 6 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
I do not have ultimate decision-making power over whether to keep Desire2Learn as a product. As a result, I believe that my employer has negotiated a significant contract with Desire2Learn and therefore will be using this product for quite some time in the future.
February 15, 2014

Interacting with D2L

Brenda Schoolfield | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
I am not in a position to cancel service with D2L, but I cannot see abandoning the system. D2L listens to feedback and offers extensive training opportunities to interested users. If asked, I would not recommend changing systems. While no LMS is perfect, I seem to have had fewer significant problems with D2L than my colleagues in other places have had with other systems.
Heather Moore | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
They are moving to a consistent upgrading process where all new updates will be automatically rolled out. They have been quick to resolve issues when they arise. This company is always adding new features that are requested of their clients. They strive to be the best at what they do and it shows.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
We will renew because we are pleased with the product and we are also interested in Desire2Learn's other products such as Insights and what they might be able to offer us in terms of supporting student success initiatives.
Carrie Ann Desnoyers | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
While this product is not perfect, it is the most effective and efficient of all of the LMS products I have used. It is intuitive in a way that most programs are not - which is why it is easier to train people in its use. I like the freedom and flexibility in design, and appreciate the freedom in creating roles and permissions that it allows for.
February 14, 2014

Cartwheels in the aisles!

Inez Whipple | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
If I were given the opportunity to use D2L again, it would be awesome. Although the development of our courses and the implementation training took a lot of time, I don't feel that would have been any different using any other LMS. I loved the teaching features of D2L and feel it's a great product for students and faculty. It has some innovative features that are not available with other LMS products.
Michael Smith, M.Ed. | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
I would renew my use of Desire2Learn because of the results I have seen during my time using it as a Learning Management System as an online instructor. I have much higher retention rates, my students are much better engaged, and my communication with my students is stronger and much more accurate.
Claudia Howery | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
My position is that of offering support using the software and develop courses. "Renewing decisions are not under the scope of my job responsibilities." My highest contribution whenever an LMS is being purchased is that of testing and find the best way to implement this. Regardless of the LMS I must find its strengths and prepare the workarounds that will help our customers to do what they need with the software.
Score 1 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
  1. Product is immature
  2. Product code and build out is inconsistent across the platform. It appears that the product us a mashup of code made by several developers working independently.
  3. Cost of product is high
  4. Product vision, roadmap and new features appear to be developed in isolation and not in an organic process
  5. Features and functions for improved learning appear to be far behind mature LMS products like Moodle and ItsLearning
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