Dr Jan Folkert (J.F.) Deinum, Senior Educational Advisor and Researcher; University of Groningen: Implementing a Brightspace Course Template

1. Implementing a
Brightspace Course
Template
Jan Folkert Deinum

2. Why a template?
• Students ask for a clear and coherent structure and phrasing
• Courses better accessible for students with special needs
• By choosing a week structure, it organizes courses over time
• If course structures are similar, learning analytics becomes easier
• With a template we can automate processes
So:
• One template for whole university
─ In a faculty/school template, something may be added, but not changed
• Exceptions will be necessary
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3. Why now?
• Already used Blackboard for 22 years; courses are completely different
in structure and design
• With implementation of Brightspace, every course has to be transferred
anyway
• A lot of student assistants (100+ on 2500 teachers and 6000 courses))
to support teachers to transfer and restructure course
• Once Brightspace is up and running, it will be difficult to implement a
template (again)
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4. 4

5. 5
Months Initial plan
-15 (Jun) Brainstorm, first draft
-11 (Sep) Discuss draft with teachers
-9 (Nov) Pilot 1, early adopters
-8 (Dec) Evaluation pilot, 2nd draft
-6 (Feb) Pilot 2, early majority
-4 (Apr) Evaluation 2nd pilot
-3 (May) Discussion in university final draft
-2 (Jun) Implementation template
0 (Sep) Full run semester 1a

6. 6
Months Initial plan Reality
-15 (Jun) Brainstorm, first draft Appeal against tender
-11 (Sep) Discuss draft with teachers Appeal Rejected
-9 (Nov) Pilot 1, early adopters Hurry up with first draft, not that simple
-8 (Dec) Evaluation pilot, 2nd draft First draft ready, not discussed with teachers
-6 (Feb) Pilot 2, early majority Pilot 1, early adopters, immediate evaluation, 2nd draft
-4 (Apr) Evaluation 2nd pilot Evaluation 2nd draft, immediate implementation 3rd
-3 (May) Discussion in university final draft Oops, the Sept courses should already be available. Draft is
not a draft anymore
-2 (Jun) Implementation template Everything up and running, no discussion
0 (Sep) Full run semester 1a Full run semester 1a

7. Evaluation
• Focus groups (teachers and students seperately)
• Quick questionnaire for students
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8. The template home page
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9. The template home page
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10. The navigation bar
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11. Course content
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12. Course orientation
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13. Course orientation
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14. Course planning and workload
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15. Week in detail
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16. Week in detail
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17. Questions, discussion, feedback, critics?
j.f.deinum@rug.nl
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