Comparison of Brightspace and Bb Tools

Access to a Content Editor

In any Content module page, click Upload/Create > Create a File.

In any Content Area page, click Build Content > Item.

Accessibility Checker

Built-in

Built-in

Adding formatted text

Yes

Yes

Embedding images

Yes

Yes

Creating videos and audios

Yes - it is a built-in feature in Create a File content editor on a content page.

No - there is no built-in Bb tool to create video or audio unless a 3rd party tool is used.

Adding math expressions

Yes

Yes

Uploading files

Yes

Yes

Adding web links

Yes

Yes

Which course to start the copy

Go to the empty course shell > Course Admin > Import/Export/Copy Components

Go to the course where the content resides

Select one specific or a few quizzes, assignments, discussions, content items, grade columns to copy

Yes

No

Which courses can be merged

Only official courses in CUNYfirst Course Schedule

All courses including both official and unofficial, manually created courses

Who can do Course Merge

Only LMS Admins - contact lmshelp@york.cuny.edu

Instructors cannot do course merge.

Instructors of the courses to be merged

What happens after the course merge

The enrollment in the child/source courses becomes 0.

The enrollment in the child/source courses has no change.

Access Discussions

On the top nav bar, click Discussions, or from a Content module page

On the course menu, click Discussion Board, or from a Content Area page

Forums

Forums in BrS are used to organize discussions. Students cannot post on a forum. You have to create Topics in a forum and students post on Topics.

Forums in Bb are used for students to post their responses to discussion prompts.

Topics

Topics are under each of the forums and they are where students post their responses to discussion prompts.

There is no topics tool in Bb. We can also say that topics are forums in Bb.

An option that requires student posting their thread first before they can see peers' posts

Yes

Yes

Allow students to view posts after the due date

Can be pre-set easily:

In the Availability Dates & Conditions section, set End Date. Then click Visible with access restricted. On the pop-up box, choose the radio button for Visible with submission restricted.

Cannot be pre-set

Access Grades

On the top nav bar, click Grades.

In the Course Management section, click Grade Center > Full Grade Center.

Quick access to submitted assignments, quizzes or discussion posts

Quick Eval

Needs Grading

Removing a grade column or item after removing a gradable assignment, quiz or discussion topic

The grade column or item in the grade book has to be removed manually.

The grade column or item in the grade center is removed automatically.

Organization

Categories are used to organize groups. Different group activities such as group project, group discussions can be categorized in different categories.

No categories, flat organization

Group Discussions

Yes

Yes

Group Assignments

Yes

Yes

Group Journal

No

Yes

Group Blog

No

Yes

Group Wiki

No - however, OneDrive is integrated in Brightspace and can be used for groups to collaborate on a document.

Yes

Access Quizzes

On the top Nav Bar, click Quizzes, or from a Content module page.

In the Course Management section, click Coruse Tools > Tests, Surveys and Pools > Tests, or from a Content Area page.

Collection of questions for repeated use.

Question Library

Pools

Create quizzes/tests from which different students get different questions

New Question Pool

Random Blocks

Edit a quiz/test question

Click on the question to edit

Click the down arrow next to the question and then select Edit

Remove a quiz/test question

Check the checkbox next to the question and then on the right above quiz questions click More Actions > Delete

Click the down arrow next to the question and then select Delete

Require students to take a quiz synchronously

Yes

No

Answer questions in video or audio

Yes in Written Response questions.

No