Browsing Course Content

When you select the Content link on the course Navbar or Navbar Mobile Menu, The course's Content page will appear. Content contains instructional materials your professor has uploaded for you to read, watch, listen to, or interact with. The Content page has two major parts: The Content Menu, and the Module View.

The Content Menu

You use the Content Menu to browse through the course's materials. 

Depending on how your professor has designed their course, selecting a module may display text, images, or additional links to articles, homework activities, etc.

On desktop and laptop screens, the Content Menu appears on the left, and the Module View of the currently selected item displays on the right.

1. Syllabus

Your professor will post an electronic copy of the course syllabus here.

2. Bookmarks

Display links to any pages in the course you have bookmarked.

3. Course Schedule

Lists upcoming due dates the instructor has set in the course. However, you should always rely on what the Syllabus says first because not every professor uses the date settings in Brightspace. 

On mobile devices, the Content Menu appears above the Main View, where the currently selected item will display.  Selecting an item in the Content Menu will automatically scroll the page down to where the Main View is.

4. Table of Contents

Shows a summary of all the modules in the course. See the next bullet for a definition of “module.”

5. Module Listing

Think of a module as a folder or box containing everything you’ll need for a particular portion of the course. Most professors structure their course modules in a weekly or otherwise chronological order, however, this may not always be the case. 

The Module View

Selecting items from the Content Menu will appear in the Module View area of the screen, whose location depends on what kind of device you are using:

A course module displayed on a desktop or laptop.

A course module displayed on a smartphone or tablet.

The Module Description

Your professor will sometimes put some text, images, videos, or links in this spot that introduce you to the topic for the week or unit.

Content Links

The lower part of the screen after the Module Description will usually contain links to various course media, such as articles, video, documents, websites, etc. You may also find links to any assignments, discussions, quizzes or exams your professor has assigned for that week or unit. 

Inactive Content Links

Your professor can make links active and inactive, so if you come across a module with a list of black links that don’t respond to clicking or tapping, it likely means your professor has not enabled access to them yet. If you think something is inactive that shouldn't be, don't hesitate to reach out to your professor!