FAQ

As an ICTO coach or teacher, can we already gain access to Brightspace?

This depends on whether your institute will set up a course during the Pilot and continue to use it after the Pilot. In this case, you will receive access directly after the training.

Is your institution not participating in the Pilot? The LMS Project Team will make the LMS available through the Local Implementation Teams, including the associated support and answers to all your questions. When will this take place? Your Local Implementation Team can tell you more.

Is it possible for the design team writing the new curriculum to already get access to Brightspace?

See answer to the question ‘Can we, as an ICTO coach or teacher, already get access to Brightspace? The project team will coordinate with the institutes who will have what access at what time.

The timeline for the implementation of Brightspace consists of two phases: the definition of the core LMS+ and the LMS implementation in two Waves.

When does Brightspace training take place, and for whom?

First, the Local Implementation Teams and the train-the-trainer coleagues in the institute are trained. The Local Implementation Team then invites teachers and other RUAS staff to attend the training. For students an introduction to Brightspace is available.

As a teacher, do I get extra hours to familiarise myself with Brightspace?

It depends on the policy of your institution. Please contact the Local Implementation Team.

What support and assistance do we get? Where can I go with what questions?

During and after the implementation of the Pilot Courses, teachers and students can address their questions to the ICTO Coaches, Champions and/or Key Users of their own institution. As soon as it is clear who these are, you will be informed by the Local Implementation Team.

What is meant by the Core LMS+?

To organise learning, submitting, assessing, and sharing teaching materials. These are the basic (SURF) components offered by Brightspace. Links are also necessary with other educational systems, for example OSIRIS. We call this the Core LMS. But Brightspace has more to offer. During the pilot project we will determine which extra functionalities have added value and which we will offer and support as standard. That is the ‘+’. In addition, we can link other tools for each institute.

Are there functionalities that are not included in the core LMS+, but are possible at a later date?

Based on the experiences of the Pilot, we (LMS Project Team and Pilot institutes) determine which functionalities are necessary and desirable. It is good to know that Brightspace already offers many functionalities. If a certain functionality is not standard in Brightspace, it is in many cases possible to integrate it by linking another application through a standard link (LTI). For example: the use of portfolio and linking feedback applications such as Feedbackfruits.

Non-nominal students, who take longer to complete their studies, must be kept connected to somewhat outdated courses. Older courses should therefore also be transferred to Brightspace. How will that be organised?

This topic is on the agenda of the LMS Project Team. During the implementation we will find out if and how we can guarantee this.

Which browser works best with Brightspace?

In principle, the browser you use does not matter. If you would like more details on this, please visit this page for more information.

Is OSIRIS connected to Brightspace?

The source of the student, teacher and course data is OSIRIS and from there it is available in Brightspace. The connection that ensures this has not yet been realised. This connection will be ready before the start of the live operation in February 2023.

Can what I have created in N@tschool/Cumlaude be transferred one to one to Brightspace?

The new LMS is an opportunity to organise your education differently, to innovate and to make use of new possibilities offered by Brightspace. In addition, it is certainly possible to transfer your documents. The Local Implementation Team can support you with this.

What happens to the files and data from the old LMS? Will they remain available and retrievable? If so, for how long? If not, how do we deal with retention periods?

The data in Cumlaude will remain accessible to teachers and administrators for as long as it is legally required. How long will data be available in other LMSs? This is determined by the institute that maintains the LMS.

How much time do I get to fill Brightspace?

This can be determined in consultation with your Local Implementation Team.

What does the Pilot involve?

During the Pilot, teachers prepare courses in Brightspace. One teacher may choose to use the new possibilities offered by Brightspace, while another may do so in, for example, Cumlaude. The Local Implementation Team will support teachers in doing so. In September 2022, students will actually start working with the courses in Brightspace.

Which institutes participate in the Pilot?

A total of six institutes are participating in the Pilot, namely CMI, HRBS, RBS, IGO, RAC, and RMI.

What does the Pilot yield for the RUAS institutes?

It provides the Pilot Institutes with experience. They can also try out new or adapted educational concepts in Brightspace. With the knowledge gained, the LMS Project Team can determine the so-called Core LMS+ and set up the LMS. The experience gained will contribute to the successful implementation of Brightspace throughout the organisation in February and September 2023.

When is the Pilot?

The Pilot starts with a training for teachers in May. In May and June, they will set up the courses. These courses will be made available to students from September. Evaluations take place in between.

What are the frameworks of the Pilot?

To keep the Pilot manageable for the institute and the LMS Project Team, each institute starts with a maximum of four courses divided over one or more study programmes. Some things, such as linking students to a course, are still done manually during the Pilot. During the implementation in Waves I and II, this will be done automatically if possible.

My institute is taking part in the Pilot. Where can I ask questions?

Each institute has a Local Implementation Team. The members of this team are the first point of contact for teachers with questions about the Pilot or the implementation of Brightspace. Students can address their questions to their lecturer.