The document is a Brightspace Help guide for students that covers topics such as getting started, courses, discussions, assignments, quizzes, and grades. The document provides instructions, tips, and links for accessing and using the Brightspace platform and its features.
For all topics covered by Brightspace Help for students, please click here.
Getting Started
Where do I find my username?
Your username for accessing Brightspace is provided by Purdue Fort Wayne and can be obtained by contacting the IT Services Help Desk at helpdesk@pfw.edu or (260) 481-6030.
How do I log in to Brightspace?
Visit https://purdue.brightspace.com, click on the Purdue University Fort Wayne logo, and sign in using your Purdue Fort Wayne username and password.
How can I change my password?
Changing your password for Brightspace also means changing your password for your entire Purdue Fort Wayne account and all related services. To change your Purdue Fort Wayne account password, visit https://resetpassword.pfw.edu.
How do I edit my profile and picture?
After signing into Brightspace, click on your name in the top-right corner of the page and select the Profile option from the drop-down menu. From here you can change your profile picture, set a tagline, or share your interests/hobbies.
Note: This feature may be disabled on production to prevent malicious intent.
How do I change my username?
To change your Purdue Fort Wayne username, please see Name or Username Changes.
How do I send an email in Brightspace?
To send an email in Brightspace, click the envelope icon in the minibar at the top of the page. Next, click the Email button. Add the email address of the recipient into the To field, change the Subject line as needed, and type your email in the Body field. You may also add attachments using the buttons in the Attachments group under the Body.
Note: Purdue Brightspace will be limited to sending only. Visit https://go.pfw.edu, sign in, and click the Student & Employee Email icon to view your email Inbox.
How do I send an instant message in Brightspace?
To send an instant message in Brightspace, click on the envelope icon in minibar at the top of the page. Next, click the Instant Messages button. You may only Message friends or members of a Classlist. Click the checkbox next to the intended recipient, then click the Message button.
Note: This feature may be disabled in production to prevent malicious intent.
How do I change my email address in Brightspace?
We do not allow users to change their email addresses in Brightspace. However, you may set up a forwarding address within your Purdue Fort Wayne email settings using the instructions provided here.
How do I log out of Brightspace?
To log out of Brightspace, click on your name in the top-right corner of the page and select Log Out from the drop-down menu.
Courses
How do I find my courses?
After signing into Brightspace, you should see your courses contained within the My Courses module. You may also click on the Rubik's cube in the minibar at the top of the page.
Why can't I find a course?
There are several reasons why a course you are registered for may not be visible in Brightspace:
If you have only registered for the course within the last 24 hours, the registration may not be processed yet. Please wait 24-48 hours after registering for a course to appear in Brightspace.
The course may not be active. Your instructor is responsible for activating the course, so contact them to see when the course will be available.
The course hasn't started. If the course has not yet started, it will not be visible in Brightspace. If you are unsure about when your course is supposed to start, contact the instructor for that course for further information.
The instructor may not be using Brightspace for the course. Contact the instructor to see if the course is available online in Brightspace.
How do I pin my classes to the top of the course list?
While in Brightspace, click the Rubik's cube in the minibar at the top of the page, then click the tack/pin icon next to the name of the course you'd like to pin.
Note: The chronological order in which you pin them will determine which is first, second, and so on.
How do I print or download course content?
To print or download course content, click Content in the navbar while viewing a particular course. You may see the Print and/or Download buttons while viewing each module if they've been made available by the instructor which you can then use to print or download course content.
How do I contact my instructor?
Each instructor has his or her own preferred contact method usually provided in the course syllabus, however you may use the following ways to find your instructor's email address so that you can contact them:
The course syllabus (may be posted in the Content tool in Brightspace Learning Environment)
The Classlist tool in Brightspace Learning Environment
Your class list (Detailed Schedule of Classes in goPFW > Enrollment tab)
The Purdue Fort Wayne Directory at https://accounts.pfw.edu/PeopleSearch
Note: You may use the email tool in Brightspace to send your instructor an email, but you will want to view your actual email to see responses.
Discussions
How do I create a discussion thread?
On the navbar, click Discussions.
Click the topic where you want to create a thread.
Click Start a New Thread.
Enter a subject.
Enter your post.
Set any of the following posting options:
To keep the thread at the top of the list, select Pin Thread.
To post anonymously, select Post as Anonymous.
To receive updates on the thread using your selected notification method, select Subscribe to this thread.
To attach a file, in the Attachments area, click Browse to locate the file that you want to attach.
To attach an audio recording, in the Attachments area, click Record Audio > Record. To make adjustments to your microphone selection and volume, click Flash Settings. To listen to your recording, click Play. To erase your recording, click Clear. If you have prerecorded audio and are using a supported browser, you can drag audio files onto the attachments upload target.
To attach a video recording, in the Attachments area, click Record Video > Allow > Record. When you finish recording, click Stop. To erase your recording, click Clear. To add the recording, click Add. If you have pre-recorded video and are using a supported browser, you can drag video files onto the attachments upload target.
To post your thread to more than one topic, click Post to other topics. Click Add Topics. Select the topics that you want your thread to appear in. To post in every topic simultaneously, select the Select All check box and then click Add Topics.
Click Post. If the topic is moderated, your post does not appear until a moderator approves it.
How do I reply to a discussion?
Locate the thread you want to reply to.
Do either of the following:
To reply to the main thread post, click Reply to Thread.
To reply to a particular post inside the thread, or click Reply.
Enter your reply in the HTML Editor. To include the original post’s text in your reply, click the Add original post text link. (If this option is already enabled by your course administrator, this message will not display.)
Set any of the following options:
To attach a file, in the Attachments area, click Browse to locate the file you want to attach.
To attach an audio recording, in the Attachments area, click Record Audio > Record. To make adjustments to your microphone selection and volume, click Flash Settings. To listen to your recording, click Play. To erase your recording, click Clear. If you have pre-recorded audio and are using a supported browser, you can drag audio files onto the attachments upload target.
To attach a video recording, in the Attachments area, click Record Video > Allow > Record. When you finish recording, click Stop. Click Clear to erase your recording or Add to add the recording. If you have pre-recorded video and are using a supported browser, you can drag video files onto the attachments upload target.
Click Post.
Assignments
How do I submit an assignment?
From the navbar, click Assignments.
On the Assignments page, click on the assignment you want to submit to.
Follow the assignment instructions, and do one of the following:
Type your assignment directly in the Text Submission field. When you finish your written response, click Submit.
To browse for the file you want to submit, click Add a File. You can attach files from your local computer or storage device, a personal locker, a group locker, or Brightspace ePortfolio. Enter any comments you want to submit with the file. Click Submit.
You can select Record Audio to add feedback. When you finish a recording, click Add. Enter any comments you want to submit with the file. Click Submit. Click Mark as Complete to manually mark an assignment as completed.
If your instructor enabled e-rater ® Grammar feedback, to view grammar feedback on your assignment, on the Submission History page, click the View e-rater® grammar feedback link in the Inline Feedback column.
If your assignment allows multiple submissions, you can incorporate any grammar feedback and resubmit your assignment.
Note:
If the assignment is Turnitin enabled, the file you submitted is pre-validated at the time of submission to ensure it is within the Turnitin file type and size requirements.
If GradeMark or the OriginalityCheck has been enabled, you can view your Submission ID within your Submission History page.
Depending on your course settings, you may be able to view any rubrics which are used to evaluate your work directly on the submission page.
How do I delete an assignment submission?
Once a file has been successfully submitted to an assignments, you can’t delete it. However, if you have the ability to make another submission, re-submit the file and make sure to also contact your instructor and let them know that you are re-submitting a file to the assignment.
If you don’t have the ability to make another submission, contact your instructor and let them know that you would like to re-submit a file to the assignment.
Quizzes
How do I take a quiz?
On the navbar, click Quizzes.
On the Quiz List page, click on the quiz you want to take.
Read the instructions and details for the quiz, and when you're ready, click Start Quiz!.
Answer each question. As you complete the question, the answer will automatically save. You can see which questions have saved answers in the Questions section of the quiz's left panel. You can also click the question number in the quiz's left panel to go back to the question.
To navigate between pages, click Next Page or Previous Page.
Click Go to Submit Quiz after you answer all quiz questions.
If you are not ready to submit the quiz, click the question number in the quiz's left panel to go back to the question or if you are ready to submit the quiz, click Submit Quiz.
Note: Your instructor may require you to use the Respondus LockDown Browser® to take quizzes. You can click the Respondus LockDown Browser link in the Quiz Requirements section to download and install it for free. You can then launch your quiz. If you have installed the Respondus LockDown Browser already, the Start Quiz page will open automatically within it.
How do I request another quiz attempt?
To request additional quiz attempts, please contact the instructor for the course.
Grades
Use the Grades tool to check your grades on assignments and tests. You can see your individual grades and comments, as well as class averages and feedback. You can also view your final grade and the grade formula used to evaluate you once your instructor releases your grades.
The Class Progress tool helps you check your progress in a course through tracking course-specific assignments and feedback, and through measuring 9 progress indicators:
Objectives
Content
Checklist
Surveys
Login History