Adding and Customizing Widgets

The default layout of your course homepage includes two panels in which the widgets can be placed – a wide panel on the left and a narrow panel on the right. Each panel has a dashed outline around it. The two-panel layout can be changed by clicking the Change Layout button right above the Widgets section on your ‘Edit homepage’ or ‘Create homepage’ page. However, the width of the panels cannot be changed.

1. On your course homepage, decide if you want to add a new widget to the left or the right panel.
2. Click the Add Widgets button at the bottom of the panel you have selected.
3. In the new window that opens, you can select widgets from either System Widgets or Custom Widgets. For more information on some Brightspace system widgets, click here.

Note: If you wish to preview the available widgets, open a new browser window or tab, open your Brightspace course site and go to Course Admin –> Widgets. You can preview the available widgets by clicking the Preview icon on the right side of the screen.

4. Once you make your selection, click Add, then Save.

Note: You can change the name of the widget you have just added by clicking anywhere on the widget. In the window that opens, select Custom under Widget name and type a new name.  

Video Instructions

1. In the course navbar, go to Course Admin.
2. In the Site Setup section, click Widgets. You will find two lists of widgets here: System widgets (cannot be copied or modified) and Custom widgets (can be copied and modified to create custom versions).
3. Find the widget you would like to copy. Select the Copy icon to the right of the widget’s name (under Actions).
4. A copy of the widget will now appear right under its original version.
5. To the right of your newly copied widget, locate the Edit icon and click on it.
6. In the new window that opens, in the Properties tab, rename your widget. You can add a description, but it will only be visible to instructors, not students.
7. You can optionally attach release conditions to your new widget by clicking the Release Conditions tab.
8. Click on the Content tab to add content to and customize your new widget.
9. Click Save.
10. Now that you have created a new (version of a) widget, follow the steps listed in #1 above (‘Add a widget from an existing list’).

1. In the course navbar, go to Course Admin.
2. In the Site Setup section, click Widgets.
3. Click the Create Widget button.
4. In the new window that opens, in the Properties tab, name your new widget. You can add a description, but it will only be visible to instructors, not students.
5. You can optionally attach release conditions to your new widget by clicking the Release Conditions tab.
6. Click on the Content tab to add content to and customize your new widget.
7. Click Save.
8. Now that you have created a new a widget, follow the steps listed in #1 above (‘Add a widget from an existing list’).

Video Instructions