Brightspace does not include a dedicated sign-up tool for appointments or events (e.g. presentation timeslots).
Below is an evolving list of options that can be used to address this need. This includes repurposing Brightspace Groups self-enrollment.
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Brightspace Groups
Brightspace offers a self-enrollment group type which can be used to provide students the ability to do things like form their own groups for a project, select a discussion topic in which they will participate, or to choose a timeslot for a presentation.
Creating Groups is not complicated, although renaming them based on project topics or timeslots can become laborious. Once in place, an instructor only needs to direct students to the Groups tool through Course Tools on the navbar, where students then have the ability to join and leave groups.
Learn more about Groups here.
In the presentation timeslot example, an instructor would:
Create a Group category using one of the self-enrollment types:
Choose the option “# of Groups - Self Enrollment” where each group is based on an available times. This option does not allow a cap on members.
Choose the option ”Groups of # - Self Enrollment” where a specific number of members is important. The number of groups created will be based on the total course membership, but groups can then be added or removed.
Rename each group to correspond with the available subject, time, date, etc.
Pros
Entirely within Brightspace.
Quick and straightforward if relabeling is not required.
Students can quickly form groups.
Cons
Tedious for situations with many topics of timeslots.
Students can join and leave groups at will.
Office365 files
One of the easier methods of facilitating a sign-up process is making use of the Office365 applications such as Word or Excel.
Instructors can create a file and set the permissions to be sharable with their class. Then, instructors can post the link to the document in the Content area, Announcements, or Discussions of their course site.
Pros
Easily editable documents that anyone can use.
Fast and easy to create.
Every student has access to Office365.
Cons
Anyone in the class can make changes (potentially overwriting changes made by other students).
Not embedded in Brightspace and will link out to a separate window.
Etherpads
Etherpads are similar to editable text documents, except they lack many of the functionalities that a text document offers. They can be embedded into the Content area through the Add Existing button. More information about embedding an Etherpad can be found here.
Once embedded, Etherpads are available to all students in the class and everyone can make live edits.
Pros
Easily editable document.
Embedded directly into Brightspace Content area.
Cons
Anyone in the class can make changes (potentially overwriting changes made by other students).
Limited editing capabilities.
Microsoft Bookings
Bookings is dedicated to handling appointments and, while it has a steep learning curve, is perhaps the most powerful tool when it comes to managing appointments and office hours. It is also already available to all Brock users and synchronizes with the Outlook calendar.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/microsoft-365/business/scheduling-and-booking-app
Microsoft Bookings allows you to provide a URL which you can email or post on your website, and through which your clients (e.g. staff/ faculty/ students/ visitors) can book an appointment with you or a team member.
Booked appointments via the URL create an appointment in your existing Exchange calendar — there is no need for you to use extra software. Double-booking by your clients is not possible – when a timeslot has been booked, it is no longer available for appointments.
As the creator / owner of your booking calendar, you can configure at any time:
– your available-for-booking timeslots (e.g. Wed & Fri, 1-4pm)
– the length of a timeslot (e.g. 30 minutes, 60 minutes…)
– a list of team members, in addition to yourself, who are bookable
– an option for your clients to specify a specific team member
– an automated email response with an optional Teams meeting link
Microsoft Bookings simplifies your clients booking meetings with you or your Team, within your team’s available-for-booking time-slots.
Log into bookings.office.com using your staff/faculty email: JaneDoe@cunet.carleton.ca
Select: Get it now
Enter the name of your new Booking calendar to create (If creating the Booking Calendar on MS Teams where it says Type a business name make sure to put the name you want your Calendar to be Do not put Carleton or that is what the Calendar will be called).
Select Booking Page
Optional: Add logo
Optional: Require an Office 365 email account from Carleton to book
Select your Scheduling policy
– Time increments: 30min, 1hr, etc.
– Optional: Minimum and Maximum lead timeSelect Email notifications
Optional: Staff: Allow customers to choose a specific person for the booking
Optional: Display business logo on your booking page
Click on “Save and publish”
Your Booking page status will show “published” and the URL of your Booking webpage will be shown and can be copied onto your departmental website or sent in an email to a client:
https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/…Click on “Staff”
Add the Team members who can be booked through this calendar
Your clients can click on the Booking page URL that you created above which you can email them, place on your (departmental) website, or both.
Pros
Easily shared when creating documents in the Files area
Good place for office hours discussions/queues
Cons
Anyone in the class can make changes to the shared documents
Requires the creation of a Teams site for the course
Microsoft Teams sites
Instructors that make use of a Teams site may find that hosting sign-up materials on the Teams site instead of on Brightspace could be beneficial. Microsoft Office documents that are created from the Files area of a Teams site automatically grant everyone in the Teams site access to them, which means instructors wouldn’t have to configure sharing permissions.
Additionally, instructors who host office hours could benefit from creating a separate channel for office hours, where students can post in the chat to create a queue.
Instructors can generate a Teams site from an official course roster here. Note that this process may take a few hours.
Pros
Easily shared when creating documents in the Files area
Good place for office hours discussions/queues
Cons
Anyone in the class can make changes to the shared documents
Requires the creation of a Teams site for the course