Brightspace Logo

Brightspace is URI’s learning management system (LMS). It is a web-based, mobile-friendly, hosted learning platform used for delivering course content and other online learning resources. Brightspace contains a flexible suite of tools for creating custom content for online delivery. Instructors can promote student engagement and successful learning outcomes through utilization of the many Brightspace tools and features.

Executive Lead

Michelle Rogers

Technical Lead

Kevin Gray
kevingray@uri.edu

Support Team

ITS Teaching and Learning

About the Service:

Access

Brightspace Pulse

A mobile app that helps students keep track of important updates. It brings news, deadlines, and grades together in one place so they can spend less time organizing and more time learning.

Learn How to Download and Use the Pulse App

Course Merging

Course shells are available in Brightspace 70 days prior to the start of a new term. Faculty wishing to design a course prior to shells being available can create a ‘development’ course in Brightspace.
Learn how to create a development course in Brightspace

Self-service Merges: faculty may choose to merge their sections of the same course. A merged course presents one set of content to all sections. Student rosters are also combined. The process may take 24 hours.

Complicated Merges : there are some cases in which the instructor cannot merge the necessary sections. In some cases it’s not possible – in other cases the TLS team can do it for you. Submit a service desk ticket to request a complicated merge.

See instructions for self service course merging for Brightspace courses
Attend training sessions to learn how to perform course merging
View YouTube tutorial to learn how to do self-service course merging
Read blog post on To Merge or Not to Merge Course Sections in Brightspace

Improvements AY25/26

  • A series of improvements to Brightspace and Engage will be implemented AY 25/26, all aimed at creating a more modern, intuitive, and engaging digital learning environment. These updates are designed to enhance usability, streamline access to learning resources, and provide a contemporary experience for the URI Community.|
    Refer to Brightspace Improvements AY25/26 to learn details.
  • Change management is the process of reviewing, testing, documenting, and implementing system edits, enhancements, and changes. For Brightspace request changes, we are required to follow the IT Change Management Process – which includes (but isn’t limited to) 1) a formal request from a department, and 2) processing it through the testing and then ETAC approval steps.
    Refer to How to Guide on Requesting Brightspace System or Setting Change

Integrations

  • IT provides robust connections in Brightspace with third-party Learning Tools Interoperability (LTIs) so your online and hybrid course can provide novel and engaging learning experiences.
  • In order to protect students, faculty, URI, and ensure system integrity, IT performs a standard review of all third party tools prior to approval for integration. URI must comply with laws and policy pertaining to faculty intellectual property rights, The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), financial risks, legal requirements, contractual policy, security compliance, and system limitations.
  • These external applications are not part of the base Brightspace software and require review prior to integration. In 2023 LTIs are being updated from version 1.1 to 1.3 and new LTI integrations require 1.3. The requestor submits an application that’s queued for committee review 3x a year: January, May, and August. The time between application to finalized integration depends on factors such as (but not limited to) tool complexity, vendor time, department availability, and the queue. Approved tools are subject to prioritization by the CIO and can take anywhere from 2-weeks to 6-months.
  • Refer to Brightspace Integrations page for to learn details.

Training & Support

24/7 Support – Live Chat
Look for the LiveChat icon on the home page as well as a bunch of other locations in the product – if you need help at any point, just click on the icon and get connected directly to Brightspace staff, even when the URI Service Desk is closed.

ATL Pedagogical Support
Get pedagogical support from the Office of Advancement of Teaching & Learning
Tyler Hall, 9 Greenhouse Road, Kingston, RI 02881
Web: https://web.uri.edu/atl

IT Service Desk
Get support for all issues related to eCampus, email, internet connections, wireless, smartphones and tablets, laptops, desktops and more.
Submit Support Request to IT Service Portal: https://rhody.service-now.com/sp

Virtual Service Desk: Via Zoom Sessions

Web (Training & Office Hours): https://its.uri.edu

Walk-in Support: Kingston Library, Second Floor 227

Email: helpdesk@uri.edu

Phone: 401-874-HELP (4357)

Additional Information

Check out this page for latest announcement and additional information on course shell creation, course merging, Brightspace integration requests, Pulse app, and more topics.
Go to More Info About Brightspace

panopto logo

Panopto is URI’s premier platform for video capture, management, and playback. Fully integrated with Brightspace, it simplifies the creation and sharing of course materials for faculty while providing students with flexible access to learning resources. Whether you’re recording lectures or analyzing video engagement, Panopto is built to enhance teaching and learning in 21st-century classrooms.

What is Panopto? (Video)

Executive Lead

Robert Viens

Technical Lead

Katie Babula
kbabula@uri.edu

Support Team

ITS Community Services
A/V Team

About the Service:

Features

  • Seamless Brightspace Integration: Automatically creates course folders and synchronizes user access for effortless organization.
  • Interactive Tools: Engage learners with in-video quizzes and discussion features.
  • Cross-Device Compatibility: Record and access videos from desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
  • Analytics Dashboard: Gain insights into video engagement and learning outcomes.
  • User-Friendly Content Management: Organize and edit videos with Panopto’s intuitive folder system.
Discover panopto’s new features Brighspace Integrations

Access

Log in to Panopto

  • Visit MyApps, locate the Panopto tile, and click it.
  • You’ll be logged in automatically via URI’s Single Sign-On (SSO).

Explore Training Resources

Begin Recording and Managing Content

After logging in, access your course folders under the “Browse” section of the menu.

Log into panopto

Support & Training

Resources

On-going training sessions are being offered by ITS for new and returning faculty and staff wishing to utilize new technologies. View upcoming sessions: https://its.uri.edu/training/

Check Panopto System Status

Captioning in Panopto

Standard Captions

Standard captions are automatically generated for all Panopto videos and can be edited by the video creator to ensure accuracy. This is the default captioning option and does not require a request.

For instructions on viewing, editing, or managing automatic captions, please see: Standard Captions in Panopto Videos.

AI‑Generated Captions and Translations

Panopto also supports AI‑generated captions and caption translations that can help with general understanding of video content. These captions and translations are machine‑generated and may vary in accuracy.

AI‑generated captions and translations do not replace professional captions or Audio Descriptions required for accessibility accommodations.

Accommodation Captions

Accommodation services in Panopto support accessibility needs that go beyond standard automatic captions and are provided when a student has a documented accommodation through the Disability, Access, and Inclusion (DAI) office.

Professional Captions are human‑edited captions that support text‑based accessibility needs, such as for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. These captions offer increased accuracy to meet individual student needs. Faculty can request accommodation captions by submitting a ServiceNow ticket.

Audio Descriptions (AD) provide narrated descriptions of important visual elements for viewers who are blind or have low vision. When Audio Descriptions are required as an accessibility accommodation, they are requested through the same ServiceNow process used for accommodation captions.

For details on when Professional Captions and Audio Descriptions are appropriate and how to submit a request, please refer to the how‑to guide: Accommodation Captions in Panopto Videos.

Get Help:

Knowledge Base Help Guides

How-to guides on using Panopto and a variety of topics at URI.

Go To Guides

Online Documentation

A comprehensive list of help guides and video tutorials from Panopto.

Visit Panopto Documentation

Camtasia is a powerful screen recording and video editing tool available for URI faculty, staff, and teaching assistants. Designed for creating instructional and multimedia content, Camtasia offers an extensive library of customizable templates, motion graphics, and themes. Videos created in Camtasia can be uploaded directly to Panopto for seamless integration with your courses.

Executive Lead

Michelle Rogers

Technical Lead

Sonia Benevides
sonia.benevides@uri.edu

Support Team

ITS Teaching and Learning

About the Service:

Features

  • Screen Recording: Capture your screen with high-quality video and audio.
  • Advanced Editing Tools: Add effects, transitions, and annotations using a user-friendly interface.
  • Customizable Assets: Access templates, motion graphics, and intros/outros from the TechSmith library.
  • Integration with Panopto: Upload videos directly to Panopto for easy sharing in Brightspace.
  • Cross-Platform: Compatible with both MacOS and Windows.

Access

Note: Please review TechSmith’s Terms of Service before requesting access.

Eligibility

URI faculty, staff, and contracted Teaching Assistants (TAs) and Graduate Assistants (GAs) in instructional roles are eligible to install Camtasia on up to two devices:

  • One on a URI-managed device, and
  • One on a personal (non-managed) computer

Install Camtasia

For University-Managed Devices (URI-owned)

  1. Submit a ticket via the Service Portal requesting Camtasia installation. Please indicate whether the device is University‑owned or personal/home. If University‑owned, include the device Service Tag (Dell) or Serial Number (Apple).
  2. Information Technology (IT) will install and automatically license Camtasia on your device.
  3. Camtasia will be ready to use once IT completes the setup.

Users on URI‑managed devices are expected to join the Camtasia-Users Google Group so they receive service updates, reset notifications, and are included in usage reporting. Membership is not automatic.

How to join:

  1. Go to the Camtasia-Users Google Group.
  2. If you can view messages, you are already a member.
  3. If not, click “Join group.”
  4. You will see a welcome message inside the group after you join.

For Personal Devices (Non-managed)

Step 1: Download and Install Camtasia
Download Camtasia directly from TechSmith and complete the installation.

Step 2: Join the Camtasia-Users Google Group (Required)
Access to the activation code is granted through membership in the Camtasia-Users Google Group.

How to join:

  1. Go to the Camtasia-Users Google Group.
  2. If you can view messages, you are already a member.
  3. If not, click “Join group.”
  4. You will see a welcome message inside the group after you join.
  5. Your access will update automatically within a few minutes.

Step 3: Retrieve the URI Activation Code
After you join the group:

  1. Go to the Software Download Portal using your URI SSO.
  2. Open the TechSmith folder.
  3. Open the Camtasia subfolder.
  4. Download the PDF containing your activation code.
  5. Enter the code when prompted in the application.

If You Are Asked to Re-Activate

Camtasia activation codes are reset periodically (typically once per year).

If Camtasia prompts you to re‑activate:

  • Follow the instructions provided at that time to re-enter the activation code.
  • Additional sign‑in or verification steps may be required.

Support and Training

Camtasia Consultations and Support

  • For 1:1 consultation or support with Camtasia, please contact Scott Seitor by email at C.Seiter@techsmith.com.

TechSmith Resources: