Introducing Brightspace
OC’s new LMS: what’s changing, when it’s happening, and how we’ll support you.
A Modernized LMS
Okanagan College is excited to announce that we are transitioning from Moodle to D2L Brightspace as our new Learning Management System (LMS). This change supports the College’s commitment to creating an exceptional, accessible, and technology-enhanced learning environment.
Beginning in Fall 2026, Brightspace will become Okanagan College’s official LMS, replacing Moodle.
This transition follows a comprehensive procurement and evaluation process involving educators, IT, and Teaching & Learning Innovations (TLI). Brightspace was selected for its positive impact on learners, stronger accessibility features, platform stability, and enhanced teaching tools.
What Will Happen During the Project
What Will Happen During the Project
- Initial implementation and planning meetings with the vendor, D2L
- Development of a course migration plan for existing Moodle courses
- Provisioning of Brightspace sandbox environments so educators can explore and test the platform
- Identification and setup of core tools, integrations, and workflows
- Access to training resources, documentation, and guided learning opportunities
- Ongoing communication and updates as timelines and processes are finalized
Questions or Feedback
Educators and staff questions are welcomed throughout the project. If you have questions, feedback, or would like to stay informed as the transition progresses, please contact tli@okanagan.bc.ca.
Looking for quick answers? Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions for the latest information.
Why We’re Making This Change
Our current LMS, Moodle, has supported OC for many years. However, as learner expectations, digital accessibility standards, and hybrid teaching practices evolve, we need a platform that supports:
- Modern teaching methods
- Flexible learning pathways
- Intuitive course design
- Stronger analytics and feedback tools
- Integrated accessibility features
Brightspace gives OC a modern, stable, and user-friendly learning environment that supports today’s learners and educators.
How Brightspace Will Benefit You
Brightspace will provide a more intuitive, mobile-friendly, and consistent experience, including:
- Clean, easy to navigate course pages
- Better mobile performance across devices
- Clear communication of progress and achievement
- Modern assessment tools
- Improved accessibility features (screen reader optimization, high contrast modes)
Learners can focus more on learning and spend less time trying to find what they need.
Brightspace offers powerful teaching and course design tools, such as:
- Streamlined course building and editing
- Advanced feedback and grading tools
- Strong analytics to track student progress
- Easy copying and reusing of course components
- Better integration with learning apps and educational technologies
Educators will also receive sandbox environments early in the project to provide ample time to explore, play, and test Brightspace.
Brightspace supports:
- Consistent learner experience across programs
- Better communication tools for student support staff
- Enhanced reliability and stability for help desk and IT operations
- Improved alignment with OC’s Inspire Strategic Plan for learner-focused digital services
Brightspace Resources
Okanagan College is preparing for the transition to Brightspace with resources to support instructors and staff. Explore training, guides, FAQs, and practical tools to help you get started with confidence.
Educator Workshops
About these workshops
Explore the Brightspace training series for educators by Teaching and Learning Innovations, designed to help you build, manage, and deliver your courses with confidence. From getting started and organizing content, to creating assignments, quizzes, and discussions, these sessions cover core teaching workflows. You’ll also learn how to manage grades and feedback, support academic integrity, and run engaging online classes using integrated tools like Kaltura Classroom. New sessions are being added regularly from now through to September—check back on this page.
Available Now
OC Brightspace Educator Introductory Training
Learn how to navigate your course, upload and organize content, create and manage Assignments and Quizzes, and understand the core tools you’ll use every day. This session covers practical course setup and where to find key support and resources to get started with confidence.
Coming Soon
Assessment & Communication
Learn how to create and manage Discussions, Assignments, and Announcements, while using Email and Classlists to stay connected with your students. This session also introduces Turnitin for academic integrity and feedback workflows.
Quizzes & Exams
Build and deliver effective quizzes using a range of question types and settings. This session also covers using Respondus LockDown Browser to support secure online testing.
Grades & Feedback
Set up and manage your gradebook with confidence. Learn how to organize grade items, calculate final grades, and provide meaningful feedback to students using Brightspace tools.
Planned go-live date:
September 3rd, 2026
Project Phases: What to Expect
According to OC’s official project timeline, the transition to Brightspace is a multiphase project beginning January 19, 2026.
Phase 1 — Planning & Setup
Winter–Spring 2026
- Initial implementation meetings with D2L
- Technical configuration and environment setup
- Creation of the course migration plan
- Provision of educator sandbox environments
Current Phase
Phase 2 — Migration & Build
Spring–Summer 2026
- Migration of existing Moodle courses
- Testing of tools, integrations, and workflows
- Development of training resources for educator and learners
- Regular updates shared through OC communication channels
Upcoming
Phase 3 — Training & Readiness
Summer 2026
- Educator development workshops
- Learners onboarding content created
- Course design support through TLI
- Readiness checks and pilot testing
Upcoming
Phase 4 — GoLive
Fall 2026
- Brightspace becomes the official LMS for all courses
- HelpDesk, TLI, and academic teams provide enhanced support
- Ongoing adjustment based on feedback
Upcoming
Phase 5 — Stabilization & Enhancement
Post-Launch
- Continued training and course optimization
- Support for additional features and integrations
- Regular improvement cycles informed by user feedback
Future Phase
FAQs
January 19, 2026 is the official start date for project work with D2L Brightspace.
A migration plan will be provided that includes automated imports (where possible), manual migration guidelines, and support options such as instructional design assistance.
Yes—during the transition period. Access to past courses and content will be provided until final decommissioning, which will be announced in advance.
A migration plan will be developed to support the transition of existing Moodle courses, including fully built course shells that are reused each year. We are very early in the process, with initial implementation meetings beginning in mid-January 2026, so details about timelines, tools, and the level of automation are still being planned. More information and guidance will be shared as the project progresses.
If your question is not answered here, please email tli@okanagan.bc.ca. Questions from faculty and instructors are welcomed by the team and help inform ongoing planning and communication.
Sandbox access is a great opportunity to familiarize yourself with Brightspace, explore its features, and begin planning your courses. Please note that the Sandbox environment is separate from your course-specific shells and the course migration process.
Tools and features in Brightspace will be different to Moodle. The crosswalk helps you understand how they translate, highlighting where differences may occur so you can review your course or consult the Educational Technology team to explore new options.
How You Can Get Support
Educator Support
Teaching & Learning Innovations (TLI) is your primary support hub.
You can reach them at: TLI@okanagan.bc.ca
TLI will provide:
- Training workshops
- Sandbox access
- Instructional design support
- Step-by-step guides
Additional resources will be posted in the D2L Brightspace Knowledge Base
Student Support
Students will receive support through:
- OC’s online resources pages
- Orientation materials
- Updated help articles in the Knowledge Base
- IT HelpDesk for login or access issues (support@okanagan.bc.ca)
Technical Support
IT Services will support:
- Login access
- Integration issues
- Troubleshooting
- System stability during the transition
