The Student Experience Module for Staff is a self-paced Brightspace module, launching in the 2025/26 academic year. It places staff in the role of students, navigating through authentic Brightspace workflows and experiencing our integrated educational technology tools as learners would.
This compact module (up to 120 minutes) is designed to help staff build confidence by demonstrating the practical use of UCD's integrated educational technology tools, embedding Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, and showcasing transferable approaches that can be applied directly in teaching.
Support is needed to enhance staff confidence in using Brightspace and its integrated tools. The Student Experience Module gives colleagues a unique way to build that confidence by experiencing Brightspace through the lens of a student. This “learn by doing” approach allows staff to move through authentic student workflows, gaining understanding through hands-on exploration rather than traditional instruction.
By highlighting inclusive design practices and demonstrating practical workflows, the module supports staff in creating effective, accessible, and engaging learning experiences for students.
This initiative also links to the wider Brightspace Training Review Project, which is introducing a more cohesive training model: expanding self-service resources, embedding authentic examples, and developing clear learning pathways.
We value your input. The module will be piloted with colleagues from across UCD in 2026, and there will be opportunities to shape its development along the way.
Ways to get involved:
Project kickoff
Team assembled, and initial consultations.
Stakeholder and vendor engagement
Design of learning framework and content pathways.
Core content development completed and initial build in Brightspace
Internal review, pilot launched with staff across Colleges, and feedback collected.
Module refinements, communications planning, and preparation for rollout.
Full module launch and integration into staff training pathways.
Contact us via the UCD IT Support Hub: www.ucd.ie/ithelp