What is the Course Site Design Report?
| Enhance your course design and improve the student experience by reviewing and implementing the following elements in your Brightspace course site. This report is divided into four key areas, each designed to make sure you are ready for the semester! | 
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1. Course Site Basics
- Course Start and End Dates:
- Confirm course dates are set. This helps with getting you the right analytics at the right time.
- Why it matters: Many Brightspace features, such as assignment deadlines and announcements, rely on these dates.
- Syllabus or Simple Syllabus:
- Include a syllabus content unit or link a simple syllabus for student reference.
- Why it matters: Students use the syllabus to plan their time and understand assignment weight, supporting self-regulation and transparency.
2. Communication & Engagement
- Announcements:
- Post regular announcements to provide reminders, guidance, or updates.
- Why it matters: Keeps key messages front and center for students.
- Calendar:
- Use the course calendar to integrate deadlines and provide a time-based view of tasks.
- Why it matters: Helps students track assignments and activities.
- Discussion Posts:
- Create discussion threads to encourage student interaction and showcase your feedback.
- Why it matters: Promotes engagement and provides opportunities for reflection and collaboration.
3. Course Material & Assessment
- Content Tool:
- Add and organize course content to provide 24/7 access to materials.
- Why it matters: Acts as a central hub for guiding students through the course.
- Gradebook:
- Ensure grades are set up and updated to track student progress.
- Why it matters: Helps students stay informed about their performance.
- Library Tools:
- Integrate NYU Library Tools for access to research materials and software.
- Why it matters: Enhances academic resources available to students.
- Due Dates and Release Conditions:
- Use release conditions to control when content is visible based on criteria like assignment submissions.
- Why it matters: Guides students through the course at an appropriate pace.
4. Accessibility
- Ally Tool:
- Use the Ally tool to identify and resolve accessibility issues in course materials.
- Why it matters: Supports students with disabilities and ensures equal access.