Create a Welcome Video in Brightspace

Create a Welcome Video in Brightspace

This self-service guide supports educators in creating a Brightspace welcome video for their course. The video walks through creating a new page, using a template, recording or uploading a video note, generating captions, adding a short learner activity, making the page visible, and updating the banner image.

• Create a welcome video page in a Brightspace Welcome module
• Use a page template for a consistent course design
• Record or upload a Brightspace Video Note
• Add a title, description, audio language, and automatic captions
• Make the page visible to students and review it as a learner
• Replace the banner image and add alternative text

Watch the Video

Watch this walkthrough to learn how to create and add a welcome video in Brightspace.

Step 1: Open Your Course Content Area

Start in the Brightspace course where you want to add the welcome video.

1. Open your Brightspace course.
2. Select Content from the course menu.
3. Select the Welcome module or the unit where you want the video to appear.

Step 2: Create a New Page

Create a new Brightspace page inside the Welcome module.

1. Select Create New.
2. Choose New Page.
3. Name the page Welcome Video.

Step 3: Apply a Page Template

Use a template to keep your course pages visually consistent.

1. Open the Page Template option on the right side of the editor.
2. Choose a template that includes space for a video.
3. Update the heading to Welcome Video.
4. Add a short welcome message, such as Welcome to the course.

Step 4: Personalize the Welcome Message

You can personalize the welcome text by adding a Brightspace replacement string.

1. Place your cursor where the learner’s name should appear.
2. Add the first name replacement string in curly brackets.
3. When students view the page, Brightspace will display the first name of the person logged into the course.

This creates a simple personalized welcome for each learner.

Step 5: Remove the Placeholder Video

If the template includes an unavailable or placeholder video, remove it before adding your own.

1. Scroll to the video area in the template.
2. Delete the unavailable or placeholder video.
3. Select Save to keep your changes so far.

Step 6: Insert a Video Note

Use Brightspace Video Note to record a new welcome video or upload a pre-recorded one.

1. Click in the space where the old video was deleted.
2. Select the Insert Stuff button.
3. Choose Add Video Note.
4. Select whether to record with webcam or upload a pre-recorded video.

Step 7: Record the Welcome Video

Keep the welcome video short, friendly, and focused on helping students get started.

1. Select Audio and Video, or choose Audio Only if you prefer an audio message.
2. Select New Recording.
3. Introduce yourself and the course.
4. Briefly explain what students can expect week to week.
5. Point students to important resources, such as the syllabus and online course materials.
6. Select Stop Recording when finished.

A concise welcome video can help students feel more connected, especially in online or asynchronous courses.

Step 8: Add Video Details and Captions

After recording, add the video information and enable captions.

1. Preview the video if needed.
2. Select Next.
3. Add a clear title for the video.
4. Add a short description.
5. Set the audio language, such as English Canada.
6. Choose to automatically generate captions from the audio.
7. Select Next.

Step 9: Insert the Video into the Page

Brightspace may need a few minutes to process the video, but you can insert it before processing is complete.

1. When the processing message appears, select Insert.
2. The video will appear on the page once processing is complete.
3. Select Save to keep your work.

Step 10: Add a Short Learner Activity

Add a simple action for students to complete after watching the video.

1. Add instructions below the video.
2. Ask students to watch the video and review the course syllabus.
3. Consider asking students to send a short email so they know how to communicate with you through the course.

Step 11: Save, Close, and Make the Page Visible

New Brightspace content is usually hidden from students until you make it visible.

1. Select Save and Close.
2. Change the page visibility so students can see it.
3. Drag the welcome video to the top of the Welcome module so students see it first.

Step 12: Organize the Welcome Module

A clear Welcome module helps students find key starting information quickly.

• Welcome Video
• Course Syllabus
• College Policies
• Student Support Services

Step 13: View the Page as a Learner

Check the student experience before the course begins.

1. Use View as Learner.
2. Open the Welcome module.
3. Select the Welcome Video page.
4. Confirm the video plays and the activity instructions are clear.

Step 14: Replace the Banner Image

You can update the page banner so it matches your course topic or visual style.

1. Return to your normal role.
2. Open the Welcome module and select the Welcome Video page.
3. Select the three dots menu.
4. Choose Edit.
5. Select the existing banner image.
6. Select the image button in the editor toolbar.
7. Choose My Computer.
8. Select Upload, choose your image, and select Open.
9. Select Add.

Step 15: Add Alternative Text and Save

Alternative text helps make your course more accessible.

1. Add meaningful Alternative Text for the image.
2. Mark the image as Decorative only if it does not add meaningful information.
3. Select Save and Close.

The image may appear small while editing, but it will display as a full banner after the page is saved.

Pro Tip

A strong welcome video does not need to be long. Aim for a brief, friendly message that helps students understand who you are, how the course works, and what they should do first.

Using captions, clear instructions, and a consistent page template supports accessibility and gives students a more organized start to the course.

Need Help?

For educator support with Brightspace video notes, page templates, or content design, contact the Educational Technology team:

edtech@okanagan.bc.ca

For teaching and learning design support, contact Teaching and Learning Innovations:

tli@okanagan.bc.ca

Students looking for Brightspace support should contact support@okanagan.bc.ca.