“Total disaster!!”

Pros

I genuinely do not enjoy anything regarding Brightspace. The layout is badly planned, it is not user-friendly at all and getting any task completed feels like navigating a total disaster.

Cons

Honestly D2L Brightspace is the most frustrating learning system I have ever had to use. From an instructor's perspective, it is just not user-friendly. Every single task demands so much time and far too many clicks. On top of that, it is so buggy that it creates a real mess for my students and the company itself seems completely uninterested in fixing things. Also it is ridiculous that in 2025, I have to reach out to our Brightspace admin for support every single week. Their guides are confusing and filled with overly complex jargon for things that should be simple to explain. It feels like they are either trying too hard to sound intelligent or they are completely disconnected from what users actually need. My advice to anyone thinking of using it is to look elsewhere.

“Simplifies things for students”

Pros

As a student, Brightspace really simplifies things for me. All my class materials are located in one spot and finding my way around the platform is not a problem.

Cons

There are occasional issues like when we need to access a textbook through Connect, it can be problematic to get it to load properly. It also has a habit of signing you out if you are inactive for a bit.

“Fantastic when implemented properly”

Pros

When it's implemented properly, it is fantastic having all my resources consolidated. My course readings, homework and lecture notes are always simple to find.

Cons

On my iPhone the top bar uses up a lot of screen space which makes reading PDF documents a real challenge. So it would be great if I could turn that bar off when I do not need it.

“easy to learn”

Pros

Students pick up how to use it really fast and the built-in calendar is a lifesaver for us in remembering due dates and what's coming up next.

Cons

The overall look is not very modern. The way things are arranged can sometimes be disorienting and the interface often feels cluttered and unorganized.

“very easy to move between classes”

Pros

Moving between my different classes and focusing on learning is simple because I am not constantly struggling with the software itself.

Cons

For some of the other courses I have taken, the platform felt a bit behind the times compared to other systems.

“a helpful resource for studies”

Pros

during my time in college, Brightspace proved to be a helpful resource for my studies.

Cons

one downside was that even when I was just trying to complete simple tasks, I found the mobile app really hard to get around.

“The worst and most inefficient tool”

Pros

It is difficult to come up with a single positive thing to say about this system.

Cons

I dislike everything about it. It is a very time-consuming platform. I have used many others and this one is by far the worst and most inefficient. Instead of helping my busy schedule, it adds to it with its endless clicking and poorly planned layout.

“simple and intuitive”

Pros

Adding new material and grading assignments is a simple process. The way a course is structured makes sense and you do not need much instruction to use it, whether you are teaching or learning.

Cons

The system automatically puts in zeros for quiz and test questions that need to be graded by hand which makes my students anxious when they see their first score. So it would be much better if the initial grade remained hidden until those questions can be properly reviewed.

“Incredibly simple to use”

Pros

The best part is how simple it is to use I mean it was incredibly simple. All the features were positioned right where we expect them to be.

Cons

Finding my way back to the main college page was a lil confusing.

“very user friendly”

Pros

It is very, very user friendly as we can easily learn how everything works on our own without any guidance.

Cons

The new, updated version of the platform with its visual changes was not as easy to navigate as the older one.

“looks nice and works well”

Pros

Brightspace LMS platform is so user friendly, simple to get around, looks nice and is designed to work really well.

Cons

Well the internal email feature feels a bit old-fashioned so I feel like it would be nice if it were updated to a modern chat system.

“wonderfully designed tool”

Pros

Working with this program saves us from having to start from scratch. It is a wonderfully designed educational tool that I rely on as a university professor.

Cons

A few minor features like the color-coding for specific assignments, still do not completely make sense to me. But it is not a major problem.

“the worst!!!!”

Pros

There is nothing positive to mention. It is simply the worst.

Cons

I genuinely dislike everything about it. Honestly, if I tried to explain my complete thoughts, I feel like it would take me hours.

“Flexible system”

Pros

The flexibility to join my courses from either my phone or my computer through Brightspace is a feature I really like.

Cons

You cannot see the instructor, the PowerPoint and the chat all at the same time. The view is limited to either the chat, the slides or the teacher but never a combination which is a major flaw.

“forward-thinking and innovative tool”

Pros

D2L does a great job of planning for the future, constantly making upgrades and introducing new tools.

Cons

A handful of the tools come with frustrating surprises like discovering we cannot adjust the due dates for discussion posts.

“The layout really works for me”

Pros

The way the material for every one of my courses is laid out and structured really works for me.

Cons

Well the sheer number of email alerts is a real problem as we get one for every single discussion and announcement. The only way to stop them is to manually opt-out of every one which is a time-consuming process that ironically floods your inbox even more.

“No trouble getting the hang of”

Pros

Getting the hang of Brightspace is no trouble at all. As locating my assignments and their deadlines is always simple.

Cons

Occasionally items can be difficult to locate, though thats typically a mistake on the teachers end not the platforms.

“Provides all the essential tools”

Pros

This LMS provides all the essential tools we need to handle online classes which is why I am a fan. The layout is also great and building content and grading feels very natural.

Cons

For the most part my experience has been smooth but the analytics section tends to be a bit problematic.

“A Canadian Masterpiece like a Lego with 3000 pieces”

Pros

I find it highly reliable, team productivity is visible, and the student reports are helpful.

Cons

Assembling it was challenging, negotiations were complex, and the support was limited.

“Brightspace keeps things organized”

Pros

I appreciate how Brightspace consolidates all the information in one place.

Cons

Sometimes, Brightspace can be frustrating due to its website layout. It has the potential for improvement.