Virtual Campus (Brightspace) for instructors
What is Virtual Campus (Brightspace)
Brightspace is the Learning Management system that we use at the University of Ottawa to present course material to students, offer assessments, and engage students through activities like discussion forums, etc. Read our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
As a professor, you automatically have access to Brightspace and a demo space within the platform.
You can log into the Virtual Campus (Brightspace) using your uoAccess credentials (Single Sign On credentials).
Steps to get started with Brightspace
Maestro is the professor portal where you will request the creation of your course in the Virtual Campus (Brightspace). Log in now to Maestro to create your course.

Before creating the course content in Brightspace, make sure to create your syllabus with Simple Syllabus using prepopulated sections and a custom template.
Once your course and syllabus are created, you are ready to jump into the Virtual Campus (Brightspace) to create your content and activities for your students.
Video - Getting started with Brightspace
Make sure to check out our other Brightspace videos that were created winter and fall of 2021 and get started using Brightspace today!
Get 24/7 help with Brightspace
Find the help you need 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year.
- Virtual Campus support portal (quickest method)
- Phone: (866) 811-3201
- Support form
Brightspace documentation

Brightspace documentation
Brightspace documentation created by the Teaching and Learning Support Service (TLSS).
Take part in upcoming training activities
We have an ongoing slate of training activities that cover Brightspace, teaching technologies, teaching strategies and more. Browse upcoming training events.
Brightspace resources
Please take advantage of our registered webinars and workshops that help you get the most out of Brightspace and other supported tools (e.g. Wooclap, Yuja, Zoom, Respondus, and Ouriginal).
Just starting with Brightspace? We highly recommend the following:
The Brightspace video workshop series - covers how to get started with Brightspace and explains how to access your account, create your course spaces, adjust critical settings and create certain content (e.g. Quizzes and Assignments).
Other recorded webinars - offers in-depth coverage of specific Brightspace and other teaching technologies.
Copyright and Brightspace
Do you want to know more about Copyrights and the Virtual Campus (Brightspace)?
Read this page from the library.
The Teaching Technologies Lab is staffed with specialists who offer in-person or virtual techno-pedagogical support on all uOttawa teaching and learning technologies (Brightspace, Simple Syllabus, Ouriginal, Wooclap, Respondus and YuJa).
Drop in during our opening hours or schedule a virtual meeting.
Location
Vanier Hall, Room 1020
Drop-in hours
- Monday to Friday: 10 a.m. to noon, 1 - 3 p.m.
Virtual appointment
- Monday to Friday: 8:45 a.m. to noon, 1 - 5 p.m.
Would you prefer to schedule a time to meet with a specialist in a virtual appointment? Book your appointment now!

Turnkey Brightspace templates
You will find below templates to help you quickly start designing your course in Virtual Campus (Brightspace). Two types of templates are available depending on the desired course structure.
- The first organizes the content by week
- The second divides it by themes (or modules).
Follow the instructions in the guide to install the template in your Brightspace course.
Questions? Don't hesitate to get in touch with us.
Please note that the template files are quite large and will take several minutes to upload in Brightspace.
Files to download
- Guide (1.23 MB)
This user guide will help you set up the template you have chosen and explain how to customize it once installed. - Template per module (172.50 MB)
The template per module will allow you to organize your course depending on the subject with the sequence you'll decide. - Template per week (165.55 MB)
This template organizes your course by week. It will be easy for your students where they are in the time continuum of the whole content. - CSS files (6.17 KB)
To simplify the application of the colour choice for the templates, simply download the CSS file and upload it to Brightspace (following the instructions in the user guide).

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Please click on this link. You will automatically be logged in (if you already have an SSO session active on your computer) or you will be redirected to the University of Ottawa Single Sign On page where you can use your uAccess ID to log in. You don’ know you uoAccess credentials? Please refer to this page on the IT website to see how best to proceed : https://it.uottawa.ca/uoaccess.
Contact information
Lab drop-in hours
September 1 to May 31
Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon; 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Friday, 9 a.m. to noon
June 1 to August 31
Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to noon; 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Friday, 9 a.m. to noon