February 2026 Updates

Brightspace Updates

Smoother Navigation in Enter Grades

Have a large gradebook? No problem. The Enter Grades page in Brightspace just got a navigation upgrade. Instructors can now move horizontally across grade columns using left and right arrow buttons located on either side of the gradebook grid. A scroll bar remains available at the bottom of the grid for additional navigation support.

This enhancement reduces reliance on the page-level scroll bar, which was not always visible without scrolling, and creates a more efficient workflow when managing extensive grade columns.

Better Filters for Groups and Sections

Managing large courses requires Brightspace filters that can keep up. What was previously a single View By filter has now been redesigned into two separate filters: one for Groups and one for Sections.

These distinct, searchable dropdown menus improve clarity and reduce navigation friction, especially in courses with large enrollments or numerous groups. The updated filters are now available across:

• Assignments
• Attendance
• Class Progress
• Content
• Classlist
• Discussions
• Grades
• Quizzes
• Surveys

Advanced Assessment Now Supports Group Assignments

Group allocations are now supported in Advanced Assessment. Leveraging the existing Groups tool, evaluators can now be allocated to groups rather than individual learners.

To use Group Advanced Assessment, start by creating learner groups. Then, when setting up the assignment, select Group Assignment under Submission & Completion. Evaluators can be assigned within the Evaluation & Feedback settings and managed in the updated Manage Allocations dialog, which now includes group-specific allocation options and section filters for more streamlined oversight.

Survey Reports: Improved Experience

Survey report generation now runs asynchronously for CSV and Excel formats. Brightspace prepares the file in the background and sends a notification when it’s ready, indicated by an orange dot on the Notifications (bell) icon at the top of the navigation bar. HTML reports still generate instantly.