Overview
Starting January 15, 2026, instructors will have the New Content Experience in all their courses, including summer and fall 2026. However, note that this change does not affect your spring 2026 (20265) courses, which will continue to have the "Classic" Content experience.
With the New Content Experience in Content, instructors can expect a similar experience of the existing creation and editing of course materials, but with a few changes and new features. Learn more about the changes, what's no longer available, and some commonly asked questions.
Students can also expect new features and some changes to their experience with navigation and interacting with Content. Learn more about the student's view of the New Content Experience.
What is "Classic Content" vs. New Content Experience
The New Content Experience offers a clean, minimalist design for instructors setting up a course and for students navigating the materials. The New Content Experience is the new experience compared to “Classic Content”, the previous experience in the Content tool.
Functionality Comparison: Classic vs. New Content Experience
In the New Content Experience, instructors can still do most of what they were doing in the Classic Content. However, a few things have shifted around for instructors. Here is a list of things that have changed to help you find your way:
|
Action or Feature
|
Where It Was in Classic
|
Where It Is in New Experience
|
|
Add a module
|
Bottom of module list
|
Top of module list
("+New Module")
|
|
Editing the module title
|
Main module content area >> Module title menu >> Edit Title
|
Click on module >>
Click three dots at top right >> Edit ("Unit Title")
|
|
Editing the module description
|
Main module content area
|
Click on module >>
Click three dots at top right >> Edit >> Description
|
|
Add dates & restrictions to module
|
Main module content area >> Add dates and restrictions...
|
Click on module >>
Click three dots at top right >>
Edit >> Change Availability
Dates & Conditions
|
|
Add a sub-module
|
Bottom of main module content area (or move module tiles around)
|
Click on module >>
Create New (top right) >> New Lesson
|
|
Hide or make visible
|
Main module content area >>
toggle visible icon (top right)
|
Click on module >> toggle visible switch (top left)
|
Download module
(to a zipped file) |
Main module content area >> Module title menu >> Download |
Click on module >>
Click three dots at top right >> Download |
| Delete module |
Main module content area >> Module title menu >> Delete Module |
Click on module >>
Click three dots at top right >> Delete |
|
Content Reports
|
Table of Contents >> Related Tools >> View Reports
|
Top of module list (gear icon) >> View Reports
|
|
Overview
|
Above table of contents
|
Top of module list (only displays if overview was added in Classic Content), since the overview cannot be created directly from the new Content experience
|
|
Bookmarks
|
Above table of contents
|
Removed feature
(review feature request #D4838)
|
|
Course Schedule
|
Above table of contents
|
Removed feature
(review feature request #D11412)
|
|
Content Settings
|
Settings
|
Removed feature
(review feature request #D12801)
|
|
Options for creating new items
|
Upload/Create
(drop-down at top left)
|
Create New
(button at top right)
|
|
Options for adding existing items
|
Existing Activities
(drop-down at top left)
|
Add Existing
(button at top right)
|
|
Upload Files
|
Upload/Create
|
In a module >> Add Existing
(click button and scroll down)
|
|
Create a File
|
Upload/Create
|
Create New
(item now called "Page")
|
|
Create a Link
|
Upload/Create
|
Create New
(item now called "Weblink")
|
|
Video or Audio (upload media)
|
Upload/Create
|
Add Existing >> Select More >> Select Kaltura Media >>
|
Video or Audio
(Enter URL or embed code) |
Upload Create |
Create New >> Insert Stuff >> Enter Embed Code
|
|
Add from Manage Files
|
Upload/Create
|
Add Existing >> Select More >> Select Content File
|
|
New SCORM /xAPI Object
|
Upload/Create
|
Add Existing >>
SCORM/xAPI Object
|
|
Create new Assignment, Checklist, Discussion, or Quiz
|
Upload/Create
|
Create New
|
| Create new Survey |
Upload/Create |
Create New >> More
|
|
Create new Self Assessment
|
N/A
|
Create New >> More
|
|
Add existing Assignments, Checklist, Discussions, Quizzes
|
Existing Activities |
Add Existing
|
| Add existing ePortfolio item |
Existing Activities |
Removed feature
|
|
Add existing Self Assessments, Surveys, Video Assignment, or Virtual Classroom
|
Existing Activities |
Add Existing >> More
|
|
Third-Party Integrations
|
Existing Activities
|
Add Existing >> More
|
|
External Learning Tools
|
Existing Activities
|
Add Existing
(item now called
"External Tool Activity")
|
|
Kaltura Media
|
Existing Activities
|
Add Existing >> More
|
|
Media Library
|
Existing Activities
|
Add Existing >> More
|
| View a topic |
Main topic content area >>
topic menu >> View Topic
(or click on topic title) |
Click on topic title |
|
Editing the topic title
|
Main topic content area |
Click on topic >> Click three dots at top right >> Edit ("Page Title") |
| Editing the topic description |
Main topic content area >> Edit Properties in Place >> Add a description... (or click on existing description) |
Click on topic >> Click three dots at top right >> Edit >> Description |
| Add dates & restrictions to topic |
Main topic content area >> topic menu >> Edit Properties in Place
>> Add dates and restrictions... |
Click on topic >> Click three dots at top right >> Edit >> Change Availability Dates & Conditions |
| Hide or make visible |
Main topic content area >> topic menu >> Hide or make visible to users |
Click on topic >> toggle visible switch (top left) |
| Manage exemptions |
Main topic content area >> topic menu >> Edit Properties in Place >> Add dates and restrictions... >> Manage Exemptions |
Removed feature |
| Download topic (if available) |
Main topic content area >> topic menu >> Download |
Click on topic >> Click three dots at top right >> Download |
| Delete topic |
Main topic content area >> topic menu >> Delete topic |
Click on topic >> Click three dots at top right >> Edit |
| Bulk edit (topics in module) |
Bulk Edit |
Removed feature
(review feature request #D7997 and D12882) |
| Move topic |
Move topic tile around
by dragging-and-dropping it
using the eight-dot icon |
Click on topic title >> Move topic tile around by dragging-and-dropping it using the eight-dot icon |
|
Connected file name with last modified date
|
View Topic >> bottom of page
|
Removed feature
(review feature request #D12476)
|
| Completion Summary |
View Topic >> under topic |
Only available for certain activities: Assignments, Discussions, and Quizzes |
|
Notification checkbox for updated content
|
Edit HTML topic >> bottom of page |
Removed feature
(review feature request #D11701) |
What features are not available in the New Content Experience
D2L has been slowly building out the New Content Experience over many years (10+ years). D2L is still working on adding more functionality that currently exists in the Classic Content to make it more feasible for higher education users.
The following features and functionality are available in the Classic Content, but are not available in the New Content Experience. Note: this list is not exhaustive, and may be updated on a regular basis.
Limitations to the New Content Experience for Instructors
- No bulk editing of content topics
- Cannot upload large files directly as topics since the New Content Experience does not wait long enough for the upload to finish
- Cannot determine the file name (and last modified date) associated with a content topic page
- No notification checkbox to notify students of updated content
- No Settings link to modify the HTML templates path, default font settings for new documents, and default completion status for new topics
- No option to manage exemptions for students from content
- Cannot add an existing ePortfolio item to content
Limitations to the New Content Experience for Students
- No Course Schedule page
- No option to Bookmark a topic page to easily return to it at a later time
- Future or past dated modules/pages don’t display when viewing content (This is expected to be fixed in the January 15, 2026 Brightspace release.)
- Cannot print individual or multiple content topics in bulk (you need to use your browser’s print options instead)
Commonly asked questions
Can I turn OFF the New Content Experience in my course?
The New Content Experience is required for current and future courses. However, instructors may contact your local D2L Campus Site Admin to opt-out of the New Content Experience for a development or sandbox course.
Students cannot turn off the New Content Experience. When using the New Content Experience, a student’s view of content is very similar to the instructor’s view, but the student interacts with content (they don't create/manage it).
Is there a way to change the module colors in the New Content Experience?
No, there isn’t a way to adjust the colors. These colors may come from your school’s theme colors set for your entire D2L Brightspace site or are the default colors in the New Content Experience.
How are modules and sub-modules structured in the New Content Experience?
The New Content Experience supports levels of modules: Units (i.e. modules) and Lessons or Folders (i.e. sub-modules).
Is D2L replacing the previous Classic Content?
D2L has not stated a future date for replacing the previous Classic Content experience with the New Content Experience. However, D2L should provide ample warning before they do deliver a timeline for their transition to end the Classic Content experience.