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July 2025 D2L Brightspace Release
Effective July 17, 2025 within D2L Brightspace, new and updated features are available to Instructors as part of the monthly update.
Release highlights include updates to Assignments, D2L Brightspace (overall), Groups, Quizzes, and Rubrics. Review additional resources to learn more.
Assignments
New "file or text" submission option for enhanced student choice
In Assignments, you may set up an assignment that accepts submission in the form of an uploaded file, text enter in the HTML Editor, or both. For the new "File or text submission" assignment, it would allow a student to choose how they demonstrate their learning. For example, if the assignment is an essays, students can upload a file, insert a video in the text submission box, or type the essay in the text submission box. As a recommendation, you may want to include guidance in the assignment's instructions that lets the student know they can choose an option (file or text) for their submission.
Figure: The new File or Text submission option in the Submission Type menu
Figure: The Submit Assignment page for students, displaying the option to submit files and the option to enter text in the Text Submission HTML Editor.
D2L Brightspace
Supported browser list is updated
D2L Brightspace's supported browser versions is updated every January and July. This July release updates the minimum supported browser versions to: Chrome 135, Edge 135, Safari 18, and Firefox 137. It's recommended to use the latest browser version in D2L Brightspace.
Groups
Bulk enroll and unenroll students by CSV or TXT file import
In Groups, you can now bulk enroll or bulk unenroll students in existing groups using a CSV or TXT file. This feature adds a new Import button on the Groups page and from a category's menu. Clicking Import opens a guided workflow with detailed instructions for correctly formatting the CSV or TXT file. Learn more about Bulk Group enrollment or unenrollment from CSV or TXT file.
Figure: The new Import option appears on the Manage Groups page and in the Category menu.
Quizzes
Full HTML Editor for question feedback
In Quizzes, the full HTML editor is now available for question-level Feedback when assessing a student's attempt. Instructors can choose from these options (and more) when leaving feedback: upload images, insert equations, and use advanced formatting and media tools. This feature enhances the instructor experience and aligning it with the editors already available for Attempt Feedback and Overall Feedback when assessing student attempts. Previously, instructors could provide feedback on individual questions using only the inline HTML editor, which offered limited formatting and functionality.
Figure: When assessing a student's attempt, the question's Feedback field now includes the full HTML Editor options.
Reopen a submitted quiz attempt
In Quizzes, instructors can now reopen a submitted quiz attempt, allowing students to resume from where they left off. The new feature adds the new Reopen button and supports scenarios where students run out of time or submit their attempt by mistake. This feature reduces frustration from auto-submissions and improving overall quiz management flexibility. Previously, instructors could not reopen a submitted quiz attempt. This feature introduces the ability to return quiz attempts to an unsubmitted state and adjust time limits, if needed. Learn more about reopening a student's submitted quiz attempt.
Additionally, the Grade Quiz screen now displays all students by default, instead of only those who have submitted an attempt at the quiz.
Figure: The new Reopen option on the Grade Quiz screen to reopen a student's submitted quiz attempt.
Figure: The Reopen Quiz Attempt prompt with the option to add extra time to the student's total time remaining.
Figure: After reopening the quiz attempt, its status is listed as Reopened.
When a student navigates back to the quiz page, the quiz will list that "when you re-enter the quiz, the timer will resume counting down" and the student can click Continue Quiz button to continue their attempt.
When reviewing the quiz's event log as an instructor, the log records when the quiz was reopened and the number of minutes added.
More statistics available for rubrics on written response questions
Instructors can now view rubric statistics (overall and criteria) associated with written response questions. It includes statistics for all students' first attempts in a quiz. The user interface now indicates that only first attempts are included in the stats. Previously, rubric statistics were limited or inconsistent for written response questions. With this update, the rubric statistics display data per quiz question for all students, not just the quiz overall.
Figure: The existing Rubric Statistics option from a written response question when assessing a student's response in a quiz attempt.
Figure: The statistics tabs now list "first attempts" are included in the statistics.
Rubrics
Reset rubric scoring using Clear Selections option
Instructors can now clear rubric scoring using the new Clear Selections option in the Rubrics tool to improve efficiency when reviewing assessments. This update supports instructors who need to reset scoring and start from scratch. Clearing the rubric score does not remove any previously entered (i.e. manually entered) feedback. Selecting Clear Selections requires you to confirm the action. The option to undo this action appears in a pop-up window for a brief amount of time after clicking Clear Selections.
Figure: Select Clear Selections from the rubric's three-dot menu.
Figure: Click Clear Selections to remove rubric scoring.
Updated "Set All" terms for unscored rubric
With this update, when no rubric levels are selected, the options now display as Set All to [highest level name] and Set All to [lowest level name] in the menu. This is an improvement to the Set Ungraded option in the January 2025/20.25.01 release.
Figure: The "Set All" options when a rubric has not been scored.
Additional Resources