Effective communication is key to a successful course, and Bruin Learn at UCLA provides the perfect tool for instructors: Announcements. This feature allows you to directly communicate important updates, reminders, and information to all students enrolled in your course, ensuring everyone stays informed. Using announcements in Bruin Learn is a straightforward process that enhances student engagement and keeps your course running smoothly.
To create an announcement in your Bruin Learn course, navigate to your course menu and locate the “Announcements” section. On the right side of the page, you will find a “+Announcement” button. Clicking this button will open up the announcement creation interface.
Accessing Student Email Addresses via New Analytics in Bruin Learn at UCLA – A screenshot showing the New Analytics link in Bruin Learn at UCLA.
In the announcement editor, you will need to input a “Topic Title” that clearly summarizes the announcement’s content. Below the title field, you’ll find a rich text editor where you can compose your message. This editor allows for formatting text, embedding links, and even adding media to make your announcements engaging and informative. Once you have crafted your message, simply scroll to the bottom of the page and click the “Save” button. Upon saving, the announcement is immediately sent to students.
Announcements in Bruin Learn are designed for maximum visibility. Not only are they posted on the course’s Announcements page within Bruin Learn, but students also automatically receive a copy of each announcement directly to their official UCLA email addresses. This dual delivery system ensures that students are promptly notified, regardless of whether they are actively logged into Bruin Learn.
It’s important to remember that students have the ability to customize their notification settings within Canvas, Bruin Learn’s underlying platform. Therefore, it is a best practice to include a clear statement in your course syllabus outlining your communication expectations and how you will be using announcements. Providing students with resources on how to manage their Canvas notification settings, like this guide, empowers them to stay informed in a way that best suits their needs.
While the “People” section lists UCLA Login IDs, which resemble email addresses, these are not necessarily the addresses where Canvas notifications are sent. To view the actual student email addresses used for Canvas notifications, you can use the “New Analytics” feature, accessible from the course Home page. Click on “New Analytics” and then navigate to the “Students” tab to see the email addresses students have associated with their Bruin Learn accounts.
By effectively utilizing the Announcements feature in Bruin Learn at UCLA, you can foster a well-informed and connected learning environment, contributing to a more positive and productive educational experience for both you and your students.
