The VLE Standards are a set of guidelines designed to ensure that all online modules are consistent, accessible, and supportive of student learning across the University.
On this page
Overview
The UCD Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) Standards has been developed with a view to supporting Faculty, School Heads of Teaching and Learning, Educational Technologists and all staff who support teaching and learning to make decisions about the appropriate use of the VLE, based on their own pedagogical requirements and contexts. UCD’s VLE Standards Policy was approved in October 2022 and updated in March 2025.
The purpose of the VLE Standards is:
● To provide a consistent user experience for students and those that teach and support learning
● To enhance the clarity of information provided to students and encourage active participation in their own learning.
● To ensure that all learning materials provided to students are accessible and designed to adhere to Universal Design Principles
● To provide a parity of experience for students across different modules as appropriate to the discipline that they are studying.
● To provide a solid foundation upon which faculty, School Heads of Teaching and Learning and Educational Technologists can further develop; face-to-face, online and blended modules that promote, and enhance student engagement.
How to get involved
The VLE Standards require that, at a minimum, the following Units are included in all academic modules within the My Learning area of Brightspace;
- Welcome
- Assessment Information
- Weekly or Topic structure for learning materials
Key Changes
The updated VLE Standards will come into effect from July 2025, applying to all newly created modules for the 2025–26 academic year and beyond.
Key points:
The updates focus on embedding the feedback received from faculty and students.
Support and guidance materials will be made available to help you align your modules with the new standards.
Overview of the changes:
Welcome Unit
- The previous "Welcome" and "Introduction" units have been merged into a single unit titled "Welcome".
- This was a direct result of feedback received where faculty felt there was an overlap between the Welcome and Introduction units.
Assessment Information Unit Position
- The Assessment Information Unit has been moved higher in the module structure for greater visibility.
- This reflects student feedback emphasising the need for easier access to assessment information.
- Summative assessments (e.g., Quizzes, Assignments, Discussions, Peer Reviews) should be clearly housed within this unit.
Learning Unit Changes
- The previous single "Learning Unit" structure has been replaced with four flexible units, each titled Week/Topic.
- This change addresses feedback that the "weekly" format was too restrictive.
- Instructors are now able to rename units to match their teaching style (e.g., by week, topic, or theme).
Getting Started
- UCD VLE Standards policy
- Teaching & Learning Guidelines for presenting your module in Brightspace
- Teaching & Learning - Learning Materials in Brightspace
- (opens in a new window)How to add a Welcome Widget (popup message) to the module home page
- (opens in a new window)View assessable activities in the New Content Experience (NCE)
- Book to attend an instructor information session
FAQ
The review was carried out by the VLE Subgroup and incorporated feedback from faculty, students, and educational technologists. Updates were made to reflect changes in digital learning practices, improve accessibility, and enhance the student experience.
The new standards will apply to all newly created modules from July 2025 onwards. Existing modules do not need to be retrofitted unless they are being substantially redeveloped.
Overview of the changes:
- Welcome Unit: The previous "Welcome" and "Introduction" units have been merged into a single unit titled "Welcome".
This was a direct result of feedback received where faculty felt there was an overlap between the Welcome and Introduction units. - Assessment Information Unit Position: The Assessment Information Unit has been moved higher in the module structure for greater visibility.
This reflects student feedback emphasising the need for easier access to assessment information.
Summative assessments (e.g., Quizzes, Assignments, Discussions, Peer Reviews) should be clearly housed within this unit. - Learning Unit Changes: The previous single "Learning Unit" structure has been replaced with four flexible units, each titled Week/Topic.
This change addresses feedback that the "weekly" format was too restrictive.
Instructors are now able to rename units to match their teaching style (e.g., by week, topic, or theme).
- Review the Summary of Changes and Full Updated Standards.
- Attend a live webinar or a drop-in clinic for support.
- Contact IT Services for Support at www.ucd.ie/ithelp
You can contact your School's Educational Technologist or the UCD IT Services team via www.ucd.ie/ithelp.
Yes. We will have a live webinar or on demand sessions to support faculty. Keep an eye on our training page and workvivo for updates in this space.
No. Existing modules do not need to be changed unless you are significantly redesigning them. All new module shells for the 2025/26 academic year will be delivered with the new standards available by default and you should start using them where appropriate.
Each School will be responsible, with student representatives, for auditing their implementation of the VLE standards. This should be conducted as appropriate to the subject area and specific subject/disciplinary context.
Module Coordinators can continue to use the Learning and Introduction units if desired, or can delete the units if preferred.
Instructors should delete any additional unwanted units.
It is advised that you keep the number of subunits to a minimum and recommend that you have no more than 3 levels of nested units. This will assist in make navigation easier for students
Further Support
The UCD IT Support Hub is where you can log a call with our UCD IT Helpdesk team, find an answer in our Knowledge Base of articles, or request an additional service or access.
UCD IT Services
Computer Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.Contact us via the UCD IT Support Hub: www.ucd.ie/ithelp