Brightspace has two tools that enable instructors to see the course from the perspective of a student: View as Learner and Demo Student. This post describes how these tools differ.
View as Learner is a built-in Brightspace tool that allows you to quickly view course content from the learner perspective and engage in some course activities. Actions that you take within the course when viewing it as a learner are not saved, so you cannot review learner work once you return to the instructor view.
Demo Student is a tool that was developed by CUNY to enable instructors to get a more complete view of the course from the student perspective. Actions that you take within the course as a demo student are saved until the demo student is deleted. This enables instructors to grade and give feedback on demo student work.
Additional details about the differences between the two tools can be found in the table below. Additional information about how to use each tool can be found in the posts linked to above.
| Feature | View As Learner | Demo Student |
| Where to access | Click on your name at the upper right and select “View as Learner” from the drop-down menu | Select “Demo Student” from the “Tools” drop-down menu to enroll the demo student in your course. Go to the “Classlist,” click on the down arrow next to “Demo Student,” and select “Impersonate” from the drop-down menu. |
| How to exit | Click on your name in the upper right, then click on the “x” to the right of “Viewing as Learner.” | Click on “Demo Student” in the upper right, then click on the “x” to the right of “Impersonating: Demo Student.” |
| Appear as a student under Grades in the instructor view | No | Yes |
| View grades from student view | You can see which grade columns will be available to students but you will not have any graded work to view. | You can see submitted work, graded work, and instructor feedback. Work is saved across sessions impersonating the demo student. |
| Participate in discussions | Yes. Posts made when viewing as learner will display your name. | Yes. Posts made when impersonating the demo student will display the name “demo student.” |
| Take quizzes | Yes. Can take quizzes by previewing them. Quiz responses are not saved and the attempt does not appear in the gradebook. | Yes. Can take and submit quizzes. Responses are saved and attempt will appear in the gradebook. |
| Take surveys | Yes, but responses are not saved. | Yes, responses are saved. |
| Submit assignments | Yes, but they will not be available when you return to the instructor view. Assignments you submit will be available next time you view as learner. | Yes. Assignments are saved and you can grade them when you return to the instructor view, as you would grade any student’s assignment. |
| View course content from student perspective | Yes , but you may not be able to see some content with release conditions (see below). | Yes |
| Test release conditions that depend on student activity in the course (e.g., students need to pass a quiz in order to see the next module) | Yes, except for conditions that require a grade or completion of a quiz. | Yes |
| Brightspace emails | Can send emails but cannot receive emails or email notifications. | Can send emails but cannot receive emails or email notifications. |
| Works with Pulse app | Yes | Yes |
| Join groups | No. You continue to have access to all groups, as you do from instructor view. | Yes |
