• STRUCTURE
  • MIGRATION
  • ORGANIZATION
  • REVIEW

How to set up and copy courses with your AI

Connect your AI to D2L Brightspace to automate course creation and content migration. Once connected, your agent handles the heavy lifting of building course structures.

Ask AI about this page

Short answer

How can I use my AI to set up and copy courses in Brightspace?

Your AI uses direct API commands to create new course units and duplicate existing templates. You can trigger these actions through natural language prompts to build out your semester's offerings. You'll get a structured course environment ready for your content.

Course management outcomes

What you get

The AI handles the structural setup so you don't have to.

STRUCTURE

New course shells

The AI builds the necessary organizational units. You get a clean, ready-to-use course shell in your Brightspace environment.

MIGRATION

Template duplication

Your agent pulls content from a master template. It copies the structure into your new course so you don't start from scratch.

ORGANIZATION

Unit creation

The AI sets up the hierarchy of your course. It creates the specific organizational units needed to hold your content.

REVIEW

Human verification

The AI stops after the structural setup. You must log in to Brightspace to review the layout and add your specific instructional content.

The workflow

What your AI does when the request arrives.

The AI translates your instructions into specific API calls to modify your Brightspace environment.

  1. Identify templates

    Your agent looks up the specific course template you want to use as a blueprint.

    get_course_template

  2. Build the shell

    The AI creates the new course container within your Brightspace instance.

    create_course

  3. Set up hierarchy

    It builds the organizational units required to house your modules and content.

    create_org_unit

  4. Clone content

    The agent copies the structure from your chosen template into the new course.

    copy_course

Try it

Copy these to start.

Use these prompts to trigger the Brightspace tools.

Starting points

Swap out the bracketed text with your actual Brightspace course names or IDs.

D2L Brightspace Connector

You're all set. Choose your MCP client and follow the setup instructions.

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_k7XP8JzTIBazLKgMpGAuXAKitDVknELmgXJC5adc/mcp

Claude Desktop

Follow the steps below to connect in seconds.

  1. 1In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Connectors.
  2. 2Click “Add custom connector” and paste the connector link above as the remote MCP server URL.
  3. 3Click Add and start a new chat — D2L Brightspace capabilities are ready to use.
Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "d2l-brightspace-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_k7XP8JzTIBazLKgMpGAuXAKitDVknELmgXJC5adc/mcp"
    }
  }
}
Copy into chat04

  • Create a new course called [Course Name] in Brightspace.

  • Copy the content from the [Template Name] template into my new [Course Name] course.

  • Create a new organizational unit named [Unit Name] inside [Course Name].

  • Find the template for [Template Name] so I can use it for a new course.

  • Claude
  • ChatGPT
  • Cursor
  • VS Code
  • Windsurf
  • Claude Code
  • JetBrains
  • Cline

Start here

Connect D2L Brightspace once, then ask.

Follow the link to link your account. Your credentials stay encrypted and secure, and you can immediately start managing courses through your AI client.

Connect D2L Brightspace to your AI

FAQ

How this task behaves

  • 01

    Can the AI delete my existing courses?

    No. The current tools only allow for creating and copying. It cannot delete any existing courses or content.

  • 02

    Will the AI upload my lecture videos?

    No. The AI handles the course structure and template copying, but you must upload your specific media and files manually.

  • 03

    Can I use this to move content between two existing courses?

    Yes, you can use the copy command to migrate content from one course to another.

  • 04

    Does the AI manage my student enrollments?

    No. The tools provided are for course and unit creation, not for managing user permissions or student rosters.

  • 05

    How do I know if the course was created successfully?

    Your AI client will confirm once the API command has been executed successfully.

  • More questions about D2L Brightspace? The Connector page answers them. See everything the D2L Brightspace Connector can do

Connect D2L Brightspace to Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT & more