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# How to Set Up Peer Review in Brightspace: A Clear 2026 Guide
- URL: https://rolloutready.com/set-up-peer-review-brightspace/
- Published: 2026-10-06T06:29:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-06T06:29:00.000Z
- Description: Discover practical steps to set up peer review in Brightspace, enabling effective student collaboration and feedback in your courses.
- Author: Daniel Hayes
- Tags: E-Learning, Brightspace, Peer Review, Education Technology

**Short answer:** To set up peer review in Brightspace, create a Discussion topic or Assignment with peer evaluation enabled, assign students to review each other's work, and use Brightspace’s built-in tools to monitor submissions and feedback. You must configure availability dates, evaluation criteria, and group settings carefully to ensure smooth participation and grading.

This guide covers how to set up peer review in Brightspace effectively in 2026\. You will learn how to [create assignments or discussion topics](https://rolloutready.com/p/4f1fc956-ed7c-4058-9e65-72b1bd2f3572/) configured for peer review, manage student participation, support peer feedback with discussion boards, and monitor submissions and scores. The workflow-driven approach focuses on practical steps and common pitfalls, ensuring you can implement peer review confidently and efficiently within your Brightspace courses.

## Before you start: What you need to set up peer review in Brightspace

To set up peer review in Brightspace effectively, you must first confirm you have instructor-level access to the course shell. Without this level of permission, you cannot create or manage assignments, student lists, or discussion boards. Next, gather a current list of enrolled students and verify their assigned roles; only those with learner roles should participate in peer review activities.

Define clear peer review objectives before setup. Decide the type of assignment (essay, project, etc.), the criteria for peer evaluation, and whether feedback will be structured or open-ended. Understanding these goals upfront prevents confusion during configuration. Additionally, ensure you are familiar with Brightspace's Assignments tool for submission handling and the Discussions tool to support interaction.

Finally, determine your peer review scoring system. Will peer assessments impact final grades or serve formative purposes? Set expectations for the kind of feedback students should provide, and how you will monitor and moderate it. This preparation reduces ambiguity and streamlines workflow once the peer review process is live.

1. Confirm you have instructor-level access: Verify in Course Admin > Roles & Permissions that your account has instructor rights. You should see management options for assignments and discussions.
2. Obtain the current student list: Access Enrollment Status under Course Admin and export or review learner names and roles.
3. Clarify peer review objectives: Document the assignment type, evaluation criteria, and feedback format. Prepare any rubrics or templates.
4. Review familiarity with key tools: Navigate to Assignments and Discussions in the course navbar to confirm you can create and modify content.
5. Decide on scoring and feedback policies: Choose whether peer feedback influences grades and set guidelines for constructive comments.

Following these steps ensures you start peer review setup with a clear foundation, avoiding common pitfalls related to permissions, participant roles, and process design.

- Instructor-level course access confirmed
- Accurate student enrollment list with roles
- Defined peer review objectives and criteria
- Comfort with Brightspace Assignments and Discussions tools
- Scoring and feedback expectations set

## How to create a peer review assignment in Brightspace

1. Go to the Course Tools menu and select **Assignments**. You should see the list of existing assignments or an option to create a new one.
2. Click **New Assignment**. The assignment creation page opens with fields for title, instructions, and settings.
3. Enter the assignment title and clear instructions. Scroll to **Submission & Completion** and set *Submission Type* to either *File submission* or *Text submission*, depending on your assignment format.
4. Under **Peer Review** settings, toggle *Enable Peer Review* to ON. This reveals options to configure peer review groups or assign peer reviewers manually.
5. Define *Submission Start* and *End Dates* to set the window when students can submit work. Then set *Peer Review Start* and *End Dates* to control when students evaluate peers’ submissions.
6. Choose how to assign peer reviewers: select *Automatic grouping* to have Brightspace assign peers randomly within groups, or select *Manual assignment* to assign reviewers yourself. Confirm groups are set up in the course if using automatic grouping.
7. Scroll to **Grading** and choose the grade item linked to this assignment. Enable *Allow peer review to contribute to final grade* if you want peer evaluations to impact scoring.
8. Set **Feedback & Completion** options. Enable *Allow anonymous peer feedback* if preferred, and configure whether students can see peer comments immediately or after grading.
9. Review all settings. Click **Publish** to make the assignment available. You will see the assignment listed with peer review enabled in Assignments.

**Common UI elements to note:** The *Enable Peer Review* toggle appears only if the assignment type supports it. Dates for submission and peer review are separate and must be sequential. Peer review assignment options appear as dropdown menus or checkboxes within the assignment settings panel.

- Navigate to Assignments > New Assignment
- Set submission type and enable peer review
- Define submission and peer review dates
- Configure peer reviewer assignment (automatic or manual)
- Link grading and set feedback preferences
- Publish the assignment

## How to add and manage students for peer review participation

To include students in your Brightspace course and ensure they participate in peer review, you must add them with the correct enrollment and roles. You can add students manually one by one or upload a list in bulk. Both methods must assign the student role to grant them access to peer review features.

![How to add and manage students for peer review participation – how to set up peer review in Brightspace](https://rolloutready.com/content/images/2026/10/set-up-peer-review-brightspace-2.webp)

To add a student manually, navigate to the course Admin Tools menu, select "Classlist," then click "Add Participants." Choose "Add Users Manually," enter the student's email or username, and assign the "Student" role. When successful, the student will appear in the classlist with the correct role, and they will have access to peer review assignments.

Bulk upload requires a properly formatted CSV file with student usernames or emails. Go to "Classlist," select "Add Participants," then "Upload File." Upload your CSV, map the fields correctly, and assign the student role. Brightspace will process the file and add all listed students. Check for any errors or duplicates in the upload report to ensure all students are enrolled correctly.

If a student cannot access peer review, verify their role in the classlist. Only users with the student role can submit and review peer assignments. Also, confirm they are not marked as inactive or dropped. If an enrollment issue persists, re-adding the student or consulting your institution’s Brightspace administrator may be necessary.

Example: To add a student manually, you add "jane.doe@example.edu" with the student role. After saving, Jane appears in the classlist under the student category. You then check a peer review assignment, and Jane’s status shows "Enrolled - Eligible for Peer Review," confirming access.

1. Go to Admin Tools > Classlist > Add Participants.
2. Select "Add Users Manually," enter student details, assign "Student" role, then save. You should see the student listed.
3. For bulk upload, select "Upload File," choose CSV, map fields, assign roles, then submit. Check the upload report for confirmation.
4. Verify each student’s role and status in the classlist to confirm peer review access.
5. If issues arise, remove and re-add the student or contact your Brightspace administrator.

## How to use Brightspace discussion boards to support peer review activities

Use Brightspace discussion boards to centralize peer review instructions, questions, and feedback. Creating a dedicated discussion forum for peer review keeps communication organized and accessible. Without this, discussions scatter across course areas, making it hard for students to find guidance or share feedback efficiently.

1. Go to Course Tools > Discussions in Brightspace. You should see the Discussions page open.
2. Click New Forum. A blank forum setup screen appears.
3. Name the forum clearly, for example, "Peer Review Discussions". Add a description outlining its purpose.
4. Set the forum to allow thread creation and replies. Confirm settings by checking that "Allow new threads" and "Allow replies" are enabled.
5. Create an initial discussion thread titled "Peer Review Instructions". Post a clear message explaining peer review expectations, deadlines, and how to provide constructive feedback. You will see the thread listed under the forum.
6. Demonstrate feedback by replying to your instruction post with an example comment, such as "Please focus on clarity and argument strength." Your reply appears indented below the original post.
7. If instructions change, select the original post, choose Edit, update the text, and save. Your updated post will replace the old one.
8. Use the "View as Student" feature (found under the course navbar or settings) to confirm that the forum and threads appear clearly and are easy to navigate from a student perspective.

Example use: A student finds the "Peer Review Discussions" forum and sees the "Peer Review Instructions" thread with your clear guidelines. They post a question under it, and peers reply with answers. This centralizes all peer review communication, unlike scattered Q&A in unrelated areas.

## How to publish your Brightspace course and ensure peer review visibility

Publishing your course and its peer review components in Brightspace guarantees students can access all necessary materials and participate fully. Start by publishing the overall course shell from the Course Offering Information page. When the course is published, students see the course listed in their Brightspace homepage, increasing engagement and reducing access queries.

1. Navigate to the Course Offering Information page via the Course Admin menu. Confirm the "Course Offering Status" is set to "Published." A green checkmark indicates success.
2. Go to the Assignments tool and verify each peer review assignment's availability. Open the assignment, select "Properties," and ensure "Hidden from users" is unchecked. Students should see the assignment listed in the Assignments area.
3. Check the Discussions tool where peer review forums are located. Under each discussion topic, confirm "Topic Status" is set to "Open." Closed topics prevent student interaction and lower participation.
4. Use the "Release Conditions" feature cautiously; ensure no unintended restrictions block access to peer review assignments or discussions.
5. Communicate course access instructions to students using the official Brightspace tutorials for students. Provide links or embed tutorials in the course homepage to help students resolve login or navigation issues independently.

If students report login or access problems, verify their enrollment status and confirm they are using the correct Brightspace URL and credentials. Clear browser cache and advise using supported browsers if persistent problems occur.

Published courses and visible peer review activities typically show higher student engagement and fewer access-related support tickets. Ensuring all visibility settings are correct upfront saves time during the term.

## How to monitor and manage peer review submissions and scoring

To track peer review completion, start by navigating to the Assignments tool and selecting the relevant peer review assignment. Click on the "Submissions" tab to view a list of student submissions and their peer review status. Here, you can identify who has completed their review and who has not. Brightspace displays peer review completion with clear icons indicating submitted, in-progress, or missing reviews.

Use the built-in peer review scoring system by opening individual submissions and accessing the "Peer Reviews" section. You can score peer evaluations based on criteria you set, such as quality, timeliness, and completeness. Scores automatically integrate into the gradebook if linked during setup. For example, if a student’s review is thorough but late, you can assign partial credit and note the delay in feedback.

Manage late or missing peer reviews by filtering submissions via the "Status" dropdown to isolate incomplete reviews. Send reminder notifications directly from the Assignments tool or adjust due dates if necessary. If a student disputes a peer review score, review the comments and original submission side by side, then provide clarifying feedback or adjust scores as needed.

Example workflow: After opening the assignment submissions, filter for "Incomplete Peer Reviews." You notice Student A has not submitted their review by the deadline. You send a reminder via Brightspace messaging. Student A completes the review late; you access their peer review, assign 80% credit due to tardiness, and add a private comment explaining the deduction. This resolves the issue transparently.

1. Go to Assignments > select the peer review assignment > click "Submissions". You see all student submissions and peer review statuses.
2. Filter submissions by "Incomplete Peer Reviews" to identify missing reviews. You see a filtered list of students who have not completed their reviews.
3. Send reminder messages using the "Send Email" option from the filtered list. You receive confirmation that messages were sent.
4. Open a submitted peer review from a student; assign scores using the criteria fields. You see the score updated and saved.
5. Review disputed peer review comments and provide clarifying feedback or adjust scores as needed. The updated feedback and score are visible to the student.

## Troubleshooting common issues when setting up peer review in Brightspace

If students do not see peer review assignments or discussions, first verify that the course is published and that the assignments are set to "Visible" under the Restrictions tab. Check that the enrollment status is active and the student role is assigned correctly. If an assignment is missing from the gradebook, confirm that the "Grade Item" is linked under Submission & Completion in the assignment settings.

![Troubleshooting common issues when setting up peer review in Brightspace – how to set up peer review in Brightspace](https://rolloutready.com/content/images/2026/10/set-up-peer-review-brightspace-3.webp)

When discussion posts are not editable or reply options are missing, ensure that the discussion topic settings allow replies and editing. Navigate to Communication > Discussions, select the relevant topic, and confirm "Allow users to edit their posts" and "Allow users to start new threads" are checked. If these options are disabled, students cannot interact as expected.

For access or login problems, confirm that students use institutional credentials and clear browser cache or try a different browser. Check for any IP restrictions or two-factor authentication issues configured in the Brightspace admin console that might block access.

Common 2026 Brightspace error messages include "Assignment Not Found" (usually caused by unpublished assignments), "Insufficient Permissions" (due to incorrect role assignments), and "Unable to Submit" (often related to assignment availability dates or technical glitches). Resolving these typically involves checking publication status, enrollment, and assignment date settings.

If problems persist after these checks, escalate to Brightspace support with detailed information: course name, assignment title, user roles affected, error messages, and screenshots if possible. This expedites resolution by the technical team.

1. Check course and assignment publication status. You should see assignments and discussions listed as "Visible" to students.
2. Verify student enrollment and role assignments. Students should appear with the "Student" role and active status.
3. Review grade item linkage in assignment settings. The gradebook should show the linked assignment.
4. Confirm discussion topic permissions allow posting and editing. Students should have reply and edit options enabled.
5. Test student login with institutional credentials on multiple browsers. Login should succeed without errors.
6. Review error messages and cross-reference with Brightspace 2026 error documentation. Identify causes and apply fixes accordingly.
7. If unresolved, contact Brightspace support with complete course and user details. Expect a support ticket confirmation.

## Frequently asked questions

### How to publish a brightspace course?

To publish your Brightspace course, go to the Course Admin menu and select "Course Offering Information." Change the "Course Offering Status" to "Active." This makes the course visible to students immediately. Remember, unpublished courses remain hidden regardless of content setup.

### How to access brightspace?

Access Brightspace by navigating to your institution’s designated Brightspace URL, typically provided by your IT department. Log in using your institutional credentials. If you face login issues, verify your username and password or contact your institution’s support team.

### How to post discussion on brightspace?

Within your course, select "Discussions" from the navbar. Choose the relevant discussion topic or create a new one by clicking "New Topic." Enter your post content in the text editor and click "Post" to publish it. Posts can include attachments or embedded media as needed.

### How to edit discussion post on brightspace?

Locate your post within the discussion thread. Click the ellipsis (...) next to the post and select "Edit." Make your changes in the text editor and click "Save." Note that editing may be restricted based on your course settings or instructor permissions.

### How to add students to brightspace?

Students are usually added automatically via your institution’s enrollment system. To add students manually, go to "Classlist" under the course navbar, click "Add Participants," and enter their email or username. Confirm the addition to enroll them in the course.

## What this advice does not cover

This guide does not cover setting up peer review in LMS platforms other than Brightspace, such as Canvas or Moodle. Some peer review features depend on your institution’s Brightspace configuration and permissions, which may restrict access to specific tools or settings. If you encounter limitations, consult your Brightspace administrator or instructional technology support for assistance tailored to your environment. This guide also does not include detailed grading rubrics or pedagogical strategies for peer review effectiveness beyond the platform setup.

## Quick checklist

- Confirm you have appropriate Brightspace permissions to create assignments and manage users.
- Create a new assignment with the 'Peer Review' option enabled under Assessment settings.
- Enroll and verify student participants in your course’s Classlist tool.
- Set up discussion boards linked to the peer review assignment for feedback exchange.
- Publish your course and verify the assignment is visible to students.
- Monitor submissions and peer reviews via the Manage Submissions area.
- Use the Grade Book to record and adjust scores as needed.
- Address common issues by checking user roles and assignment settings if problems arise.

The single most useful next step is to create a test student account or use a pilot group to run through the entire peer review workflow before launching to your full class. This lets you verify settings, visibility, and submission processes in Brightspace 2026, ensuring a smooth experience for both you and your students.

**See also:** [How to Leave Clear, Effective Feedback on Student Work in Brightspace](https://rolloutready.com/p/f39a7207-90af-4102-bf1e-2a0fcd957426/) · [How to Grade Student Work in Brightspace: A Clear Step-by-Step Guide](https://rolloutready.com/p/2484e158-f049-415b-815f-fefafb7211a6/) · [How to Reopen a Closed Assignment in Brightspace: Step-by-Step](https://rolloutready.com/p/ab3e53fd-2588-4a4d-bcc0-41f30ae95232/)