Northern Essex Community College has started moving some courses from Blackboard to Brightspace, and many students are already noticing the change. 

While most classes still use Blackboard, a growing number are testing Brightspace this semester, which has left some students working with both systems at the same time.

Freshman business student Andrew Baker said the switch has been confusing in a few ways. 

“I have one class on Brightspace and the rest on Blackboard,” Baker said. “It gets a little hard to keep track of everything when I have to go back and forth.” 

Even with the challenges, he said he prefers the look of the new platform. 

“I like the layout on Brightspace more. It feels cleaner and easier to read,” he said. 

Another student, Brendan Ballon, said he has used both systems before and has a clear favorite. 

“Brightspace is more user friendly,” Ballon said. “It does not take as long to find what you need.”

The college plans to move all classes to Brightspace in the future — by summer 2026. 

Many students are still adjusting. 

Some prefer to stay with what they already know, while others say they are ready for the change. 

As more classes shift over, the mix of opinions will likely continue, but many students agree that the new platform has potential to make online coursework easier once everyone gets used to it.