Blackboard
Resources for Faculty
Animated Tutorials
The Animated
Tutorials take you through each step of a specific course-building task. To
watch the tutorial now, click on the HTML link. Your browser window should
be maximized to fill the screen. You have the option to play, pause, rewind,
etc. the tutorial using the buttons on the bottom of the web page. Please note
that this requires the use of
Flash Player.
Tip Sheets
Tip sheets
cover a variety of topics, from best practices advice to quick reference
guides for specific tasks. Tip sheets are available in Microsoft Word, PDF (download
Reader), or HTML
format. To save the file to your computer, right-click (Windows) or
control-click (Mac) the link on the page below and select the appropriate
command to save the file.
Getting Started
System
and Browser* Requirements
For PCs, you must be
running the Windows 98, ME, 2000 or the XP operating system with IE 6,
Netscape 7, or Mozilla Firefox 1.0.1 and higher. IE 5.5/Netscape 4.77 will also work with 98, ME, 2000. Macs
running on OS 9.2 may access Blackboard with any of the following browsers: IE 5.1, Netscape 7.0,
Safari**, or Mozilla Firefox. Macs running OS X may use IE 5.2, Netscape 7.0,
Safari**, or Mozilla Firefox. Other browsers (including AOL's proprietary browser)
will are not currently supported by Blackboard. More information about
Blackboard compatibility can be found
here.
*Any browser you use to
access the Blackboard Collaboration tools (Chat and Virtual Classroom) must
be both Java and JavaScript enabled (usually the default). If you do not
have Java installed on your system, you may
download it from
Sun Microsystems.
**It is important to clear the cache
frequently if you will be accessing blackboard through Safari. This will
ensure that any page updates since the last time you logged in will be
viewed correctly.
Logging in to Blackboard
You can access
Trinity's Blackboard site from any
computer connected to the World Wide Web with
a browser by going to the following address:
http://blackboard.trincoll.edu.
To log in, use your active directory credentials (the same user name and
password used to log in to TCOnline, the Portal, and your Trinity e-mail).
Customizing the 'My Trinity'
tab--Hiding/Editing Courses and Announcements, etc.
Editing options on the My
Trinity tab include being able to decide which courses to display and the
elements for each course site. This feature is especially useful for eliminating
the clutter of course site links that are not being currently taught, i.e.
courses from previous semesters or sites that are not being used.
[HTML]
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Setting your Course Language
Instructors may choose to set the
default language for the course site to Spanish, French, Italian,
German, or Portuguese. Please note that only system generated
content will be affected; any custom content or content area will remain
in the language in which it was created. Students may not change their
locales at this time.
[HTML]
Adding Content to Your Course Site
Step by step information for creating
folders and items on your Blackboard site.
[HTML]
Copying Course
Content from One Course to Another
If you would
like to use content from a previous course site or provide the same
content for several of your courses, you may copy from one course to
another through the Control Panel. You can select different areas
individually, such as Announcements, Staff Information, etc. Copy course
will add content to a course, but it will not remove existing content.
Instructors can only copy materials into a course where the Instructor
has a role of Instructor, Teaching Assistant, or Course Builder.
Note: To copy items (i.e. Assessments, Trackable Assignments, etc.) that
have been created using Blackboard, please use the instructions below
for Importing a course.
[HTML][PDF]
Archive Course
Instructors may
use the Archive Course page to
backup course materials from an old course for
documentation purposes or if there is a possibility that you would like
to import a large amount of course material into a new course at a later
date. Using the archive feature differs from
the export feature only in that it allows you to create an exact replica
of the course, including user information. It is a good idea to backup
your course sites, even if you have no intentions of re-teaching the
course, since there is no way to retrieve it once it has been removed
from the Blackboard system. Note:
All courses have a lifespan of four semesters.
Once the four semesters have passed, the course will be permanently
deleted.
[HTML]
Importing Course
Content from an Archive
Instructors may
use the Import Package page to upload course materials from another course. For
example, if they have exported a course they may import the whole course
package, or selected parts of the course through Import Package.
Never upload an Exported Course package
that has been modified since it was created and downloaded. Opening the ZIP file
and changing any of the files in the Exported Course package will result in
unstable and unpredictable behavior when the course is imported.
[HTML]
Turning Features
Off
You can choose to
turn off any feature of blackboard that you won't be using for your
course. For instance, if you don't use online Discussions, you can elect
to make that button and area unavailable in your Blackboard course site.
[HTML][PDF]
Making Your
Course Available
All courses will initially have the status 'unavailable', which will
make them invisible to everyone except the instructors of the course.
Once you are ready to go live, you must change
the status of the course to 'available' through the control panel to
make the site visible to students.
[HTML][PDF]
Adding Users to
Your Blackboard
Students will be added
to the class roster of each course site through an automated process
rather based on the information contained in PeopleSoft from the
previous day. The roster will be updated on a daily basis throughout the
semester.
However, if you are running a site that is not
a registered course or need to handle special user cases (TAs, auditors,
etc.), then you can add users yourself by using the
Enroll User
function.
NOTE: YOU SHOULD NEVER ADD ENROLLED STUDENTS TO YOUR COURSE. THIS WILL CAUSE A
CONFLICT WITH THE AUTOMATED PROCESS. ANY USER ADDED BY HAND WILL HAVE TO BE REMOVED
BY HAND.
[HTML][PDF]
Managing Your Course Menu
You may change, remove or
re-order any item in your course menu you wish. You can also add a new
Content Area, Tool Area, Course Link or External Link directly to your course
menu.
[HTML][PDF]
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Announcements
Creating an Announcement
In this animated tutorial, you will learn how to create an announcement
in a Blackboard Learning System (Release 6), course Web site.
[HTML]
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Assessments
Creating Tests
In this tip sheet, you will learn how to
create tests in Blackboard, which will be administered by the system and
graded automatically depending on the question types used. Once
completed, tests scores are entered in the gradebook if graded by the
system, or the instructor is may review the student's responses through
the gradebook for manual grading. Created by the Centre for Teaching and
Learning, Georgian College. ©2003.
[MS WORD]
Creating Surveys
In this tip sheet, you will learn how to
create surveys in Blackboard, which can be used to perform opinion polls
or periodic informal course evaluations. Surveys are similar to tests,
with the exception of being anonymous and ungraded. Created by the
Centre for Teaching and Learning, Georgian College. ©2003.
[MS WORD]
Question Types
This document outlines the various
question types that can be created in a Blackboard Test or Survey and
also explains in detail how to enter them into the Test Canvas. Created
by the Centre for Teaching and Learning, Georgian College. ©2003.
[MS WORD]
Additional Question Types included
in Release 6.3.
[MS WORD]
Using Advanced Test/Survey
Options
In this tip sheet, you will learn how to
adjust the settings for tests created in Blackboard. These settings
control options such as individual answer, adding images and files,
hyperlinks, and assigning default point values. Created by the Centre
for Teaching and Learning, Georgian College. ©2003.
[MS WORD]
Using the Question Pool Upload Feature
In this tip sheet, you will learn how to format a text file of your questions
using the format specified. Once created, you can upload the questions into
the Blackboard Learning System. Please note this feature is available in
the Blackboard Learning System (Release 6) Enterprise version only.
[PDF - 179KB]
Downloading Test
Results
Instructors
may download the results of a test to track student performance across sections
of a course and across semesters using 3rd-party statistical analysis tools (ex:
Microsoft Excel, SPSS).
[HTML]
Performance
Dashboard
The Performance Dashboard gives an
instructor greater ability to oversee the progress of their students.
Through the Performance Dashboard, an instructor may monitor the number
of days since the last login of each student, as well as each student's
grades.
[HTML]
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Assignments
Creating an Assignment
In this animated tutorial, you will learn how to create an Assignment in
a Blackboard Learning System (Release 6) course Web site.
[HTML]
Grading an Assignment
In this animated tutorial, you will learn how to retrieve and grade an
Assignment in a Blackboard Learning System (Release 6) course Web site.
[HTML]
Completing and
Submitting an Assignment
In this animated
tutorial, you will learn how to complete and submit an Assignment in a
Blackboard Learning System (Release 6) course Web site from the
student's perspective.
[HTML]
Working with Assignments (trackable
Assignment feature)
The latest version
of Blackboard introduced the Trackable Assignment feature. This new
tool combines the file exchange capabilities of the Digital Drop Box
with the organization and management functionality of the Gradebook.
The Assignment content type in Blackboard allows instructors to post an
article or other document with instructions, retrieve the completed
assignment from a student, and grade that assignment via the Gradebook.
With Trackable Assignments, Blackboard provides enhanced item management
options, including bulk downloading and cleanup of files.
[PDF]
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Course
Development
Modifying your Course Design
In this animated tutorial, you will learn how add a course banner and customize
your Course Menu.
[HTML]
Setting your Course Entry Point
If you do not plan to use announcements, or
you would prefer to have your syllabus or course outline as the first page
students see, you can change the course entry point. This tutorial will show
you how to set your course entry point to any area you choose.
[HTML]
Course Roles
This tip sheet defines the privileges associated with each Course Role
in Blackboard. Familiarity with these privileges is useful for Instructors
who have TAs, Graders, or student assistants.
[PDF - 232KB]
Field Lengths
This tip sheet lists all of the text fields in Blackboard, and the number
of characters you can input into each one.
[PDF - 20KB]
Menu Display Options
Users may choose between Detail View
for a collapsible tree menu, and Quick View
for the standard view. By default, this
is a toggle option located at the bottom of the Tools area beneath the
sidebar.
[HTML]
Adaptive Release
Adaptive Release is a set of rules
beyond time and date restrictions that instructors may use to stipulate
when course content becomes available. For example, the new rules allow
an instructor to stipulate that students must review certain course
documents before they may access a test or homework assignment.
Instructors may also mandate that a certain score within the gradebook
or a particular item is achieved before unlocking new content.
Additionally, an instructor may restrict content access to a particular
group or list of individuals. This tutorial will show you how to set
parameters for content release.
[HTML]
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Communication and Collaboration Tools
Sending Email
Using Blackboard’s
built-in emailing system allows you to send course related emails
without configuring an external mail program with distribution lists.
In this tutorial, you will learn how to
send email in a Blackboard Learning System (Release
6) course Web site.
[HTML]
Creating and Managing Groups
In this tutorial, you will learn how to create
and manage a collaborative group in a Blackboard Learning System (Release
6) course Web site.
[HTML]
Creating a Discussion Forum
In this animated tutorial, you will learn how to create a Discussion Forum,
and modify Forum and User Settings in a Blackboard Learning System (Release
6), course Web site.
[HTML]
Archiving Discussion Board Threads
In this animated tutorial, you will learn how to create an archive, move
threads to an archive, release threads and remove archives in a Blackboard
Learning System (Release 6) course Web site.
[HTML]
Working with Discussion Board Options
In this animated tutorial, you will learn how to access and utilize the
Discussion Board options.
[HTML]
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Gradebook
Gradebook Icons and Definitions
This tip sheet will teach you how to interpret the Gradebook Icons to ensure
an easy grading process in Blackboard 6.
[PDF - 147KB]
Weighting Grades by Category or Item
The Release 6 Gradebook contains a grade weighting feature that allows
an instructor to determine how the software calculates the final grade for
a student. There are two options: Weight by Item and Weight by Category...
[PDF - 165KB]
Modifying Weight Behavior in the
Gradebook
This tip sheet walks you through considerations and tasks for implementing
accurate grade weighting, including adding or removing items.
[PDF - 144KB]
Exporting the Gradebook
This tip sheet walks you through exporting
your Gradebook from Blackboard. The file can then be opened and edited in
Microsoft Excel. Created by the Centre for Teaching and Learning, Georgian
College. ©2003.
[MS WORD]
Importing the Gradebook
This tip sheet walks you through
importing your Gradebook from Excel into your Blackboard course.
Note:
Instructors should manipulate and upload a Gradebook that has been
downloaded from Blackboard.
It is not advised that Instructors create a new Gradebook from scratch
then upload it. Created by the Centre for Teaching and Learning,
Georgian College. ©2003.
[MS WORD]
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Glossary
Creating a Blackboard Course
Glossary
The Glossary feature allows
you to build a collection of definitions of terms commonly for your course. This
can be useful as a reference when students are reviewing new or complex material
because the definitions are created by the instructor and can be recalled at any
time directly from the course.
[HMTL]
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Digital Drop Box
Digital Drop Box
Provides the ins and outs of the Digital Drop Box. You and your students
will find this tip sheet to be a valuable resource.
[PDF - 56KB]
Digital Drop Box vs. Assignments
In this tip sheet, you will learn how the Assignment content type varies
from the Digital Drop Box, and review some scenarios where one tool is more
appropriate than another.
[PDF - 69KB]
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Policy
Changes for Version 6
New URL
http://blackboard.trincoll.edu
or
http://bb.trincoll.edu
New Logon
Blackboard now authenticates Trinity users
by their Active Directory accounts (the same password used to logon to TCOnline).
All Course Sites Now
Created
Faculty no longer have to request Blackboard
course sites each semester. Courses are created for every course
offered each semester. All courses initially have the status
'unavailable', which makes them invisible to everyone except the
instructors of the course. Instructors must change the status of the
course to 'available' through the control panel to make the site visible
to students.
For the Spring semester, courses will appear
immediately following the end of the fall semester examination period.
Fall courses will appear approximately 60 days before classes begin.
No More Adding/Removing
Students By Hand
Students are added to the class roster of
each course site through an automated process rather than by hand, based
on the information contained in PeopleSoft from the previous day. The
roster is updated on a daily basis throughout the semester.
Instructors will still be able to manually edit the roster to handle
exceptions and special cases-- i.e. Guest
lecturers, TAs auditors, etc. NOTE: Any student added by hand will
need to be removed by hand. The automated process will not remove
students added by hand by a faculty member.
Course Life Cycle
Courses have a 'life span' of six
semesters. The semester after the course has concluded, it will be made
unavailable to everyone except the Instructors and TA's. Since a 'fresh'
course site is created each semester, this will allow opportunity to
copy content from old sites into the new ones. In the cases of large
sites or the desire to reuse all of the content of a previous site,
Instructors may request Academic Computing staff to import/export an
entire course from the old site to the new site.
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FAQs
What is
Blackboard?
Blackboard is
a system that makes it very easy for faculty to use the power of
the web to support their classes. It has facilities for posting class
materials, on-line discussions, chat sessions, document exchange,
on-line assessments, a gradebook, and many
other features. You as instructor determine which pieces of the system to use for any given class.
You can visit Trinity's Blackboard site at
http://blackboard.trincoll.edu Who Can Use Blackboard?
Blackboard can be accessed by any current
student and faculty member who has a Trinity College
network account (use the same password as you use for
TCOnline). However, some faculty may limit access to all or part of their class web
site to students enrolled in their class. If you would
like staff members or people outside of the College to have
access to your site, and they
do not have a Blackboard account, please contact your Academic Computing
Resource Specialist or email
Academic-Computing@trincoll.edu.
When Can My Students Log
In?
All Blackboard course sites
are created with the course set to "Unavailable" which means that you can see
the site, but your students in your class cannot. This enables you to upload
content and configure your site privately until you decide when you wish to
allow your students access to the material. You must make your course
"Available" before your students can enter your course site.
How Are Add/Drops
Handled?
Students are added to the class roster of
each course site through an automated process rather than by hand, based on the
information contained in PeopleSoft from the previous day. The roster
is
updated on a daily basis throughout the semester. Instructors
are still able
to manually edit the roster to handle exceptions and special cases--
i.e. Guest lecturers, TAs, auditors, etc. NOTE: Any student added by
hand will need to be removed by hand. The automated process will not remove
students added by hand by a faculty member.
How Long Will Students
(and I) Have Access to my Course Site?
Approximately 30 days after
the course has concluded, it will be made unavailable to everyone except the
Instructors and TA's. You as instructor have access to the
course site for 6 semesters, so that you have an opportunity to copy content to
your new course site generated for a following semester. After 6 semesters the
course site will be purged from the system.
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Online Teaching Resources
Blackboard Instructor Center
Information and
resources about teaching online from Blackboard.
Trinity College Library Copyright and Fair Use Web Page
TEACH Act Best Practices using Blackboard from the American
Library Association
If you have any questions or problems,
please
contact
academic-computing@trincoll.edu by email
or call the Help Desk at x2100.
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Last Modified:
06/26/2006 |
