Blackboard Tools and Techniques

This workshop provides a basic, yet fairly in-depth overview of the Blackboard course management system for beginning to intermediate-level users.

At the end of this workshop, participants should be able to identify and describe an array of the most commonly used tools in the system. And through guided practice, participants will be able to apply procedures for setting up common tools such as Discussions, Assignments, and Assessments. We will also sneak a peek at the Grade Book, and the means to manage course settings for formatting and display.

I. Access to Blackboard CE6

• Give URL/login information
• Describe course creation/setup process
• Browser check and pop-up deactivate

II. Course Format and Design

• What is your “course format” (web-enhanced, hybrid, online)
  
  • If web-enhanced, how functional?
  • Thinking about “modularity” and Learning Modules

III. Exploring Course Tools and Functionality

• My Blackboard tour
• Course Homepage Tour (Build, Teach, Student)
• Course Tools – Set A
  
  • Announcements
  • Who’s Online
  • Media Library
  • Web Links
  • Grouping Tool
  • Goals
  • Learning Module

• Course Tools – Set B
  • Assessment
  • Assignments
  • Calendar
  • Discussion (Categories, Topics, Threads)
  • Mail
  • Gradebook
  • Chat and Whiteboard
  • Course Management

• Designer Tools
  • Manage Course
  • File Manager – Multiple files
  • Selective Release

IV. Next Steps

• More training options
• Open-labs
• 1-1 with an Instructional Designer