Blackboard Tips: An Even D
zen
1.
Students do not have access to your course until you make it available. They can't even see it in their course list! Make the course available using the "Settings" option.
2.
A good way to save a copy of your entire course (minus student information) is to use the Export Course function. Save the exported course to your hard drive as a back-up. It will be saved as a compressed (zip) file. Don't try to edit the zip file. If needed, use the Import Package option to bring the course content back into Blackboard. Exporting your class is also recommended it you won't be teaching the class for a term or two.
To save a permanent copy of the course grades, download the grades into Excel from the Blackboard's Grade Center -- it only takes a minute!
3.
Course shells are automatically created shortly after the term data is available in Colleague. In general:
- Spring course shells are available in October
- Summer course shells are available in March
- Fall course shells are available in April.
Use Blackboard’s “Course Copy” function to copy your current course into your new course shell. Or, export your course (as described in #2 above) and import the course package to copy your course.
4.
Create your test and then add the test to a content area (such as Assessments). You must then use the “Edit the Test Options” link to make it available. How? Check the checkbox “Make the link available” in section 2! More
5.
http://www.cod.edu/it/blackboard/studentQuickStartGuide.htm On-campus instructors may want to copy the guide and hand out in class. (The guide is mailed to COD Online students.)
6.
To avoid technical problems (and minimize test anxiety), ask students to take a practice exam using the same question types you will use on the exam. To avoid browser time outs, present the questions one at a time (this will also help discourage cheating). To help minimize cheating, set the exam to display questions in a random order, use question pools to create tests, add a time limit, allow only one attempt, etc. See http://www.nccei.org/blackboard/testingadvice.html and http://www.cod.edu/it/blackboard/facultyFAQ.htm#exams for more advice.
Refer your students to http://www.cod.edu/it/blackboard/TipsforExams.html for Blackboard exam-taking guidelines.
7.
If you no longer want to use a column, don't hide it. Delete it. If you don't have the option to delete, the column is probably associated with an exam or assignment. Delete the exam or assignment first and then you will find the option to delete.
8.
Instructors can view everything in Blackboard just as a student can see except for how students see grades and how the exam timer works. If you need to see exactly how these functions work, contact Cathy Rathke for access to a "sandbox" course. Once you have access, you can import a test or set up some items in the grade center. This is not permanent or private access; several instructors may be using the same course, so you probably want to delete any personal material after you have finished your testing.
9.
If you want to customize your list of courses (on the My Institution tab), you can "hide" classes so they do not
display. Look for the gear icon at the top-right corner
of the My Courses box.
When you click on the gear, it will take you to a screen which lists your courses. There are six check boxes to the right of each course. If you uncheck all six boxes for a course, then submit the changes, the course will no longer display in My Courses. If you wish see the course again, click on the gear and check those boxes for the course for the information you want displayed, usually course name and course ID.
10.
Current information about the Blackboard system at the College of DuPage is posted at Blackboard Central. Take a look! http://www.cod.edu/it/blackboard/blackboard_central/
11.
On rare occasions, you may find a mismatch between the roster in MyAccess and the roster in Blackboard. This happens if the student record does not contain a @dupage.edu email address.
Instructors should contact the Help Desk if a mismatch is noticed. To reach the Help Desk, call 942-HELP (942-4357) or e-mail: helpdesk@cod.edu
12.
The default file extensions for Office 2007 applications are different than the file extensions for earlier versions of Microsoft Office. Office 2003 and earlier can not open files created in Office 2007 without the Compatibility Pack.
If you do not have Office 2007 installed on your computer, you can download and install the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack available on Microsoft's site. Once the Compatibility Pack is installed, the files created with Office 2007 will open in your version of Office.