Faculty Resources for Blackboard

Getting Started

• Login Help - Logging into Blackboard.
• Software and Hardware Recommendations - Is your computer as ready as you are?
• Lost your course menu? Students report seeing only Announcements? Don't panic! The navigation menu may be simply hidden or collapsed. Watch the Course Menu: Hidden or Collapsed video.
• Blackboard 9.1 Instructor's Guide
• COD Faculty Assignment of Classes
• What's New with Blackboard 9.1?

 

Frequently Asked Questions

• Blackboard FAQ - Frequently asked questions regarding Blackboard.

 

Start of the Term

• Attaching a Syllabus - Post your syllabus in Blackboard. Students will never lose their syllabus again. (3:30 minutes - COD)
• Rosters and Email (6:47 minutes - COD)
• Entering Instructor Information (4:07 minutes - COD)
• Create an Announcement (4:40 minutes - COD)
• Customize Course Menu - Missing some links on your course menu? (5:36 minutes - COD)
  
• Course Availability- Shows the steps for making a course available to students. no audio (1:30 minutes - COD)
• Making Your Course Available - Shows the steps for making a course available to students. (1:30 minutes - Blackboard, Inc.)
• Introduction to Blackboard (for COD Students) - Use this outline to give your students a general introduction to Blackboard. Includes links to several video tutorials.
• On-Demand Videos: For Students (Blackboard, Inc.)
• Blackboard Student Quick Start Guide - Student guide to getting started with the Blackboard Course Management System.
• Course Copy
• Export Course / Import Package

 

Assignments

• On-Demand Videos: Assignments (Blackboard, Inc.)
• Managing Group Work (Blackboard, Inc.)
• Blackboard Assignment Tool -12 minute video presentation shows how an assignment is created, submitted, and graded.
• Managing Group Work (Blackboard, Inc.)

 

Tests, Surveys, and Pools

• On-Demand Videos: Tests, Surveys, and Pools (Blackboard, Inc.)
• Creating a Test (Blackboard, Inc.)
• Setting Test Options (includes setting the timer for a test) (Blackboard, Inc.)
• Blackboard Test Options View this 19 minute video which explains the different test options available for exams in Blackboard.
• Blackboard Random Block - Create an exam that presents each student with a different set of questions
• Blackboard Test Feedback - Feedback options explained
• Blackboard Test Generators
• Using Blackboard Timed Tests
• Exam Setting Recommendations - Force Completion and Timed Tests
• Extra Credit Test Questions - Set up extra credit questions on a test.
• Automatic Regrading (Blackboard, Inc. video)
• Getting Started with Automatic Regrading (Blackboard, Inc. pdf)
• How to Make a Test Available For Just One Student (Northeastern University)
• How to Allow One Student More Time on a Timed Test
  • AutoSubmit Off - Northeastern University
  • AutoSubmit On - California State University - Stanislaus

 

Grades and Evaluation

• Download Grades (4 minute - COD)
• Create a Grade Column (4 minute - COD)
• On-Demand Videos: Grade Center (Blackboard, Inc.)
• Using Blackboard's Grade Center - including Tips and Tricks
• Performance Dashboard (Blackboard, Inc.)
• Early Warning System and Notifications (Blackboard, Inc.)

 

Communication Tools

• Podcasting
• How to Podcast in Blackboard- 13 minute video presentation covers the basics.
• Wikis (TeamsLX) in Blackboard
• Using the Discussion Board (Blackboard, Inc.)
• Blogs and Journals (Blackboard, Inc.)
• Blackboard Wiki - the built-in wiki tool (Blackboard, Inc.)
• Announcements and Scheduling (Blackboard, Inc.)
• Blogs, Journal, or Discussion Board? - Choose the right communication using strategies from University of Central Missouri
• Early Warning System (Blackboard, Inc.)

 

Creating and Posting Materials

• Building Course Content (Blackboard, Inc.)
• Adding a Course Banner (Blackboard, Inc.)
• Adding an Avatar (Blackboard, Inc.)
• Add a URL (Blackboard, Inc.)
• Using Web 2.0 Tools (Blackboard, Inc.)

 

Technical Support and Resources

• Invalid HTML - Found a strange error message in bright red in Blackboard? Learn what it is and what to do about it.
• Paste from Word Mashup - Instead of pasting content directly from MS Word (and possibly causing problems in Blackboard), use the Paste from Word Mashup tool.
• Disable Pop-Up Blockers
• NBC Learn - Add NBC videos to your course. 4 minute instruction video created by Blackboard.
• McGraw-Hill Connect
  • McGraw-Hill Connect and Create Instructor Manual
  • McGraw-Hill Learning Site - self-directed learning site which serves as a reference for instructors who are getting started, need a refresher, or need to understand how their course can work within Blackboard.
  • McGraw-Hill Customer Experience for help or troubleshooting: 1-800-331-5094.
• Blackboard Technical Support for Faculty - Technical support contact information.
• COD Library - Resources for online students and faculty.
• Rosters and Email
  
• Attendance - Blackboard does not offer a built-in attendance function. However, you may want to consider one of these suggestions:
  • Download a roster from Blackboard step-by-step and use the roster to keep your attendance.
  • Comfortable with Excel? Use Blackboard's Grade Center to obtain a roster to use with the Attendance Tracking Excel file
  • Use one column in the Grade Center to track absences following NIU's suggestions.

 

More

Student Resources