Getting Started with Blackboard

You have turned your attention to the upcoming semester and are ready to get the ball rolling with your course in Blackboard. You make notes on the steps you need to take to complete your course set up:

Import/export course materials
Update and upload course syllabus
Add additional users to your course (i.e., guests, TA’s, auditing students)
Add students to groups
Create discussion forums
Adjust assignments within Modules/Lessons/Units
Edit date availability for assignments, assessments, etc.
Set up the Grade Center
Make course available to students

We Understand

When you run into problems, remember that you are not alone. Blackboard support at the CFT is aware how much preparation it takes to teach a course, and technology can produce additional rewards, but also adds additional effort. Here are some key features that Blackboard offers that can make teaching with Blackboard more efficient and effective.

Get Grading

First, let’s talk about the grade center In this FERPA compliant course management system, students to have access to their grades rather than waiting to ask you in person. Utilizing the grade center helps students to visualize their progress.

The Grade Center requires an investment up-front for the faculty member, but once it is built, it makes grading easier and can be reused semester after semester.

Eliminates the need to spend class time distributing grades.
Cuts the grading work load for faculty who have easy-to-grade test or quizzes (i.e., multiple choice or other objective assessments).
Easily enter the numeric grade and leaving Blackboard to handle the rest.

Blackboard Support at the CFT can help faculty:

Create rubrics
Grade anonymously
Create columns
Set up an averages column
Set up a weighted column
and much more

Content and More Content

The next step is adding course content and materials. This can include, but not limited to,

Course lectures (video lectures using Kaltura or uploaded written lectures)
Reading assignments through SIPX
PowerPoint slides and presentations using Slideshare,
Assignments, and
Exams

That is quite a bit of material to fit in one centralized space. The best part is you are able to create course folders to help you keep all of this organized. If you have content in a previous course, there is an option to export/import material to new course.

What We Can Do

At times, you may need Blackboard Support. We are here to help if anything ever goes wrong. The CFT offers Blackboard support many ways.

Email
Phone
In-person Consultations
Drop-in Support Hours
Our office or your office Workshops
Our website for your review of on-demand resources for questions you might have.