© 2010 Blackboard Inc. All rights reserved.

Blackboard Learn 9.1

Making the Most of Discussions

Workshop Overview1

Workshop Roadmap

• Workshop Overview

• The Student Experience

• Creating Discussions

• Managing Discussions

• Grading Discussions

1 Workshop Overview

This workshop contains five sections:

Student Experience2

Learning Outcomes

• Navigate discussion forums and threads

• Change the forum view

• Create threads and reply to posts

• Use appropriate discussion etiquette

2 Student Experience

Forums, Threads, and Posts

2 Student Experience

Hands-on-Activity

1. Access Student Course

2. Click on Discussions from Course Menu

3. Open the Icebreaker Forum

4. Create a thread with your Name as the title

5. Add a message and submit

6. Reply to one other post

Best Practice: Discussion Etiquette

Group Discussion:

• Are there guidelines you would add to the list in the manual?

• Will you share any guidelines with your students? If so, how will you distribute this information?

Page 31 of Training Manual

2 Student Experience

Creating Discussions3

Learning Outcomes

• Explain the difference between the student and instructor views of the Discussion Board

• Create discussion forums and threads

• Set grading options for forums and threads

• Explain ways to organize the Discussion Board

• Enable email subscriptions to forums and threads

• Add a forum to a course area

• Craft effective questions

3 Creating Discussions

Hands on Activity

1. Access Practice Course

2. Click on the Discussions link from Course Menu

3. Select to Create Forum

4. Adjust settings to make forum available

5. Make it worth 10 points possible and hit submit

Hands on Activity

1. Access Practice Course

2. Click on the Units link from Course Menu

3. Open Unit 3 Folder

4. Select Tools from Action Bar

5. Select Discussion Tool

6. Link to a specific forum: Unit 3

7. Adjust settings and submit

Best Practice: Crafting Effective Questions

3 Creating Discussions

Essential questions:• Require higher level thinking skills

Guiding questions:• Help students answer the essential question

Page 48 of Training Manual

Managing Discussions5

Learning Outcomes

• Edit Forum

• Add a Rubric

• Organize forums and threads

• Delete Forum

• Copy Forum

5 Managing Discussions

Hands-on Activity

1. Access Practice Course

2. Click on Discussions link on Course Menu

3. Select Action Link Next to Unit 2

4. Choose Edit from drop-down menu

5. Add a Rubric > Select Existing Rubric for Discussions

6. Assign Maximum Points Possible and Submit

Grading Discussions6

Learning Outcomes

• Explain the grading process

• Grade using a rubric

• Change and delete grades

6 Grading Discussions

Hands-on Activity

1. Access Practice Course

2. Click on Discussions link on Course Menu

3. Select Action Link next to Unit 2 Forum

4. Choose Grade from drop-down menu

5. Grade Ashby Cooper

6. Edit Grade and View Rubric

7. Edit Rubric Grade and Save

8. Provide Feedback and Save

Workshop Wrap Up7

Key Concepts

• Creating forums and threads

• Replying to posts

• Collecting posts

• Editing, copying, and organizing forums

• Assigning forum grades

• Add forums to course areas

6 Workshop Wrap Up

Key Concepts

6 Workshop Wrap Up

We explored the following best practices:

• Setting discussion etiquette guidelines

• Crafting effective questions

• Defining grading criteria

Blackboard Learn 9.1

© 2010 Blackboard Inc. All rights reserved.

Collaborating with Groups

Workshop Overview1

Workshop Roadmap

• Workshop Overview

• Creating Groups

• Managing Groups

This workshop contains four sections:

1 Workshop Overview

Creating Groups2

Learning Outcomes

• Access Groups Tool

• Create Group Sets, with randomly enrolled students

• Select Group collaboration tools

2 Creating Groups

Practice Course

Hands-on-Activity

1. Access Practice Course

2. Expand Users and Groups Menu on Control Panel

3. Select Groups

4. Create Random Enroll Group-Set

5. Make Group Available

6. Randomly distribute students among 4 groups

Managing Groups3

Learning Outcomes

• Navigate the Groups listing page

• Edit a Group’s settings

• Add a Group Link to a course area

• Discuss ways to provide support for Group work

3 Managing Groups

Practice Course

Hands-on-Activity

1. Access Practice Course

2. Expand Users and Groups Menu on Control Panel

3. Select Groups

4. Edit Group 1 settings

5. Select Action Link next to Group 1 and Edit.

6. Scroll down to #4

7. Enroll yourself in the Group and Submit

Best Practice: Provide Support

• Prepare students for success

• Create instructor presence

• Set timelines

• Provide objectives and instructions

• Promote sharing

• Keep it interesting

3 Managing Groups

2 Creating Groups

Focus on Design: Presenting Groups

Option A

Option B

Option C

Every student’s Groups appear by default in My Groups

Provide links to the Groups listing page on the Course Menu

Provide links to the Groups listing page, individual Group Homepages, or sign-up sheets in a course area

Hands-on-Activity

1. Access Practice Course

2. Click on Units from Course Menu

3. Select Tools from Action Bar

4. Add Groups Tool

5. Provide Description and Submit

Workshop Wrap Up4

Key Concepts

• Create Groups, add members, and enable collaboration tools

• Allow students to self-enroll in the Groups of their choice using sign-up sheets

• Create Group sets

• Consider how best to select members for Groups

• Edit and manage Groups

• Add Group Links to course areas

5 Workshop Wrap Up

Key Concepts

• Create and grade Group Assignments

• Explore ways to organize and use Groups in your course

• Support group work in your course

5 Workshop Wrap Up