INSTRUCTOR & FACULTY ORIENTATION

Blackboard 9.1

What is Online Learning?

The term online learning is used interchangeably with e-learning or electronic learning, and there is no standard definition. The instructional mediums are the Internet and personal computers. As stated in the MSN Encarta Dictionary Web site, e-learning is "the acquisition of knowledge and skill using electronic technologies, such as computer- and Internet-based courseware and local and wide area networks."

Blackboard

Blackboard is an application for online teaching, learning, community building, and knowledge sharing. It provides a platform upon which instructors can teach using any theory or model for teaching because it is open, flexible, and centered on enhancing student achievement.

My JIBC Online

Login to Blackboard: Live courses are on https://elearn.jibc.ca/ Test server outside JIBC network: http://bb9-dev.jibc.ca Test server inside JIBC network: http://bb9-dev.jibcnet.ca

The My JIBC Online tab contains modules. Modules are windows of content that organize content and links, and help students navigate to areas in their courses. The system administrator can rename modules and determines which appear when students log in to your course for the first time. Modules on the My JIBC Online tab collect information from all the courses the student is enrolled in, giving a total picture of news and activity for all courses.

The Course Environment

When you first enter a Blackboard course, you will see four distinct areas.

A. Page header – includes the My Institution and Courses tabs, and links to My Places, your institution's home page, Help, and Logout. Clicking the My Places link allows user to edit the personal information that is seen by other course members and to set privacy options.

B. Course Menu – all course content and tools are accessed from the Course Menu.

The Course Environment

C. Control Panel – the instructor's central access point for course management functions.

D. Content frame – displays the course entry point, the selected tool, or Content Area.

The course entry point is the first page students see when entering the course which in our example is the Home Page.

Course Menu

The Course Menu appears on the left side of a course and contains links to materials and tools within the course. There are items in the Course Menu that are common to every course; however, some features will vary depending on the course developer and the institution.Getting StartedIf you are new to online learning, please pay special attention to the Getting Started link in the Course Menu, which provides valuable information on how to operate within Blackboard.

All the course administration is done through the Control Panel so let us spend some time on investigating the Control Panel more closely.

Control Panel

The Control Panel is located at the bottom left corner of each course page under the Course Menu. The only users who can see and use the Control Panel are instructors, teaching assistants and graders. Clicking any area on Control Panel will produce a drop down menu of relevant links.

As an instructor you will use the Grade Center and the Course Tools more often than any other areas.

Control Panel

AssignmentsInstead of using the Digital Drop Box, Blackboard 9.1 uses Grade Center. The Grade Center is located in the Control Panel at the lower left of the screen below the Course Menu. Full Grade Center provides options for:

• Viewing Individual Assignments• Downloading Multiple Users’ Assignments

Grade Center

Control Panel

Assessments: Tests and SurveysInstructors use Tests and Surveys to assess knowledge, measure progress, and gather information from Students.

Tests are created to check the knowledge and skill level of users enrolled in the Course. The Instructor can assign point values to each question on exams or quizzes. When a Student completes a Test it is automatically evaluated and the results are recorded in the Results Center. Questions that require manual evaluation are marked in the Results Center and can be evaluated later.

Surveys are useful for polling, evaluations, and random checks of knowledge. They function in the same way as Tests and offer most of the same options. Survey questions are not assigned a point value and are not evaluated.

Learn more about Viewing and Grading Tests in Blackboard…

Grade Center

Control Panel

AnnouncementsUsers and course group members can view important messages from instructors in the Announcements tool.

Watch Video

Course Tools

Control Panel

DiscussionsThe Discussion Board allows many people to participate in a guided discussion. Discussions offer an important vehicle for interpersonal interaction and can be created to serve a range of purposes:

• An online meeting place for social interaction among peers.• A medium to pose questions about homework assignments, readings, and course content.• A graded activity that demonstrates understanding or application of course material.

Course Tools

Control Panel

Forum Each Discussion Board contains one or more forums. A forum is an area where a topic or a group of related topics are discussed.

ThreadWithin each forum, there can be multiple threads. A thread is the initial post and any replies to it.

Post A post is a message within the thread.

Learn more about the discussion board

Watch Video: Creating a Thread

Watch Video: Replying to a Thread

Control Panel

EmailInstructors can send email to individuals who participate in the Course from the Send Email page. Emails are sent to individual users or to groups of users within the Course, such as all Teaching Assistants. A copy of this email is sent to the sender by default.

Learn more about sending an email

Course Tools

Control Panel

CalendarUse the course Calendar to provide students with dates for important events. Course Calendar events appear to all members of the course. Common entries include upcoming tests, due dates for assignments, or special lectures.

Learn more about adding calendar entries

Course Tools

Other Communication Tools

JournalsJournals are a personal space for students to communicate privately with the instructor. Students can also use Journals as a self-reflective tool to post their opinions, ideas, and concerns about the course, or discuss and analyze course related materials. Journals are ideal for individual projects as well.

BlogsA Blog—a shorthand term that means Web log— is a personal online journal that is frequently updated and intended for general public consumption. Each Blog entry can include any combination of text, images, links, multimedia, Mashups, and attachments.

Other Communication Tools

WikisA Wiki is a collaborative tool that allows students to contribute and modify one or more pages of Course related materials. The Wiki page is an area where users can collaborate on content. Users within a Course can create and edit Wiki pages in the Course or within a Course Group. Instructors and students can offer comments and the Instructor can evaluate individual work.

Useful Links

Blackboard On Demand Learning Center http://ondemand.blackboard.com/

Tutorial Videos on Communicating and Collaborating http://ondemand.blackboard.com/communicate.htm

Tutorial Videos on Assessing Learners http://ondemand.blackboard.com/assess.htm

Blackboard Help for Instructors http://library.blackboard.com/ref/b0141272-d821-4455-92a1-e2f236500f15/index.htm

Ask Dr.C is a free question-and-answer service moderated by a dedicated, international group of your peers, fellow Blackboard clients. http://discussions.blackboard.com/

THANKS FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS TUTORIAL.

The End