Blackboard (UoRM): Getting Started & Designing your Course

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And I’m

Lauren

I’m Maria

LIMITLESS POTENTIAL | LIMITLESS OPPORTUNITIES | LIMITLESS IMPACT

The real essentials of a Blackboard courseUoRM (Malaysia)

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GETTING STARTED & DESIGNING YOUR COURSE

Technology Enhanced Learning CQSD

03/05/2023

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And I’m

Lauren

I’m Maria

We’ll be delivering today’s session about getting started with Blackboard & designing your course!

TEL STAFF (CQSD)

Vicki HolmesHead of TELv.holmes@reading.ac.uk

Adam BaileySenior TEL Advisora.r.g.bailey@reading.ac.uk

Lauren McCannTEL Advisor l.j.mccann@reading.ac.uk

Shirin IrvineTEL Advisors.irvine@reading.ac.uk

Maria PapaefthimiouSenior TEL Advisorm.c.papaefthimiou@reading.ac.uk

Andy TurnerTEL Applications Managera.r.turner@reading.ac.uk

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SESSION OVERVIEW• Purpose, structure and layout of Blackboard

• Design the layout of your Blackboard course and provide a structure for the content

• Add engaging content to your Blackboard course

• Identify the tools available for communication, collaboration, assessment, feedback and online learning activities

• Understand the University processes for managing Blackboard, including applying for a course, enrolments and annual course rollover

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WHAT IS BLACKBOARD?

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• Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)• Web-based • Accessible anytime, anywhere (via an internet connection)It provides a practical way to:• Deliver and organise teaching content and activities;• Offers opportunities for

interaction, communication and collaboration;• Provide links to essential resources • Track, monitor and assess student progress.• It supports different teaching methods and modes of

delivery: face-to-face teaching, blended learning and distance provision.

• Other VLE examples: Moodle, Canvas.

WHERE DOES BLACKBOARD FIT IN AT UOR?

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WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF THE YEAR?

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• Courses are ‘rolled over’ during the summer, along with their content

• Instructors should leave the course available at the end of the year

• Requests for NEW courses, shared courses, copying of content should be made using the online request forms via Blackboard’s Support for Staff tab: http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/vle-support/

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What about access to previous year’s courses?Staff & students can access courses from previous years on their Enrolments tab.For how long can courses be accessed?This is currently unlimited - courses are not archived. This arrangement is currently being considered.

ACCESS TO COURSES

HOW IS BLACKBOARD STRUCTURED?

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School Portal

Enrolments

Support for Staff tab

Support for Students tab

ROLES WITHIN BLACKBOARD – WHO CAN DO WHAT?

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Role PrivilegesCourse Builder No access to student gradesInstructor Access to all areas of the course in the Control

PanelTeaching Assistant (TA) Co-teacher

Marker Assists the instructor with managing the Grade Centre and in the creation, management, delivery, and grading of items

Student Student

Guest View only access; no access to Control Panel

External Examiner Can view but not create/edit content; full access to Grade Centre

A ‘GOOD’ BLACKBOARD COURSE

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•What do YOU think makes a good, engaging Blackboard course?

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DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Clear & well- structured menu

Folder structure for resources

Engaging & easy-to-find resources

Assessment section

Good aesthetic - use of visuals, etc.

COURSE STRUCTURE: MENU

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Rationale for suggested menu:

• Minimum’/suggested standard & ripe for customisation to needs

• Consistency across courses

• Ease of navigation for students

• Ties in with e-assessment policies

Guidance on how to customise your course menu: Blackboard > Support for Staff > Course Management

OTHER BB FEATURES CONTENT ASSESSMENTS TOOLS Sign up list Quiz BlogMash-up (e.g. YouTube)

Survey Journal

SCORM package Blackboard Assignment

Wiki

Turnitin Assignment Discussion BoardSelf & Peer Assessment

Chat

GROUPS

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MAKING YOUR COURSE AVAILABLE

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Control Panel > Customisation > Properties

ADDING A BANNER

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Control Panel > Customisation > Teaching Style

STUDENT PREVIEW

• Can I see what the students see?

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NOTIFICATIONS

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Have a go at personalising your notifications

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SUPPORT AVAILABLE

Get in touch

Staff DevelopmentTEL guides

Support for Staff tab on

BlackboardTEL blog

Blackboard Help site

TEL courses

Blackboard Surgeries

IT Service Desk(it@reading.ac.uk)

• Help you with technical queries

• Forward your TEL queries to us

TEL TWITTER@unirdg_TEL

TEL BLOGhttps://blogs.reading.ac.uk/

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BB USERS EMAIL

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ACTIVITY TIME!Have a go at the following

activities using your Practice Course on Blackboard!

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Customise your course: Add a BANNER to your course

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Customising the menuUsing the MENU in your Practice Course: 1. Reorder a couple of items2. Rename an item3. Add a menu item

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Organising/structuring your contentIn your Lecture Notes section:Add 2 folders either by week (Week 1, Week 2) OR by topic (Topic 1, Topic 2 or name the topics)27

Adding contentIn the Week or Topic 1 folder, add the following materials:1. An item & attach a file to the item2. A web link (e.g. www.reading.ac.uk)3. An image 4. Re-order the materials 5. Move the web link in to the Week 2/Topic 2 folder

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Adding engaging contentIn the Week or Topic 1 folder, add the following materials:1. A mash-up (e.g YouTube or SlideShare)2. External content (use the embed code from

a website to add this content) 29

ENROLLING USERS

• Enrol 2 colleagues on your Practice Course as Students

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COMMUNICATIONS ACTIVITIES

1. Post an Announcement on your practice course

2. Send an Email to the students on your Practice Course

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HOW DID YOU DO?

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