Faculty Guide to Blackboard · Logging in to Blackboard ... resources for students as well as faculty and staff. ... Creating an Assignment An Assignment can be used to allow students

September 2019 Page 1 of 30

Faculty Guide to Blackboard

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URL: http://www.fairmontstate.edu

Office of Information Technology Tech Commons Service Desk:

304.367.4810 Request Services and Support:

[email protected]

http://www.fairmontstate.edu/

mailto:[email protected]


Table of Contents Faculty Guide to Blackboard ........................................................................................................................................................... 1

Browser Support ................................................................................................................................................................................. 3

Logging in to Blackboard (myFairmontState) .......................................................................................................................... 3

Log in through ,myFairmontState ............................................................................................................................................ 3

Tabs in Blackboard ............................................................................................................................................................................. 4

Quality Matters .................................................................................................................................................................................... 5

Basic Ideas of Course Design .......................................................................................................................................................... 5

Edit Mode .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 6

Start Here Area ................................................................................................................................................................................ 6

Adding a Syllabus or Schedule .................................................................................................................................................. 6

Creating a Learning Module ....................................................................................................................................................... 9

Creating an Assignment ................................................................................................................................................................. 11

Creating an Assessment (Test/Quiz) .......................................................................................................................................... 14

Create a New Test ........................................................................................................................................................................ 14

Edit the Test Options ................................................................................................................................................................... 17

Using the Grade Center .................................................................................................................................................................. 21

Grade Center Tool Bar ................................................................................................................................................................ 21

External Grade Column .............................................................................................................................................................. 21

Creating a Column in the Grade Center ............................................................................................................................... 22

Create and Manage Categories in the Grade Center ....................................................................................................... 23

Create a Weighted Total Column ........................................................................................................................................... 25

Using Smart Views in the Grade Center ................................................................................................................................ 26

Column Organization ................................................................................................................................................................. 27

Row Visibility .................................................................................................................................................................................. 28

Needs Grading .............................................................................................................................................................................. 29

View Grade History ...................................................................................................................................................................... 30


Browser Support

For optimum performance of Blackboard Learn, always ensure you use up-to-date browsers and have more than one available in case a particular browser develops issues. Because browsers update so frequently, you can find the most up-to-date information on browser support and a browser checker on Blackboard Help.

Blackboard Help: Browser Support

(URL: https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Instructor/Getting_Started/Browser_Support )

Blackboard Help: Browser Checker

(URL: https://ilearn-fsu.wvnet.edu/webapps/dur-browserCheck-BB08LRN/module/testBrowser.jsp?tabUrl=/webapps/portal/execute/tabs/tabAction?tab_tab_group_id=_1_1&tabId=_1_1&forwardUrl=index.jsp)

Once you have confirmed that your browser is up to date and supported by Blackboard Learn, you should also take the following steps to ensure access to your course content:

1. Pop-up Blocker: You must allow pop-ups from muonline.marshall.edu as well as blackboard.com. For example, in Internet Explorer, go to Tools, Pop-up Blocker settings, and allow marshall.edu and blackboard.com

2. Java: Please check that your computer has the most current version of Java. Verify Java version (URL: http://www.java.com/en/download/installed.jsp )

Logging in to Blackboard You can log in to Blackboard from the myFairmontState portal. myFairmontState is a single sign-on portal—one place to access student, faculty, and employee resources, including email, Felix, Banner, etc. and a direct link into Blackboard.

1. From the Fairmont State hompage. Use the Quick Links menu to access myFairmontState and log in with your UCA and password.

2. In myFairmontState, look for and click the Blackboard icon. 3. When you click that icon, a new browser tab will open into Blackboard.

https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Instructor/Getting_Started/Browser_Support

https://ilearn-fsu.wvnet.edu/webapps/dur-browserCheck-BB08LRN/module/testBrowser.jsp?tabUrl=/webapps/portal/execute/tabs/tabAction?tab_tab_group_id=_1_1&tabId=_1_1&forwardUrl=index.jsp

http://www.java.com/en/download/installed.jsp




Tabs in Blackboard My Institution Tab After successfully logging in, you enter on the Institution tab. That tab displays several modules, including the Courses module that lists your courses. Every course you teach at Fairmont State will have a Blackboard course section created for it, whether the course is taught completely online; online with scheduled virtual or face-to-face meetings; or entirely face-to-face. Even face-to-face courses can use Blackboard to provide course materials and/or conduct activities, such as tests, assignments, discussions, blogs, and so on. Instructors can see and access all courses in which they are enrolled regardless of specific term start and end dates. Courses will be marked “unavailable” to students before the first day of term. For students, Courses displays only courses that are available.

You can see the following modules on the Institution tab: Courses: The list of courses in which you are enrolled. Announcements: University and course announcements. Messages: Courses that have email messages needing to be addressed. Blackboard Help: 24/7/365 Blackboard Support via help articles, phone, or chat. And other modules.

To your right of the Institution tab, other tabs in Blackboard provide additional information and resources for students as well as faculty and staff.

Courses Tab

The courses tab includes:

• Course List: Lists all courses you are enrolled in. • Course Catalog: Allows you to search your courses per term.

Help Tab

The Help tab includes:

• Hours, phone and email for assistance from the Tech Commons Help Desk.

Community Tab Communities function like courses but may be open continuously or have date ranges that do not necessarily follow the academic calendar. Organizations can be used for many purposes by departments, programs, student groups, and so on. Leaders can manage enrollments themselves or allow users to self- enroll.


Quality Matters It is recommended to use Quality Matters Higher Education Rubric as the basis for Distance Education to ensure the quality of online courses.

Quality Matters is a collegial review process in which reviewers provide recommendations for course design in two ways:

1) through substantive, constructive, measurable, and specific recommendations with regard to both course strengths and areas for improvement, and

2) by evaluating the extent to which course design meets Specific Review Standards.

In examining clarity, organization, and other components of the course, it is recommended to “take the student’s perspective.” (Quality Matters Higher Education Rubric Workbook, Fifth Edition, 2014)

You can learn more about Quality Matters and the organization at https://www.qualitymatters.org/.

Basic Ideas of Course Design Every course offered at Fairmont State has a Blackboard course section with a basic, default course menu. The menu includes links to:

• Announcements (landing page for students who enter the Blackboard course. Place for instructor to add important announcements for the entire class)

• Course Content (an empty content area for you to add your materials) • Course Email (the internal message or course mail tool that stays entirely inside Blackboard) • My Grades (for students to see their grades and receive feedback on work submitted in the course) • Syllabus (required for all FSU courses) • Blackboard Help section with links to Blackboard Help, Blackboard Support Center,

Blackboard Tutorials.

You can add more content areas and tools to the menu using the “plus” (+) button above the menu.

https://www.qualitymatters.org/


Edit Mode To add or edit anything in a course or course menu, you must first look to your right at the top of the course page and make sure that Edit Mode is ON. If it indicates Edit Mode is OFF, simply click that button to turn it ON.

Adding a Syllabus or Schedule

1. Proceed to Blackboard and to the course in which you want to add a syllabus, schedule, or other file, such as a PDF or Word document file.

2. Make sure that Edit Mode is ON in the upper right of the screen.

3. Proceed to the area on which you will be adding the file

• Note: The file can be added directly to a Syllabus area or within a Content Folder or Learning Module.

4. Click Build Content, then File (see image below).


5. The Create File page will open.

6. Selecting a color for the name is optional. If you choose a color other than black, please choose one that meets current accessibility standards for ADA compliance. See the Accessibility tab in Blackboard for more information.

7. You must enter a name for the file.

8. Click Browse My Computer to browse the computer and select the file.

9. Under File Options, select Yes to Open in New Window if the file is a PDF with hyperlinks. That choice is optional for other file types.


10. Alignments are not usually added to files. 11. In the Standard Options section, Permit Users to View this Content is the availability option.

Select Yes to allow students to view the item. Selecting No hides it from the students’ view until you edit the options again and select Yes.

• Note: You must select Yes if you intend to use a Display After date to control access. If you select No, the Display After date cannot override that selection to make the file visible.

12. Track Number of Views will track the views of the file made by students.

13. Select Date and Time Restrictions to limit the availability of the file to students. Make sure to check the boxes to the left to save the display dates. Also select Yes in Step 11 so that the file will become visible on the Display After date.

14. Click Submit at the top or bottom to save the changes.

15. After the file has been added, it will appear at the bottom of the page, below content already added. You can then click and drag it to the desired position, or use the keyboard accessible reordering tool below the Edit Mode button.


Creating a Learning Module When you provide course materials online, you can create an orderly navigational structure by organizing the materials with related assignments and activities in “chunks” by schedule, lessons, chapters, units, topics, or a similar logical grouping. Learning Modules provide a convenient way to display specific course materials with related assignments and activities.

Example:

To create a Learning Module:

1. Check the top right of the course page to be sure that edit mode is ON.

2. Click Build Content; then click Learning Module.


3. Name the Learning Module.

4. Selecting a color for the name is optional. If you choose a color other than black, please choose one that meets current accessibility standards for ADA compliance.

5. In the Text field you may enter a brief description or leave it blank.

6. In the Standard Options section at Permit Users to View this Content, select Yes to allow students to see it. Selecting No hides it from the students’ view until you edit the options again and select Yes.

• Note: You must select Yes if you intend to use a Display After date to control access. If you select No, the Display After date cannot override that selection to make the file visible.

7. Track Number of Views will track the views of this folder made by students.

8. Select Date and Time Restrictions to limit the availability of the file to students. Make sure to check the boxes to the left to save the display dates. Also select Yes in Step 6 so that the folder will become visible on the Display After date.

9. Click Submit at the top or bottom to save the changes.

10. The module will appear at the bottom of the page, below content already added. Click and drag it to the desired position, or use the keyboard accessible reordering tool below the Edit Mode button.

11. Click the title of the module to add materials inside the folder.


Creating an Assignment An Assignment can be used to allow students to submit work electronically.

1. Make sure Edit Mode is ON. Proceed to a Content/Learning Module Area in which you wish to create an Assignment.

2. Click Assessments, then Assignment

3. Include a Name and Instructions for the Assignment. A file can be attached, if needed, unless the assignment is to be used for program assessment using Outcomes Assessment.


4. The Due Date lets students know when the Assignment is due. As a note, submissions are accepted after the due date if the assignment remains available, but they are marked Late in the Grade Center.

5. In the Grading section, enter the Points Possible for the Assignment. 6. Submission Details

• Assignment Type • Select either Individual, Group, or Portfolio Submission • Number of Attempts • Select single, multiple, or unlimited attempts. For multiple attempts,

you must also set a specific number of attempts.

7. Plagiarism Tools • Choosing to check submissions for plagiarism with SafeAssign will provide an originality report for each submission. See SafeAssign Quick Guide in Blackboard Help for more information. Control the Availability by checking Make the Assignment Available.

8. Use the Limit Availability options to set Display After and Display Until dates as needed.


9. Click Submit to save the changes and create the assignment.


Creating an Assessment (Test/Quiz) Assess students’ learning with assessments. Assessments allow for timed or untimed testing, varied question types, and the option to set availability dates, as well as to set availability exceptions for special circumstances, such as students who should receive accommodations because of their disabilities.

1. Make sure Edit Mode is On. Proceed to the Course Content area or Content Folder in which you would like to add a test.

2. Click Assessments, then click Test.

If you have already created a test, you can simply select that test from a list on the page that opens (see Step #13, below). This example will go through the steps to create a new test.

Create a New Test

1. In the page that opens, click Create to create a new test.

2. Provide a name for the test.

3. You may Create Questions, or you may choose to Reuse Questions if you already have previous tests or question pools in the course.

• Note: It is possible to upload questions and tests using Respondus test-processing software. Contact Tech Commons for more information.

4. This example will describe how to create a multiple-choice question.


5. From the Create Question menu at the top of the text canvas page, select Multiple Choice.

6. You many enter a question title, but it is not required. You must enter the Question Text.

7. Select the number of answer choices to display to the students.


8. Enter an answer choice for in the text field for each possible answer.

9. Click the radio button to the left of the correct answer.

10. Optional: Enter Correct Response Feedback and/or Incorrect Response Feedback.

11. Click the Submit button at the top or bottom to save the changes and create the question.

12. Click OK in the lower right of the text canvas.

13. The system will return to the page that gives the options of creating a new test or adding an existing test. We want to add the test we just created. Click to highlight the test, then click Submit.


Edit the Test Options 1. Before adding the test to the content area, the system will proceed to the Test Options.

2. The test name can be changed and a Content Link Description can be provided to give a brief description about the assessment.


3. Make the link available controls the availability of the assessment to students. Note: This availability can be narrowed by Availability dates, as described in later steps.

4. Add a New Announcement will post an Announcement to the My Announcements module. If the test is controlled by an availability date, the announcement will not appear until the beginning of that availability.

5. To allow students only one attempt on the test, do not check the box at Multiple Attempts To allow

Multiple Attempts, check the box and then select either Allow Unlimited Attempts or Number of Attempts and type in the number of attempts you wish to provide to students.

6. If you select Multiple Attempts, you will be able to select from several options for Score Attempts using (such as Last Graded Attempt or Highest Grade). That choice can be selected from the drop down menu.

7. At Force Completion, the recommendation is NOT to check that option—leave that unchecked. If Force Completion is on, it could interfere with test taking, as any glitch in Internet connection will directly lock and submit the student’s attempt, even if the student has not completed the test. Setting the Timer and setting Auto-Submit ON (see next page) will force the student to complete the test within the allotted time, because the timer runs continuously once the student clicks “Begin” to start the test. The timer will not pause, even if the student loses Internet connection, but the student can log back in quickly and continue that attempt on the test.


8. If the test is timed, check the box for Set Timer, and then enter the number of minutes allowed.

9. If you set the timer, Auto-Submit will become an additional option. You can set Auto-Submit to save and submit the test automatically when time is up, or you can allow students to choose to continue.

a. OFF: The user is given the option to continue after time expires.

b. ON: Test will save and submit automatically when time expires.

10. You can require students to enter a Password to take the test. Check the box and type in the password. You will have to give students the password before they can access the test.

11. Use Test Availability Exceptions to select a student and set a different amount of time for the test or a different test date, or alter other settings to allow for unusual circumstances or special needs.


12. You can set a Due Date for the test. You can also choose not to allow students to start the test after the due date has passed, or leave that unchecked to allow students to start the test after that date.

13. The Feedback options can be edited to give students a certain amount of feedback at a certain time.

14. The test questions can be presented all at once (displaying all questions on one page), or they can be displayed one at time. Prohibit backtracking can be used if you set the questions to be shown one at a time and do not want students to be able to review previous questions. Randomize Questions randomizes the order of questions for each test attempt for each user.

15. Click Submit to save the test options.


Using the Grade Center

Grade Center Tool Bar The toolbar at the top of the full Grade Center offers these buttons:

• Create Column • Use the Create Column feature to create any manual column that is not directly associated with an item inside of Blackboard. Note: Any assignment, test, graded discussion, etc. will actually have a column created in the Grade Center that is directly linked to that item.

• Create Calculate Column • Create a calculated column to calculate an Average, Maximum/Minimum, Total, or Weighted Total. This option allows one to include any other columns in the Grade Center in that calculation.

• Manage • Manage options it the Grade Center such as Grading Schemas, Categories, Smart Views, Column Organization, and Row Visibility.

• Reports • Reports allow one to Create a Report or View Grade History. • Filter: Options for changing the view, to select categories of columns to display instead of the full

Grade Center. • Discover Content: Allows discovery of reusable learning objects (if any have been created) • Work Offline • Includes the options to download and upload grades from the Grade Center.

External Grade Column Note that by default the Total column has a green check mark at the top, indicating it is the External Grade Column. The column with that designation is used to report student grades in Analytics for Learn, but it does not send grades to Banner. Instructors must enter final grades through FELIX. You can change that designation to another column, such as the Weighted Total if you use that column to calculate final grades.


Creating a Column in the Grade Center Use the Create Column feature to create a column that is not associated with a graded item in Blackboard, such as a column to add participation points or grade a presentation during a face-to-face class.

Note: Any assignment, test, graded discussion, or other graded item created in Blackboard will have a column created automatically in the Grade Center that is directly linked to (associated with) that graded item.

Click Create Column at the top left of the Full Grade Center.

1. Provide a Column Name. (There is no reason to enter a separate Grade Center Name.) 2. A Description can be provided, but is not required. 3. The Primary Display is the option that displays first for each grade in the Grade Center. 4. The Secondary Display can be an alternative display, such as Percentage or Letter Grade.

• Important Note: Students cannot see any Secondary Display in My Grades. 5. If using Categories, select the appropriate category. 6. Enter the Points Possible and add any Associated Rubrics. 7. Click Submit to create the column.


Create and Manage Categories in the Grade Center Categories help to organize items in the Grade Center, especially for calculating Weighted Grades.

1. To create Categories click Manage, then Categories.

2. The Categories page displays the existing categories and the column(s) associated with each

category, if any. You can use the default Categories or create your own to suit your needs.

3. Click Create Category at the top left.


4. Enter a new Category Name. You can also enter a description for reference, but it is not required.

5. Click Submit to create the category.

6. Return to the Full Grade Center.

7. For any existing columns that are supposed to be associated with a category, click the button after the column name and select Edit Column Information.

8. At Category, select the appropriate category from the drop down list.

9. Click Submit to save the change.


Create a Weighted Total Column Create a calculated column to calculate an Average, Maximum/Minimum, Total, or Weighted Total. This option allows you to include any other columns in the Grade Center in the calculation

1. In the Full Grade Center, Click Create Calculate Column and select Weighted Column.

2. Provide a Column Name and edit the Primary and Secondary displays, if necessary. 3. Select the Columns or Categories and click the right arrow to move to the Selected Columns

section.

4. Include a percentage for each category. The Total Weight listed at the bottom must equal 100%. 5. You can also drop the highest or lowest grade, or use the lowest or highest value for calculation. 6. Click Submit to save the changes. 7. After returning to the Grade Center, click the drop down button on the Weighted Total and click Set

as External Grade. Note: The External Grade column cannot be hidden from students. If you set the Weighted Total column as the External Grade, be sure to hide the “Total” column from students, to avoid confusion.

8. Click the drop down button on the “Total” column and click Hide from Students (on/off).


Using Smart Views in the Grade Center Smart Views provide easy access to Categories or Groups.

1. To access Smart Views click the Manage button and Smart Views.

2. Select categories from the list to “Add as a Favorite” by clicking the star icon at far right.

3. You can also create Smart Views concerning criteria such as performance, users or groups, or build a custom view.


Column Organization Reorder the columns in the Grade Center by using the Column Organization function.

1. In the Full Grade Center, click Manage and select Column Organization 2. In this view, the Grade Center columns are listed as rows. 3. Click the 4-way arrow to your left of any row and drag up or down to reorder columns. 4. Check a box then proceed to click on the bottom or top Show/Hide button and choose to hide or show

the selected columns. Hidden columns are grayed out and marked (Hidden).

NOTE: Before hiding a column from the Instructor view be sure to hide it from the Students’ View.

5. Click Submit to save any changes.


Row Visibility From the Full Grade Center, there is the ability to hide and show rows.

1. Click Manage and select Row Visibility to hide or show rows.

2. Check the student (row) and click to Hide or Show rows.

3. Click Submit to save any changes.


Needs Grading The Needs Grading view in the Grade Center presents all student submissions that have not yet been graded in the order in which they were submitted. Instructors can choose to grade all in that order or apply filters to grade by a particular assignment

In the Control Panel click Grade Center, then Needs Grading.

In the Needs Grading View, set the filters across the top of the page to determine which items you will grade, by category, item, user, or date submitted. Click any link under “User Attempt” to grade that particular submission.


View Grade History The Grade History Report stores details about every submission and every change made to the submission, whether it is the original submission from the students or a grade entered or edited by the instructor.

1. From the Full Grade Center, click Reports and select View Grade History.

2. The time span can be edited in the upper right, with the drop down option. 3. The number of entries per page can be edited on the lower right using “Show All” or “Edit Paging.”

Documents

Faculty Guide to Blackboard · Logging in to Blackboard ... resources for students as well as faculty and staff. ... Creating an Assignment An Assignment can be used to allow students