Power Blackboarding AU16

Power BlackboardingAutumn 2016

Sometimes, best practices conflict

Detailed information vs. wall of text

Clicks to content vs. logical organization

CSCC’s standard shell vs. the best way to organize your class

Analytics vs. Blackboard Ugh!

The tricks I’m going to show you resolve some of these conflicts.

Online Course Design ConsiderationsBest Practices

Tabs

Html

Detail vs. Wall of Text

There are two tricks I use to break up information

Prevents excessive scrolling Organizes presentations

Turn on tabs in Customization


Using Tabbed Content:


So Pretty!

Detail vs. Wall of Test

I even have tabs within tabs:

There is a special trick I use to do this. It’s not easy, but I can

give you the template if Heather & Mary promise not

to kill me first.

• I use extensive html in my classes, but I am not an expert.

• I Google what I want to do and find the html that will do it, OR

• I use a WYSIWYG html editor (SeaMonkey) and copy/paste the code into Blackboard.


HTML

I keep a file with CSCC colors on my desktop to reference.

I keep colors and styles consistent throughout my course.


HTML


HTML

We want to reduce the number of clicks to content

We also want our courses to be well organized

Clicks to Content vs. Logical OrganizationWhen is a Click not a Click

Embedding documents into Blackboard rather than requiring students to click to download a document saves time and enhances the usability of your course.

Clicks to Content vs. Logical OrganizationUsing the <iframe> tag


Students can print or download using these buttons!

Clicks to Content vs. Logical OrganizationUsing the <iframe> tagVery simple to use.

1. Upload your pdf into the Content Collection

2. Open the 360° view

3. Look up the permanent URL

4. Copy/paste it into the following code:

<iframe src=“url of file” height=“1000px” width=“100%”></iframe>

This is a great tool if you don’t want to reformat your documents into html.

Save them as a pdf, place in your content collection, and use iframe to embed them in your course.

Be mindful of document format Pdf’s are best. “Portable Document Format”

PowerPoints can be converted to flash or pdf or both (use iSpring or OpenOffice).


Use Blackboard’s Course Link

Clicks to Content vs. Logical OrganizationWhen is a Click not a Click?

The click to content also helps organize your course within the standard course shell limitations.

Ideally, we would like our assignments immediately after the presentation in Soc 1101. So, now students have 2 ways to get to the assignment.

CSCC’s Standard Shell & Logical OrganizationKill 2 Birds:

In your gradebook, choose “Item Analysis” using the column down arrow.

Choose “Run”

Wait

Review your questions!

Analytics & BlackboardAnalytics are vastly improved

Check out your “Performance Dashboard”

It includes warnings based on

Missed assignments

Time since last login

Grade average

You can monitor or e-mail students at risk.

Analytics & BlackboardAnalytics are vastly improved

Using rubrics in grading subjective assignments helps clarify expectations and improves feedback.

Turn on Rubrics in your course tools.

I use rubrics in the discussion boards and on subjective questions in homework assignments.

Analytics & BlackboardRubrics


Once you turn on the rubric tool, you will see a link under Course Tools.

You can create and edit the rubric by clicking on that tool.

The ability to add rubrics is located in your options when you create an assignment, a question or discussion board.

There are currently no analytics with rubrics – unfortunately (other than overall averages/stnd dev)


I’ve collected a small bag of tricks over the years to improve the ability of Blackboard to meet online course best practices

Feedback from students has been good.

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Keep What Works/Toss What Doesn’t

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What are your Power Blackboarding tricks?

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Please let me know if you have any questions:

Education

Power Blackboarding AU16