Quick Blackboard Tips

Ways to Increase Your Completion Rates

Orientation Meeting

• No Bb log in info prior to meeting• Blackboard orientation• Objectives, expectations,

communications protocols and netiquette

• Schedule – pacing guide• My Tasks & Class Calendar• “Start Here” button

“Start Here” Button• Welcome message• Course objectives & learning

outcomes• Pacing guide• Grading Scale & expectations• Rubrics• Communications protocols• How to get technical help• ADA compliance statement

Assignment Turnaround Time

• Instructors log in daily• Respond to emails within 24 hours• Grade assignments and provide

feedback within 3 days• Provide specific feedback to each

assignment

Organizing Content

• “Chunk” content into weekly modules

• Make external links open in new tabs• Link to documents in the text editor

box• Consider using Rich Text File format

“Special” Content• Any zipped content

– Shockwave/Flash content– Microsoft Producer presentation

• YouTube mash up• SlideShare mash up

Self - checks

• Weekly quizzes• Pre-Test and Post-Test• Elect to have the quizzes not be

included in the grade calculation

Design Points:• Shorter course menu• Label all links• Include language that explains linked

content• Include navigational directions in the

overview and the first module• Class entry point• Use consistent verbiage

Questions/Comments

• savagep@schultzcenter.org