The Blackboard Quick Tours for Students and Instructors are new for Fall 2009. You can always find them in the Blackboard Support Tab.
Strategies, guidelines and resources for Fall '09
Using Blackboard to Teach
The Control Panel in Blackboard is where instructors add and organize content, post class announcements, and set up communication options for their FSU course sites. This representation of the Control Panel from FSU Online includes quick references to each tool within it, ideas on how to best use each feature for your course site, and numbered steps on implementing them. In many cases references are made to additional CTL content, such as effective syllabi, staff information and SafeAssign, Blackboard's built-in plagiarism detection software.
Virtual Workshops
New for fall semester are live online workshops where participants engage without leaving the office. To join, simply visit the registration page and select the workshop link on the date and time it is scheduled to occur. Instructors can ask questions of the presenter by selecting the "Ask" button. After the live session is over, it can be reviewed again at anytime at the same URL. The same "Ask" button in the archived version is used to submit a comment or question for an email reply from the presenter. Virtual workshops for fall '09 include:
- Introduction to Content Collection, September 17, 2:00-4:00pm
This introduction to the main features of the Content Collection (Blackboard’s virtual hard drive) will guide users on accessing their FSU virtual hard drive from any Internet connected computer. Participants will learn how to upload files, create folders, enable versioning and set permissions for file sharing.
- Introduction to Communication, September 24, 2:00-4:00pm
An overview of Blackboard's Communication Tools will show virtual participants how to post Announcements, send E-mail, set up groups, create discussion forums and add threads.
- Introduction to Assessments, October 1, 2:00-4:00pm
This introduction to the Assessment Tools in Blackboard will assist participants in creating a simple online test by adding a pool of questions, developing a test with randomized questions, and modifying the test options.
Exploring the Grade Center
The new Grade Center functions similarly to the old Gradebook, but offers real-time grade manipulations along with several other time-saving features. Use this reference from FSU Online for working with grade columns, entering grades, adding comments to and modifying grades, deleting or exempting. Also included are detailed instructions on customizing the Grade Center, sending e-mail, working with grade history and downloading Grade Center data.
Blackboard User Support (BUS)
BUS is located within the Support Tab in Blackboard and provides technical assistance, course site requests, and a current listing of upcoming Blackboard workshops. Updated daily, this page features answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ's), manuals, tutorials, and teaching tips for using popular features of Blackboard 8. It's easy to perform a search function, or view all FAQ's by category, time of semester, or role (instructor, student, or both). Check it daily for known issues and scheduled downtime. Extended Blackboard Helpdesk hours begin Wednesday, August 19 and extend through Sunday, August 30.
Textbook Adoption
A quick video provides guidance to the Course Textbook Adoption Tool in the Secure Applications tab of campus.fsu.edu. The tool features the ability to add resources (books, PRS clickers, supplies, and more) for adoption, a searchable course resource database, and a section of reports for Deans and Chairs that can be browsed for compliance issues.
The 5-Minute Tour
Five minutes invested now could save hours of unneeded stress for students as well as instructors. A quick tour is available via PDF by simply downloading one of the following:
SafeAssign
Blackboard
Release 8 features the new SafeAssign™, a tool that compares submitted assignments against a set of academic essays to identify areas of overlap. SafeAssign can be used to prevent plagiarism and to create opportunities to help students identify how to properly attribute sources rather than paraphrase. SafeAssign draws from several different databases: the Internet, ProQuest©, ABI/Inform© database, institutional document archives, and the Global Reference Database, which includes content submitted into SafeAssign from Blackboard-powered institutions. Please note that SafeAssign content must be created, and that previously created assignments cannot be integrated with SafeAssign. SafeAssign is integrated with the Grade Center.
- For more on SafeAssign, see:
FSU SafeAssign User Manual
FSU SafeAssign Student Manual
SafeAssign Quick Reference Card
Prepare for Your First Semester
Prepare in advance for your first semester of teaching. Browse our checklists for tips, articles and related links to mandatory administrative policies, guidelines, and best practices that can be applied well in advance of the first day through the end of the semester.
Explore:
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Before classes begin
Get your IDs and passwords, learn the intricacies of the classroom space, attend teaching enhancement workshops, prepare a syllabus that is aligned with course learning objectives, check your textbook orders, request and populate your course site, and request digital media to enhance instruction.
First day of class
Show students your passion for teaching, collect contact information, take attendance, introduce the course website, outline goals and expectations, and convey the learning atmosphere for the semester.
Throughout the semester
Lecture effectively, enhance interaction, use multiple media, embrace diversity, organize, utilize course reserves, write test questions that encourage critical thinking, and have students apply subject matter to solve real problems.
End of semester
Place book orders online, request course evaluation packets, copy contents from your course site, block access to copyrighted materials, and use your SPOT report to improve your next course.
For help with Blackboard, instructors and students can visit the Support Tab after logging in to campus.fsu.edu. For help with Secure Apps, Webmail, or login, the Technology Services Help Desk can be reached at help@fsu.edu or 644-4357.
