Learning to Teach Online!

elearning: enhancing learning, teaching and assessment in the creative arts Learning to Teach Online! Introduction to Blackboard Part One: the Student Experience elearning: contacts Julian Fletcher Leigh Garrett Sergio Santos Blackboard Co-ordinator Learning Technologist Learning Technologist jfletcher3@ucreative.ac.uk lgarrett@ucreative.ac.uk ssantos@ucreative.ac.uk For further information: http://www.ucreative.ac.uk/elearning Mac Version July 2007

Acknowledgements I would like to thank my colleagues Julian Fletcher and Sergio Santos for their invaluable contribution to development of this workshop and its supporting materials. Thanks goes also to Janet Watson, who kindly spent hours proof reading these materials. Leigh Garrett Learning Technologist July 2007 July 2007

Contents Introduction 1 Aim 1 Learning Outcomes 1 Resources 1 Accessing Blackboard 2 Introducing My Course 3 Tools Menu 3 Tabs 4 Channels 4 Finally 4 Changing Passwords 5 Blackboard Navigation 6 Accessing a Course or Unit 6 Course and Unit Menu 6 Breadcrumbs 6 Browsing Content 8 What is Content? 8 How is Content Organised? 9 Accessing Content? 9 Exercise One: Browsing Content 10 Discussion 11 Accessing Discussion 11 Creating a Message 13 Reading Messages 15 Exercise Two: Online Introduction 17 Exercise Three: Using Blackboard 17 Blackboard Mail 18 Introduction 18 Sending a Message 18 Exercise Four: Mail 19 Assessment 20 Accessing a Test 21 Taking a Test 21 Results! 23 Exercise Five: Assessment! 23 Further Reading 25 Frequently Asked Questions 26 Q Can I access Blackboard from home? 26 Q My password isn t working, what should I do? 26 July 2007

Q I can t see my course or unit in Blackboard, what should I do? 26 Q I would like a new course or unit setup on Blackboard, who can help? 26 Q My students can t see my course or unit, where can I get help? 26 Q How do I hide a course or unit link in My Course? 26 Information and Advice 28 Index 29 July 2007

Introduction Aim To introduce you to Blackboard, the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) of the University College. By using Blackboard you will be able to reflect upon the use of Blackboard and technology in general in your own learning, teaching and assessment. Learning Outcomes You will be able to: login successfully to Blackboard demonstrate a basic understanding of Blackboard and its components navigate your way around Blackboard participate in an online discussion send a message in Blackboard take an online assessment Resources You will need: computer with an internet connection a web browser such as Internet Explorer, Firefox or Safari installed your University College computer username and Blackboard password access to the Blackboard training module Page: 1

Accessing Blackboard Internet Explorer Firefox Safari To access Blackboard you need to open a web browser. Typically this will be Internet Explorer or Firefox on a PC, or Firefox or Safari, if you are a Mac user. In the address line of your browser, type the address http://www.blackboard.ucreative.ac.uk then click Go using the mouse or hit the Enter button on your keyboard. You will be directed to the Blackboard Login Page (Figure 1). Note: You will also need Java installed on your computer. Java is a small computer programme which enables you to access a number of Blackboard tools and functions. Java can be downloaded from: http://www.java.com. Figure 1: Blackboard Login Page At the Login page (Figure 1), you will be asked to enter your University College username and Blackboard password, once you have done this, simply click on the Login button. Using Blackboard for the first time? Your username and password are the same! For example Joe Bloggs has a University College username of jbloggs so his password will also be jbloggs. Once you have logged in you should change your password immediately. Details on how to change your password can be found below. You will then be directed to your My Course home page (Figure 2). Page: 2

Introducing My Course Blackboard: the student experience My Course (Figure 2) is your learning and teaching home page and provides you with access to all your Blackboard courses and units. Your My Course page consists of the Tools menu, a number of channels of information and tabs. A link to My Course is always available at the top of every Blackboard webpage. Simply click on the Home icon or the My Course tab and you will return to My Course at any time. Figure 2: My Course Tools Menu From the Tools menu a number of tasks and functions can be performed: Announcements - displays a list of all your announcements. Calendar - displays your calendar. A number of views and filters can be applied and events added, deleted and modified. Figure 3: Tool Menu Tasks - lists all your tasks, including personal and unit tasks and new personal tasks can be added. Send Mail - enables you to send mail via Blackboard to students and staff from any unit you have access to. User Directory - will list all students and staff who have added themselves to the User Directory. You can add yourself to the User Directory using the Page: 3

Personal Information link on the Tools menu. Address Book - allows you to add personal contacts. Personal Information - enables you to check and change various personal settings and information. You can also change your Blackboard password using the Personal Information link. Tabs Blackboard tabs enable you to customise your My Courses home page: Modify Content enables you to add and remove content from your My Courses home page. Modify Layout enables you to change the layout and colour scheme of your My Courses home page. My Course will return you to your My Course home page from anywhere in Blackboard. Units will display a list of all courses and units you have access to. Channels My Course is made up of a number of channels of information such as My Announcements, My Calendar and My Tasks, but most importantly a list of all your courses and units can be accessed from My Course. Individual channels may be turned on and off, and the order and colour scheme changed using the Modify Content and Modify Layout tabs. Indicates that this channel can be minimised. Indicates that this minimised channel can be maximised. Indicates that this channel can be removed from your My Courses home page. Indicates that you can edit this channel s settings. For example you can hide particular courses and units from the Units channel using the edit icon. Finally At the top of all Blackboard pages you will find: Home directs you to your My Course Blackboard home page. Help gives you access to the Blackboard help pages. Logout will log you out of Blackboard. Page: 4

Changing Passwords 1. From the Tools menu on your My Course home page select Personal Information (Figure 4). 2. From the Personal Information webpage click on the Change Password option (Figure 5). Figure 4: Changing Passwords 3. You will be asked to enter your new password twice (Password and Verify Password). 4. Finally to change your password click on the Submit button. You will receive a message to confirm that your password has been successfully changed. Simply acknowledge this message by clicking on the OK button. Figure 5: Changing Passwords Notes: Page: 5

Blackboard Navigation Accessing a Course or Unit To access a course or unit from My Course click on the title of the required course or unit from the Unit Channel. Course and Unit Menu The menu system enables you to move around a course or unit easily. It displays the course or unit information and content and the tools being used to support both your learning and communication (see Figure 6 for sample menu). As such, the menu system will change between courses and units, however certain information will be provided for each course and unit: Announcements Enables you to send important information regarding your course or unit to other tutors and students. Course and Unit Information Here your students will be able to find your course or unit handbook. Figure 6: Menu Staff Information Where your students will find contact details for your unit tutors and course administration staff. Unit Materials This is where you should place information such as lecture notes, handouts and reading lists. Discussion In this area you will be able to have online discussions with other tutors and students. You may also setup learning activities for your students by using the discussion area. Assessment This is where you should place information about your assessments. Mail Here you will be able to send messages to other tutors and students on your course or unit. Breadcrumbs When browsing through courses and units Blackboard uses Breadcrumbs as a navigation tool. Breadcrumbs are displayed just to the top of the main course or unit content page and indicate how you navigated to the current page (Figure 7). All Breadcrumbs, except the current screen, are clickable enabling you to retrace your path through the course or unit. Page: 6

Figure 7: Breadcrumbs Notes: Page: 7

Browsing Content What is Content? Almost any content can be viewed through Blackboard, including: Microsoft Word documents (doc, rtf) Microsoft Excel spreadsheets (xls) Web pages (htm, html) Adobe portable document format (pdf) Microsoft PowerPoint presentations (ppt) A wide range of other digital media such as text, video, sound, pictures and images, and equations can also be viewed. In some cases you will need software installed on your computer in order to access content. For example you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader (freeware) installed on your computer if you wish to review pdf files and you must have either Microsoft PowerPoint or Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer (freeware) installed to view ppt files. You should also remember that sound will be required if using audio and video files. Page: 8

How is Content Organised? In Blackboard content is stored in content areas. Content areas can be organised using folders and files uploaded and organised within folders as required. Accessing Content? When you enter into a Blackboard unit, the first page to be displayed is the unit home page (Figure 8). The unit home page should welcome students to your unit and is essentially a collection of Blackboard tools and content areas, which are used to signpost students around your unit. Figure 8: Blackboard Unit Home Page In the unit Blackboard: the student experience content is organised into the following areas which can be accessed from the unit menu: Unit Information Staff Information (Blackboard template) Unit Materials Resources and external content: Blackboard Content can be organised in anyway you wish, using the menu system and folders within content areas. Page: 9

Exercise One: Browsing Content Please take some time to explore the content of the Introduction to Blackboard training unit and answer the following questions: 1. What is the web address of the University College Blackboard service? 2. What is the difference between a Blackboard survey and a test? 3. How do you send a Blackboard message? 4. What is the Blackboard Control Panel? 5. Where can you get help with Blackboard from? Notes: Page: 10

Discussion Discussion is an extremely flexible learning and teaching tool. It can be used in a variety of ways: introduction information exchange knowledge construction development of critical thinking skills create reflective thinking resource scaffolding peer group support. Accessing Discussion To access the discussion forums, click on the discussion button which can be found on your Blackboard: the Student Experience unit menu (Figure 9): Figure 9: Discussion Page: 11

You will be directed to the Blackboard unit discussion forums. In this module two discussion forums have been setup (Figure 10): Introduction Using Blackboard Figure 10: Blackboard Discussion Page: 12

Creating a Message To create a message: 1. Select the discussion forum you want your message posted to using the appropriate forum title link. 2. From the forum click on the Thread button. 3. The Add Thread window will open (Figure 12). 4. Enter a subject for your message. 5. Enter your message text. 6. If required add a file such as a Word document, PowerPoint presentation or image file using the Attach a file link. 7. To save a draft of your message click on the Save button; use the Cancel button to abandon your message or use the Submit button to post your message. By using the Tool Bar (Figure 11) you will be able to create rich text messages, which enable you to use different fonts, colours, styles and sizes. Figure 11: Tool Bar Page: 13

Figure 12: Creating a Discussion Message Page: 14

Reading Messages To read your message and any others, return to the unit discussion forums, click on the forum you wish to read using its title, for example click on Introduction (Figure 13) and you will be presented with a list of forum threads. To view a particular thread click on the subject heading (Figure 13). The thread will then be displayed (Figure 14). Figure 13: Reading Discussion Messages Page: 15

Having read the message you can either: Figure 14: Reading a Discussion Message reply to the message using the Reply button, and follow the procedure to create a new thread outlined above using the Collect button you can: download the message as a text file to your computer print the message close the message using the OK button Page: 16

Exercise Two: Online Introduction Find the Introduction discussion forum and post a new message; tell us something about yourself, your name, a little about your role within the University College, any interests and hobbies, and why you are interested in Blackboard. Take an opportunity to read the messages posted and respond to those which are of interest. Exercise Three: Using Blackboard Find the Using Blackboard discussion forum and post a new message, a question which you have regarding elearning or Blackboard. Take an opportunity to read the other questions and respond to those which you feel confident to answer. Notes: Page: 17

Blackboard Mail Introduction The Blackboard mail tool enables you to communicate with students and staff enrolled on your course or unit. The mail tool will send your message to the recipients University College email account. You do not have a Blackboard mail address as you can only send mail to students and staff, you can not receive mail via Blackboard. Sending a Message You will only be able to use the mail tool if it has been enabled by the course leader or your unit tutor. In the Blackboard: the Student Experience training unit you will find access to the mail tool on the unit menu (Figure 15): Figure 15: Mail The Blackboard Mail screen will open (Figure 16), this will enable you send a message to: all students and staff enrolled in the course or module all students or staff or to selected staff and/or students To send a mail to a particular student: 1. Click on the Select Users link. Figure 16: Mail 2. When the new mail window opens, select the student(s) and/or tutor(s) you wish to mail and click on the Move selected items to the right icon. 3. Enter a Subject for your message. 4. Type your message in the Message box and add an attachment using the Attach a file link if required. 5. Finally to send your message, click on the Submit button. Remember, your message will be sent to the recipients University College email account. Page: 18

Exercise Four: Mail Find out the name of the nearest person next to you, and send them a message! Tell them how much you are enjoying the session today and how you can t wait to start using Blackboard yourself! Open your University College email account and see if anyone has sent you a message! Page: 19

Assessment Blackboard has a test tool and survey tool which can be used in a number of ways, for example: auditing skills curriculum alignment formative assessment summative assessment course and unit evaluation The essential difference between a test and a survey: Test The results of a quiz are stored by Blackboard and can be viewed by the course or unit tutor. Survey The results of surveys are anonymous, it is impossible for anyone to see who submitted which responses. There are eighteen question types in Blackboard: Calculated Formula Calculated Numeric Either/Or Essay File Response Fill in Multiple Blanks Fill in the Blank Hot Spot Jumbled Sentence Matching Multiple Answer Multiple Choice Opinion Scale/Likert Ordering Quiz Bowl Short Answer True/False Random Block Tests can be setup in a number of ways, including: selectively released time limited number of attempts the quiz may be taken ask all questions at once or one at a time Page: 20

answers can be randomised questions can be randomised formative feedback can be given results can be withheld password protected Accessing a Test You will only be able to use the test tool if it has been enabled by the course leader or your unit tutor. In the Blackboard: the Student Experience training unit you will find access to the test tool on the unit menu (Figure 17): Figure 17: Assessment Icon Taking a Test You can place tests and surveys in any content area within your course or module. For simplicity you will find two tests within the Tests area (Figure 18) of the Introduction to Blackboard unit: What do you know about the University College? Test your IT Skills! Figure 18: Test List Page: 21

To start a test or a survey click on the title of the required test or survey. You will be asked to confirm your selected test. To continue click on the Submit button, to select a different test click on the Cancel button. You will be presented with a set of instructions (Figure 19) which you should read! The questions will be presented in the centre of the window. At the top of questions is the Question Completion Status. If you click on the downward pointing arrow, you will see which questions remain unanswered and which you have answered and saved. To answer a question simply click on the preferred answer(s) or type in an answer as required. You can save your answers as you go by clicking on the Save answer button. When you have answered all questions, click on the Submit button at the end of the test to save and submit your test for automated marking. Figure 19: Blackboard Test Page: 22

Results! If you have submitted a test, you may or may not get a grade and/or feedback. This will depend on how the tutor has setup the test. This should be clear from reading the test instructions presented at the beginning of the test. If not, ask your tutor. Figure 20 illustrates the test results which may be made available to your students. Figure 20: Blackboard Test Results Exercise Five: Assessment! Find the test How much do you know about the University College? from the Blackboard: the Student Experience unit menu and take the test! Find the test Test your IT skills! from the unit menu and take the test! Page: 23

Notes: Page: 24

Further Reading elearning at UCCA http://www.ucreative.ac.uk/elearning JISC elearning Focus http://www.elearning.ac.uk Blackboard http://www.blackboard.com Page: 25

Frequently Asked Questions Q Can I access Blackboard from home? Yes, all you need is a web browser and access to the Internet. You log in using the address: http://www.blackboard.ucreative.ac.uk and enter your Blackboard username and password as normal. Q My password isn t working, what should I do? If using Blackboard for the first time, your username and password are the same. For example Joe Bloggs has a University College username of jbloggs so his password will also be jbloggs. Also, make sure you do not have CAPS lock selected and that you enter your username in lowercase. If you are still having problems contact Julian Fletcher, the Blackboard Co-ordinator, for assistance. Q I can t see my course or unit in Blackboard, what should I do? Contact Julian Fletcher, the Blackboard Co-ordinator. Q I would like a new course or unit setup on Blackboard, who can help? Contact Julian Fletcher, the Blackboard Co-ordinator. You will need to know your University College computer username, the course or unit code and title to be setup in Blackboard, if a new or existing template is to be used, and details of any other instructors who will need access to your Blackboard course or unit. Q My students can t see my course or unit, where can I get help? Contact Julian Fletcher, the Blackboard Co-ordinator. When your Blackboard course or unit is ready let Julian know and students will be enrolled automatically. If a student changes their course or unit you can add or remove students via the course or unit Control Panel. Q How do I hide a course or unit link in My Course? From My Courses use the Course and Unit list edit button to show or hide your course and unit links. Then to hide a course or unit simply remove the tick from appropriate course or unit using the tick box(es). Similarly to show a course or unit simply add a tick to the appropriate course or unit using the tick box(es), as illustrated below in Figure 21. Page: 26

Figure 21: Hiding and Showing Modules in My Courses Page: 27

Information and Advice Further information and advice on using technology in your learning, teaching and assessment can be obtained from: Leigh Garrett Learning Technologist lgarrett@ucreative.ac.uk Sergio Santos Learning Technologist ssantos@ucreative.ac.uk For information and technical assistance regarding Blackboard please contact: Julian Fletcher Blackboard Co-ordinator jfletcher3@ucreative.ac.uk Further information about elearning at the University College, including case studies, staff development events and other services can be found at: http://www.ucreative.ac.uk/elearning. Page: 28

Index Accessing Blackboard...2 Breadcrumbs...6 Channels...4 Hiding course and unit links... 27 Content...8 Organisation...9 Creating a new course or unit... 27 Discussion... 11 Accessing... 11 Creating a Message... 13 Reading Messages... 15 Help!... 29 Java Downloading...2 Install...2 Login Page...2 Mac OS Accessing...2 Safari...2 Mail...18 Accessing...18 My Course... 3 Channels... 4 Tabs... 4 Tools Menu... 3 Navigation... 6 Breadcrumbs... 6 Channels... 4 Course Menu... 6 Unit Menu... 6 Online Testing...20 Accessing...21 Instructions...22 Question Types...20 Survey...20 Taking a Test...21 Test...20 Viewing Results...24 Passwords... 2 Changing... 5 Problems...27 Tools Menu... 3 Page: 29

Quality and Standards July 2007