Introduction to Blackboard 9 Learning Management System (for Newbies) Bege Bowers December 11, 2009

2 Agenda, Session 1 Where we are When BB9 will be available What we’ll be giving you today (login, overview of basic screen layout and tools, a bit of practice)

3 Agenda, Session 1 Overview of how (best) to use BB9 Discussion about how to help you really learn BB9—we had a 3-day, 24 hour introduction; you have 2 hours.

4 Agenda, Session 2 Guided overview of features of BB9 Guided practice

5 Agenda, Session 3 Individual practice One-on-one help

6 Session 1: Where We Are Small number of courses to be taught in BB9 spring 2010 Some in summer 2010; WebCT will go away after summer All BB9 beginning fall 2010

7 Where We Are In training environment today Production environment/templates available spring 2010 (early January?) You can begin developing fall courses in spring 2010 (what you develop now can be moved)

8 Ways to Use Blackboard Course repository, web-enhanced course Hybrid course (some traditional in- class; some online) Asynchronous distance course (totally online)

9 First Consideration: Pedagogy Plan course first (BB9 is a tool): Course goals and objectives Syllabus – Units, lessons, assignments – Order – Grading scale

10 First Consideration: Pedagogy Then decide how to use BB9: What would you like to post? – Syllabus (individual, dept) – Resources (web links, background material, pictures, sample papers, almost any kind of file) – Assignments/paper topics

11 First Consideration: Pedagogy Could post: A little; a lot Individual lessons, assignments, paper topics Modules (linked assignments) Announcements/assignments if class has to be canceled

12 First Consideration: Pedagogy What BB “tools” would you like to use? – Course calendar – Discussion boards – Groups –

13 First Consideration: Pedagogy What BB “tools” would you like to use? – Tests/quizzes – Grading center – Other

14 First Consideration: Pedagogy How else do you want students to use BB9? – View assignments? – Submit papers/assignments? – View their grades? – Other?

15 Training What kinds of follow-up training would you like/attend? – Small-group training (5-6?)? – Even smaller-group training (3)? – One-on-one mentoring? – Other?

16 Move to Session 2

17 Session 2 (doesn’t like Firefox) Get username and password; log-in Two tabs: My Institution, Courses

18 Session 2 My Institution: tutorials, courses, calendar, announcements Courses tab: – courses you teach (2) – courses in which you are enrolled (7) – course catalog

19 Session 2 Enter Practice course (edit mode on) Areas of screen: – Course menu on left – Course management area below menu – Work area/content frame on right

20 Session 2 Look at elements of course menu: – List of content areas – Plus sign to add – Views (list, folder, etc.) – Up-down arrows to move item up or down list

21 Session 2 Look at elements of course menu: – Right-context double arrows – Hidden and no-content icons Use arrow to make left menu appear and disappear

22 Session 2 Click on elements in course menu: – Announcements – Units – Assignments – Assessments

23 Session 2 Click on elements in course menu: – Discussion board – Tools – Etc.

24 Session 2 Look at “bread crumbs” Rename couple of links: – Orientation – External Links Add a content area and move it up Add a divider and move it up

25 Session 2 Look at work area/content frame Click on announcements in left menu – Look at option(s) across top bar of work area – Create an announcement

26 Session 2 Look at course-management area Click on help—notice manual Change something in style – Change text to buttons – Change buttons back to text

27 Session 2 Go back to the content area you added earlier; name it “Pretend Folder Area” – Click on it; look at work area options – Click “Build”; “Create Folder”

28 Session 2 Name it“Pretend Folder 1” Write a description in the box Click the submit button Click on the name of the folder Click “Create Item” at top

29 Session 2 Name it “Pretend File” Write a description in the box Click “Choose File” Select one; click “Open” Name the link Click the “Submit” button

30 Session 2 Go back to the content area you added earlier – Click on it; look at work area options – Click “Build”; “Create Syllabus”; Enter name “Pretend Syllabus”; “Use Existing File”

31 Session 2 – Browse for local file; select; click “Open” – Click “Submit” button – Use right-context icon to edit the name to “Course Syllabus” – In left menu, make the content area visible to students (“Show Link”)

32 Session 2 – Turn edit mode off to see what students see Look at options across top of screen Click “Help”; “Media and Academic Computing”; Bb icon; notice tutorials

33 Session 3 Practice in Practice Course or Development Course Logout Resources for you in Getting Started course What kind of follow-up training would you like?