Blackboard Faculty Manual

Overview | Course Planning and Design | Content Areas | Communication Tools | Assessment | Monitoring Student Progress | Course Rollovers

2.0 Communication Tools

2.1 ANNOUNCEMENTS

The announcements section appears on the home page of a course and can be used to keep students apprised of current course information:

• Getting started information
• When assignments are due
• Changes in the course schedule
• Correction or clarification of materials
• Exam schedules

By default, announcements become available as they are posted. Students can view older announcements by clicking the appropriate history tab near the top of the page.

Announcements can be permanent or non-permanent. Permanent announcements always appear at the top of the home page. Non-permanent announcements appear below any permanent announcements, with the most recent addition appearing first.

2.1.1 Creating an Announcement

1. Enter the Control Panel and choose Announcements from the Course Tools group.
2. Click the Add Announcement button.
3. The Add Announcement window opens.

• Section 1: Announcement Information
  • Subject: Give the announcement a title.
  • Message: Type or copy/paste the announcement here.

• Section 2: Options
  • Permanent Announcement? Clicking "Yes" will cause this announcement to be posted at the top of the home page for the duration of the course, unless date restrictions are applied. Clicking "No" will allow it to move under the history tabs as the course progresses.
  • Date Restrictions: Indicate dates during which the announcement should appear. Not setting dates will cause the announcement to post immediately.
• Section 3: Course Link (optional)
  • Click the Browse button to access the course map. From here, select a location in the course that students can access directly from a link in this announcement. If you are linking to a specific discussion board forum, be sure to select that specific forum from within the course map.
• Section 4: Email Announcement
  • Check this box if you want all course users to also receive an email of this announcement.
• Section 5: Click Submit

2.1.2 Modify or Remove an Announcement

1. Enter the Control Panel and choose Announcements from the Course Tools group.

2. Locate the desired announcement.

3. If modifying the announcement, click the Modify button. The Modify Announcement window opens and you can make any changes based on the instructions in step 3 in the "Creating an Announcement" section above.

4. If removing an announcement, click the Remove button.

 

2.2 DISCUSSION BOARD

2.2.1 Overview of the Discussion Board

The discussion board allows for collaborative learning activities in an online course. A discussion board has the following structure:

Forum - A collection of communication by participants related to a single topic. The discussion board is the central repository for all forums available in a course. Forums can be linked to any location in the course.

Thread - The initial post and the entire series of replies to that post within a discussion board forum.

Post - A discussion board entry, or message, attached to a thread or used to start a thread. Also a verb, meaning the act of submitting a post.

The discussion board is an asynchronous form of communication in that users will post and read messages on their own schedule. Instructors can, of course, limit when forums will be made available and for how long.

When users access the discussion board, they will only see forums they can access. Unavailable forums can only be viewed by instructors and administrators.

 

2.2.2 Adding a Forum

1. Open the discussion board.
2. Click the Add Forum button.

3. The Add Forum window opens.

• Section 1: Forum Information
  • Name: Type the name of this forum.
  • Description: Describe the purpose of the forum.
• Section 2: Forum Availability
  • Available: Choose "Yes" if you want this forum to be available immediately.
  • Choose date and time restrictions: indicate when the forum should be available. If you set date/time restrictions, be sure to set the forum availability to "yes" or it won't become available at all.


• Section 3: Forum settings : Check the settings you want to enable.
  • Allow anonymous posts: Allows users to post a message without a name attached. This can be useful when discussing sensitive topics, however forums cannot be graded when this is enabled.
  • Allow author to remove own posts: Allows users to delete their posted messages or only their posts that have no replies (preferred choice).
  • Allow author to modify own published posts: Allows users to edit their posted messages. This is useful so users can edit spelling errors, etc.
  • Allow post tagging: Allows posts to be tagged by instructor for efficient searches.
  • Allow users to reply with quote: Allows students to include previous message in their reply.
  • Allow file attachments: Allows users to upload attachments to be viewed with their messages.
  • Allow members to create new threads: Allows users to create new threads within the forum. Preventing members from starting threads can help focus their posts on the topic.
  • Subscribe: Allows users to subscribe to a thread or forum so that they are alerted via email every time someone posts in the thread or forum.
  • Allow members to rate posts: Allows forum members to rate individual posts. This is a 5-star system useful when collecting peer feedback.
  • Force moderation of posts: Requires that all messages are reviewed by someone with the 'moderator' role before they are posted to the forum.
  • Grade: Choose from the following
    • No grading in forum
    • Grade forum: Allows you to assign a grade to each user based on their overall performance in the forum. Indicate number of points possible here.
    • Grade threads: Allows you to grade each user based on their performance in a thread. Note: If threads are graded, users cannot be given permission to start threads.
• Section 3: Click Submit.

 

2.2.3 Adding a Thread to a Forum

1. Open the Discussion Board and click on the forum that you wish to post to.

2. Click Add Thread.

3. The Add Thread window opens.

• Section 1: Message
  • Subject: Enter the subject of this thread
  • Message: Enter your message.
  • If enabled in this forum, check the box if you want to post this anonymously.
• Section 2: Attachments - click the link to activate the following options.
  • Attach local file: Click Browse to locate and attach a file to this thread.
  • Link to Content Collection Item: Browse to locate a file stored in the content collection.
  • Name of Link to File: Type in the text that you want students to see and click on to open the attachment.
• Section 3: Submit
  • click Save to save a draft.
  • Click Submit to submit the post.

4. View the forum to verify that the thread was posted.

5. If grading by thread is enabled, you must set the points possible for this thread. In List View, click the Enable button in the far right column. Enter the points possible and click Submit.

 

2.2.4 Replying to a Post

1. Open the discussion board and click on the desired forum.

2. Click on the desired thread to open it.

3. Open the post that you want to reply to by clicking on it.

4. At the top of the post, click the Reply button. (Note: If the quote function is enabled, you can reply to a post and include all previous posts in your message by clicking the Quote button.)

5. The Reply to Post Window opens.

• Section 1: Message

  • Subject: Adjust the subject line, if desired.

  • Message: Type your post here. (If you are using Quote to reply, type your message below all text already in this box.)

  • Post as Anonymous: Check this box to post anonymously. This feature may not be available in all forums.

• Section 2: Attachments - Click the link to activate the following options.

  • Use the Browse button to locate and attach a file to your post. Only one file can be attached here.
  • Section 3: Click Save to save your work without posting the reply yet. Click submit to post.

6. The post will appear in the thread underneath the original post.

 

2.2.5 Viewing and Sorting Threads

1. Open the Discussion Board and click on a forum to open it.

2. Set the drop-down list at the bottom of the page to Select All to select all of the threads. Click the Go button.

3. Click on the Collect button in the Action Bar at the top of the page.

4. A Collection page opens that contains all of the threads, including all replies, on one page.

5. Filter and sort options are available at the top of the collection page. Filtering will only show posts that meet certain criteria. Filter by Author, Status, Read Status, or Tags (if enabled). Sort shows all posts. You can sort posts by Author, Date, Subject, Thread Order, or Overall Rating by using the drop-down arrows next to Sort By.

 

2.2.6 Subscribing to a Forum or Thread

You may subscribe to a forum or thread only if you enabled this when the forum was created.

1. Open the discussion board and click on desired forum.

2. In the Action Bar at the top of the forum window, click the subscribe button. Once subscribed, this button chages to the Unsubscribe button. (If subscription is enabled at the thread level, you will only see this button when you open a thread.)

3. A 'Success' message will appear at the top of the window to indicate that you have successfully subscribed to that forum/thread.

 

2.2.7 Tagging Posts

You can tag posts only if this feature was enabled when the forum was created.

1. Open the discussion board and click on the desired forum.

2. To apply a tag to a post, you will need to view that post in a Collection. (To view posts in a collection, select the desired posts, by clicking the checkboxes to the left of the post titles and then click the Collect button.)

3. In the Collection window, add a tag to a post by clicking the Add button in the footer of the post and typing a tag into the text box.

4. Remove a tag by clicking on the 'x' symbol next to the desired tag. (Can only be done in collection view.)

 

2.2.8 Locking a Thread

When you want to close a thread from any further discussion, use the lock command. When a thread is locked, users may read the thread but not make any additions or changes. Locking a thread allows an instructor to grade the posts without users making any changes.

1. Enter the discussion board and click on the desired forum. You must be in List View to lock a thread. (Toggle between tree and list view by clicking the buttons in the upper right corner of the screen.)

2. Select the thread that you wish to lock by clicking the checkbox on the left of the appropriate row.

3. Click the down arrow next to "Change Status to:" in the Action Bar. Choose "Locked" and click the Go button.

4. The status of the thread will now show as "Locked".

5. To unlock a thread and allow posts, simply follow this procedure again, except choose "Unlocked" in the "Change Status to" drop down box and click Go.

 

2.2.9 Grading Posts

Student participation in an online course is primarily through communication in the discussion board. As an instructor, you can grade student participation at the forum or thread level.

First, be sure that grading is enabled when the forum is created or by modifying the settings of the forum. Once grading is enabled, you will notice an icon in a new Grade column for this forum in the discussion board window, as well as a new item available in the gradebook.

To grade student participation in a forum:

1. From the discussion board, click on the icon in the Grade column next to the forum to be graded.

2. The "Grade Forum Users" window opens. Each student who has participated in the forum will be listed. Choose a student to grade and click the Grade button in that row.

3. The "Grade: Student Name" window opens with a collection of the student's posts in that forum. Evaluate the posts and enter a grade in the grade field at the top of the page.

4. Click Submit. Then click OK at the bottom of this page.

5. Repeat this process for all students listed. Click OK when finished grading the forum. All grades are automatically recorded in the gradebook.

To grade student participation in a thread:

1. From the discussion board, open the desired forum. (Be sure you are in List View. You can toggle between Tree and List view using the buttons in the upper right corner of this screen.) Locate the thread to be graded and open it.

2. Click the icon in the Grade column (the far right column) to open the "Grade Thread Users" window. Each student who has participated in that thread will be listed. Choose a student to grade and click the Grade button in that row.

3. The "Thread Grade: Student Name" window opens with a collection of the student's posts in that thread. Evaluate the posts and enter a grade in the grade field at the top of the page.

4. Click Submit. Click OK.

5. Repeat the process for all students listed. Click OK when finished grading the thread. All grades are automatically recorded in the gradebook.

 

2.2.10 Managing Student Roles

To assign a student to act as a moderator, or to block a student from participating in the discussion board, follow these steps.

1. Open the discussion board and locate the desired forum.

2. Click the Manage button for that forum.

3. The "Manage Forum Users" window opens. The following roles are available for participants:

• Moderator: Can participate in the discussion board and has ability to modify, delete, and lock posts. Can approve or reject posts in the queue of a moderated forum.
• Reader: Can only view content. Cannot add or respond to posts.
• Manager: Grants all priveleges. Use this role as an instructor.
• Grader: Can participate in the discussion board and also grade posts in the forum.
• Participant: Can participate with read/write priveleges in the forum. Normally assigned to students.
• Blocked: Blocks the user from accessing the forum in any way.

4. Select the desired forum role for each user. Click Submit.

 

2.2.11 Peer Review of Posts

Students providing feedback to other students is a common learning tool used in classrooms. You can make use of this same tool in your online discussion board.

First, be sure that the feature is enabled when the forum is created or modify the forum to Allow members to rate posts.

How it works:

1. Students enter a forum, open a thread and view a post.

2. In the upper right corner of each post there is an Overall Rating field with 5 stars. The stars show the overall rating that the post has received from users.

3. Each student should click on the Rate this Post drop down list and select a rating. This rating is then included in the overall rating for that post.

4. A user may not rate the same post more than once.

 

2.3 THE VIRTUAL CLASSROOM

The virtual classroom is a tool used for synchronous (real-time) discussion and demonstration with students. It is a collaboration tool that uses live chat and an online whiteboard. Students can ask questions, draw on the whiteboard, and participate in breakout sessions from the virtual classroom.

Some instructors may find that setting up a virtual classroom to conduct office hours would be useful. Short demonstrations or Q&A sessions could be conducted from this location.

2.3.1 Setting up a Virtual Classroom or a Chatroom

Each classroom 'session' that you intend to hold must be created in Blackboard.

1. Enter the Control Panel in your course and choose Collaboration under the Course Tools group.

2. From the Collaboration Sessions window click the Add Collaboration Session button from the menu bar at the top.

3. From the Add Collaboration Session window complete the following:

• Section 1: Session Name
  • Name your session.
• Section 2: Schedule Availability
  • Select the date/time that the session will be open. (Remember to schedule this real-time activity so that students in other time zones can participate too.)
  • Indicate whether you want this session to be available now (able to be seen) on the schedule by students. If you make it available, they won't be able to 'join' it until the date/time that you specified.
• Section 3: Collaboration Tool
  • Choose Virtual Classroom to set up a room with a whiteboard and chat.
  • Choose Chat to set up a chatroom only.
• Section 4: Click Submit.

4. You will see your new session appear in the Collaboration Sessions window.

 

2.3.2 Joining a Virtual Classroom or Chatroom session

1. Enter the Virtual Classroom from its location in your course. (Often it is under Communication Tools and then under Collaboration. If you will be using it extensively, consider having it placed on the main menu.)

2. From the Collaboration Session window, a "Join" button will appear next to sessions that are available now to join.

3. If you do not already have the Java Plug-in on your computer, you will be given instructions on how to download it so that you can participate in the chat.

4. Click OK.

5. The Chatroom may appear as a minimized item on your taskbar at the bottom of the screen. Just click on it to open it and begin chatting.

 

2.3.3 Using the Virtual Classroom

1.  On the Collaboration Sessions page, enter a virtual classroom by clicking on the 'Join' button to the right of it.

2.  The virtual classroom will appear as follows:

A= Participant List - You will be able to see who is present in the classroom and whether they are 'active' or 'passive'.  Passive is the default - meaning that the person cannot use any of the tools in the classroom.  You must make each participant active for them to participate using chat.  Do this by clicking on a student's name and clicking the 'head' icon in the lower right corner of the pane.  You will then see this icon appear in the role column next to their name indicating that they are active.  (Students may signal you that they want you to change their status by displaying a hand icon in the column next to role.)

B=Whiteboard - Use as you would a blackboard in a classroom.  Click on a tool (located on the left panel) and draw on the whiteboard.  The tools include (from left to right) a pointer, a slanted line tool, a freehand pen, the equation editor, a square tool, an oval tool, and a text editor.

When you click  the text editor button and click on the whiteboard, a window will appear on top of the whiteboard.  Type your text in this window and click the Insert button.  It will then appear on the whiteboard.

 

 

 

 

 

C=Chat Window - Type your message in the Compose text box at the bottom of the chat window and click the Send button.  It will automatically place your comment or question in the Chat window.

D=Toolbox - Other tools are also available in the virtual classroom:

Map - Allows users to browse the course while in a virtual classroom.  Users must be 'active' to use the content map.

Group Browser- Allows users to collaboratively browse the web.  The tool opens a URL that everyone in the room can view. 

Ask Question- A location where users can submit questions to the instructor - operates outside of Chat.

Question Inbox - Location where questions placed in the 'Ask Question' tool are placed.  This is where the instructor manages and responds to those questions.

3.  Recording a Session

• Click the Start button in the upper right corner of the screen to start recording.
• Click the Pause button to pause a recording that has started.  Click it again to un-pause and begin recording again.
• Click Stop to end the recording.
• Click the Snapshot button (in the Whiteboard toolbar) to record an image of the whiteboard in the recording.
• See the next section to learn about how to make recordings available to students.

 2.3.4  Giving students access to v. classroom recordings

 Recordings of collaboration sessions will not be visible to students until the instructor makes them 'available'.

1. Go to the Control Panel in your course and click on Collaboration in the Course Tools section.

2. Click Recordings  for a session.

3. Click Manage for a recording.

4. Change Availability to Yes so that students can view the recording.

 

2.4 THE DIGITAL DROPBOX

The digital dropbox is a file exchange method for instructors and students. Files placed here are stored in Blackboard and can be accessed at any time.

Although this tool is available, E-Campus recommends that you use the Add Assignment function (see section 3.1 in this manual) instead of the Dropbox to handle and store student files.

Some problems associated with the DropBox include:

• Items are not sorted by time or title making it hard to see which version is the most current.
• Many students will only "Add" their file and not "Send" it.
• The Dropbox cannot be linked to a location within a content area.
• It does not allow instructors to attach direct feedback to the assignment.
• It is not linked to the gradebook as the Add Assignment function is.

The Dropbox is useful, however, for exchanging extra large files that may otherwise be rejected by a student email account. The Dropbox does record when a file was submitted and by whom.

 

2.4.1 Adding Attachments to the Digital Dropbox

**Add a file to the Dropbox if you aren't ready to send it yet.

1. Enter the digital dropbox from its location in your course.

2. Click the Add File button.

• Name: Type the name of the file.
• File: Click the Browse button and locate the file on your computer.
• Comments: Add any comments.
• Click Submit.

3. You will see the file appear in the Digital Dropbox with a "Posted on: date/time" stamp.

 

2.4.2 Sending Attachments from the Digital Dropbox

**Send a file that has already been added to the dropbox - or - send a file that hasn't been added yet.

1. Enter the digital dropbox from its location in your course.

2. Click the Send File button.

• Section 1: Select the names of the people to receive the file.
• Section 2:
  • If the file is already in the dropbox, select it from the drop-down list.
  • If the file is not in the dropbox, type a name for it and use the browse button to locate the file on your computer. Add comments
• Section 3: Click Submit.

3. You will see the file appear in the Digital Dropbox with a "Submitted on: date/time" stamp.

 

2.4.3 Reviewing Student Files from the Digital Dropbox

1. Click the file's title to open it. (This is a read-only version.)

2. Save the file to your local hard drive.

3. Make comments to the new version of the file on your computer.

4. Save any changes.

5. Return the reviewed version of the file to students by using the Send File button in the digital dropbox.

 

2.5 THE CALENDAR

Each course has a Course Calendar tool available. Use the calendar to highlight important course dates, assignments, and events. Students calendars display all information posted by the instructor as well as their personal entries. Unfortunately, dates that are set in content areas, discussions, and assessments do not automatically get posted in the course calendar.

2.5.1 Adding an Event to the Calendar

1. Enter the Control Panel and choose Course Calendar from the Course Tools group.

2. Click Add Event from the Action Bar at the top.

3. On the Add Calendar Event page, complete the following sections:

• Section 1: Type the event name and a description.
• Section 2: Specify the event date, start time and end time.
• Section 3: Click Submit.

4. Your new event will now be posted on the calendar.

 

2.5.2 Modifying or Deleting an Event

1. Enter the Control Panel and choose Course Calendar from the Course Tools group.

2. Locate the calendar event to be modified or deleted.

3. To modify, click the Modify button to the right of the event. In the Modify Calendar Event window, update or change the event details. Click Submit.

4. To delete, click the Delete button to the right of the event.

5. Click OK.

 

2.5.3 Calendar Quick Jump

Quickly move to a month, week, or day in the calendar by using the Quick Jump feature. This is especially useful when looking for events planned months in advance.

1. Open the calendar from its location in your course (Usually under Course Tools or Communication Tools).

2. Click the Quick Jump button in the Action Bar.

3. In the Calendar Quick Jump window, select a date and the type of view (month, week, or day).

4. Click Submit.

 

2.6 TASKS

Helping students track deadlines with the Task function may improve student success. An instructor can post tasks to all students in the course and students can also post personal tasks to their page. Task information is displayed in columns showing priority, task name (subject), completion status, and due date.

2.6.1 Adding a Task

1. Enter the Control Panel and choose Tasks from the Course Tools group.

2. From the Tasks window, click the Add Task button.

3. In the Add Task window, complete the following:

• Section 1: Task Information
  • Task Name: Type the name of the task. You may want to copy/paste the assignment title from the actual assignment link in the course so that the verbiage is consistent throughout your course.
  • Description: Type a description. Consider copy/paste as noted above.
  • Due Date: Indicate the due date.
• Section 2: Task Options
  • Priority: Choose from Low, Normal, or High.
• Section 3: Click Submit.

4. The new task will appear in the Tasks window.

 

2.6.2 Viewing Tasks

1. Locating the Task List

• Tasks can be viewed by all participants in the following locations:

• • On the main menu of the course under the Student Tools area OR under a button designated for Tools or Tasks
  • On the My Oregon State home page in Blackboard (the screen you see when logging in to Blackboard).
• Instructors can also view tasks through the Control Panel under the Course Tools group.

2. Priority Symbols

• High = Red Triangle pointing up
• Normal = Blue Square
• Low = Gray Triangle pointing down

3. Sorting Tasks

 

• Click on the underlined column heading to sort tasks by:
  • Priority - Lowest to highest only
  • Subject - Alphabetical only
  • Status - Alphabetically from Completed to Not Started
  • Due Date - Most recent due date appears first

4. Viewing Completion Status by Student

• View the completion status for each student by clicking the task's title in the list.

2.6.3 Modify or Delete a Task

1. Enter the Control Panel and choose Tasks from the Course Tools group.

2. To modify a task, click the Modify button associated with that task. Update or change any details in the Modify Task window. Click Submit.

3. To delete a task, click the Remove button associated with that task. Click OK.

4. Click OK.

 

2.7 EMAIL

Blackboard allows instructors and students to send email to each other from within a course. These messages are sent to the ONID email account of the recipient. Be sure to forward ONID email to the email address you prefer to view and reply to students from.

1. Access the Email function from any of these locations:

• The link on the main page of the course - this is usually located under Course tools or Communications. Some instructors prefer to have a button on their main menu leading directly to email.
• From within the Control Panel - under Course Tools.
• From the My Oregon State page in Blackboard (the screen you see when logging into Blackboard). If accessing from this location you will need to select the course you want to send mail from.

2. From the Send Email window, select the group or individual you wish to send mail to.

• All Users
• All Groups
• All Teaching Assistants
• All Students
• All Instructors
• All Observers
• Single / Select Users
• Single / Select Groups
• Single / Select Observer Users

3. If choosing one of the last three options, you will need to select the individuals you wish to receive the mail.

4. Compose the message:

• Subject: Type a subject line
• Message: Type your message
• A copy of the email is sent to you automatically
• Return Receipt: Check this box if you want to receive a notice that the recipient received the email.
• Attachments: Attach a file if desired.
• Click Submit.

Blackboard Version 8.0