Faculty - Blackboard Step-by-Step
As of Spring 2017, every academic course listed in CougarNet/Banner will have a corresponding course shell created in Blackboard. These are automatically created three months prior to the start of the upcoming semester (ex: October for SP17 courses). Classes added to Banner after the initial course creation will have a course shell created in Blackboard by the following day. Courses are made unavailable to students upon creation. Courses will only be available if/when the faculty decides to make it available (see Step 3 below). Read more about how Blackboard course shells are created here.
Note: Faculty should still submit a request form if they would like cross-listed courses or courses with multiple sections merged into one shell.
STEP 1: Learn about Blackboard
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Workshops - We offer comprehensive workshops that cover all of the basics of using Blackboard and its many tools. See the current workshop schedule and register to attend one or more sessions.
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Tips and References - Search the ITS Knowledgebase for helpful articles and tips on the most frequently used Blackboard tools.
- Reference Materials - The Blackboard 9.1 Tool Guide provides a quick overview of the various tools available within Blackboard and their suitability for addressing specific instructional objectives.
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Instructional Design Consultations - Not sure how to utilize Blackboard to meet your instructional objectives, how to identify the right tool(s) to meet those objectives, and/or how to structure your course to make it intuitive for your students to use? Contact the Instructional Design & Learning Technologies Center to discuss your instructional objectives. The instructional designers will work with you to adapt your current content for delivery in a web enhanced, blended, and/or online environment. Contact idlt_center@siue.edu or 618-650-5500 to schedule an appointment Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
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Tech Support - For general tech support, please call 618-650-5500 or email help@siue.edu.
STEP 2: Set up, Customize, and Review your course
When a new blank course shell has been created, faculty will need to develop the structure and content for that course, determining the appropriate layout and tools to be used. Faculty may replicate a previously taught course by exporting the content from the previously taught course and importing it into the new course. After the import, it is essential that faculty follow the start-of-semester activities instructions to review and update any course options, dated materials, and/or time-sensitive settings imported into the new course shell, and delete duplicate navigational items.
Members of the IDLT Center can help you plan your course structure.
Finally, see what your course looks like to students before making it available.
STEP 3: Make your course available
Courses are made unavailable by default at the time of their creation to allow you to add content prior to releasing the course to your students. The word "unavailable" is listed next to the course name. You as the instructor will always have access to your course, but your students will only have access once you have made the course shell available to them.
Make the course available to students by:
- In the Control Panel, click on the Customization link.
- Click the Properties link.
- In Section #3: Set Availability, click the Yes radio button.
- Click Submit to finalize the process.
