10 Steps to Blackboard Success By Carol A. Marinas, Ph.D.

1. Why choose a course management system?  Early 1990’s raw html code  Late 1990’s MS Front Page  Early 2000’s Course Management Systems – Blackboard and WebCT

2. Textbook to support course management application  Online at  Course Catalog Button

3. Adopt Textbook  Online – sets up framework and test bank for particular text  Package Student Codes Free with new textbooks $15 additional with used textbooks

4. Customize template  Contact information  Syllabus  Tentative Schedule  External Internet Links  Course Documents  Assignments

5. Practice Quiz  Make a practice quiz worth 0 points for you and your students to get acquainted with new environment  Use Test Bank for questions  Posting options When Timed Show solutions

6. Register Students  Registration Handouts  addresses needed  Zip code – use school’s  Login name and password Lower case Choose a standard format for class (lastnamett for login name)

7. Rules for Taking Online Quiz  Reliable computer  Once started, must finish  Print results page for proof (check your online grades)  One pass per term for problems

8. Gradebook  Item Analysis  Student Summary  Export to Spreadsheet  Changing Scores

9. Communication  Asynchronous Discussion Boards  Synchronous Online Chats Instant Messaging Virtual Classroom

10. Consideration  Intellectual Property Rights  Transferability to other platforms  Changing Textbooks