An Introduction to Web-Supplemented Blackboard Sites Connie Cerniglia X 2259 Spring 2003

Click on the Distance Learning link on the right side of the GTCC Homepage –

You are now at the Distance Learning Homepage. Click on the GTCConline logo. You can get to the login directly by typing in your browser.

The naming conventions for Instructors are all lowercase: User Name: last name first initial Password: selected by each Instructor. The naming conventions for Students are in all uppercase: User Name: last name and last four digits of the Social Security Password: Social Security Number. This information should not be changed by instructors.

After you login, the next screen you come to is the “My Institution” screen. This screen lists your courses along with other external information. Click on the name of the course you would like to begin developing.

Syllabus Announcements Faculty Contact Information Handouts Web Assignments Practice Quizzes Tests Gradebook Discussion Board Questions Virtual Office Hours

Use the tool bar on the left to access elements of the course.

Announcements will show on the main screen. You can set your default to see all announcements or only the most recent ones. You will learn more about announcements in another class.

Most of your materials will be put in Course Documents or Assignments –or you can rename these. Your first task is to decide how to organize your materials.

In Assignments, you can also put course materials.

Instructors can modify their course materials by accessing the Control Panel

All changes to the content areas are made through the Control Panel. You also can make quizzes, access the grade book, or send to students.

You can personalize your “buttons” and colors in the Control Panel—Course Settings and Course Images.

Once you decide the organization of your folders, you can begin, by clicking on “Add Folder”

Most of the time, you only need to enter the title for the folder. However, you can add some descriptive information, perhaps restating your primary objective. (e.g. “In this unit, you will learn the three most important elements of good writing.”)

To add a sub folder, click on the name of the folder. Modifying a folder, only allows you to change the name of the folder. It doesn’t let you add sub folders.

Try to keep your folders parallel and easy to navigate. Once at your lowest level, you are ready to add the actual course materials. You can choose Add Item.

The easiest way to add documents is to cut and paste into the text box.

Adding a little HTML can increase readability.

Common Commands: Underline Italics Center Bold

More Advanced Commands: To create a hyperlink: BlackBoard Site Font Size (Use 1-7; 3 =12 pt) Font Color

You can also attach a document.

Start out by adding a forum to the Discussion Board.

–When first setting up the grade book, choose Spreadsheet View.

Add Item will allow you to list an assignment.

Indicate the Name of the Entry, the Entry Type, and the Possible Points.

After creating the assignment in the Spreadsheet, you can enter grades either by Item.

You can audit the grades of one particular student at any time. This is the view that each student sees.

The Export Gradebook automatically turns the gradebook into an Excel file. Export frequently to keep a backup copies of grades.

Start Slowly Ask for Help Attend Training Classes Add a Little More Each Semester