Blackboard Course Management System

Quicksteps for Instructors

Courses

1. How to remove a course

Only a system administrator can delete a course. Send your request for deletion, along with the name and courseID of the course to be removed, to bb@utmem.edu.

2. Create a course

The create a course page has instructions.

3. Change a course's Course ID -- ex. ANAT000?

(Note: You cannot change the ID; you'll have to copy the course's content into a new course that has the correct Course ID.)

Go into the control panel of the course whose ID you want to change and choose Course Copy.
Choose Copy Course with Users (Exact Copy).
Type in the correct Course ID into the destination field and click Submit.
You will receive an email letting you know when the copy has completed successfully. (If the copy is not successful, repeat steps 1-3.)
Once the copy is complete, go into the new course and check to make sure your content, students, and grades (if there were any) are there.
Send an email to bb@utmem.edu requesting that the old course be removed.

4. How to remove a user from a course

In the Control Panel, click Remove Users from the Course.
Type in the user's last name, user name, or email address (choose the appropriate radio button below the field) and click Search.
Click the check box beside the user’s name, type in Yes, and click Submit. (Note: This removes the user from this course only).

5. How to enroll a user into a course (default role will be student)

In the Control Panel, click Enroll User.
Type in the user's last name, user name, or email address (choose the appropriate radio button below the field) and click Search.
Click the check box beside the user’s name and click Submit. (Note: If the user is not found, first make sure the user is not already enrolled. Users that are already in your course will not show up in a search. If this is not the case, please email bb@utmem.edu to have the account created.)
To change the user’s role, see the steps below to make a user an instructor, teacher’s assistant, course builder, or grader.

6. How to change a user's role to instructor, TA, course builder, or grader

If the user is not already enrolled, follow the steps in the previous question to enroll a user into a course. If already enrolled, go to step 2.
In the Control Panel click List/Modify Users.
Type in the user's last name, user name, or email address (choose the appropriate radio button below the field) and click Search.
Click the Properties box for the user, scroll down to the “Role and Availability” section and change the user’s role, and click Submit. (Note: This changes the user’s role for this course only.)
If you are assigning the role of guest to a user, please click here to learn how to enable guest access in your course.

7. How to modify your course's name and/or description (CANNOT change CourseID)

In the Control Panel, click Settings (in the Course Options section).
Choose Course Name and Description on the next page.
Make your changes and click Submit.

8. Change your course's availability

In the Control Panel, click Settings (in the Course Options section).
Choose Course Availability on the next page.
Choose the correct setting and click Submit.

9. How to add a group to your course and enroll users in it (users must be enrolled in course before being enrolled in group)

In the Control Panel, click Manage Groups (in the User Management section).
Click the Add Group button.
On the next page, give your group a name and optional description and select the options you would like the group to have (works within the group only). Click Submit and then OK on the receipt page.
On the Manage Groups page, click the Modify button for the group to which you want to add users.
Choose Add Users to Group. (FYI: If you ever needed to remove a user from the group, choose Remove Users from Group at this point instead).
On the next page, you can either search for a particular user (type their name in the field and click the Search button) or bring back a list of all users in the course (do not type anything in the field and click the Search button).
Click the "Add" checkbox for each user you want to add to the group and then click Submit. Do this one page of users at a time.

10. How to remove all students from a course (recycle users)

In the Control Panel, choose Recycle Course (in the Course Options section).
On the next page, click the checkbox for Users in section 2, type the word "Remove" in section 3, and click Submit.

(FYI: You also can use this page to remove other types of materials from the course. Just click the appropriate checkboxes. Be careful to make the correct choices, as this process is irreversible.)

11. How to add content (ex. Word document, PowerPoint presentation, picture, etc.) to your course

Note: IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU CONVERT POWERPOINT TO PDF FIRST.

In the Control Panel, choose the content area where you would like to add the document (ex. Course Documents).
Click "Item" on the gray "Add" action bar.
On the next page, type in a name and description (optional), either copy and paste your document into the text box OR attach the document, set your options, and click Submit.

12. How to edit a document's text after it has been added to a Blackboard course as an attachment

Find the original document on your computer.
Open it and make your changes. Save your changes and close the document. Now you can replace the old document with the revised one in Blackboard.
In Blackboard, go into your course's control panel and enter the content area in which the old document is located.
Click on the document's Modify button.
On the next page, go to the Content section and remove the Currently Attached File. Then click the Browse button and locate your newly-revised document. Fill in the Name of Link to File: field (optional) and scroll to the bottom of the page and click Submit.

13. Remove documents and other non-assessment content from your course

Note: to remove tests and surveys, see Remove an assessment from a content area only (undeploy) and Remove an assessment from a course.

In the Control Panel, choose the content area where the document is located (ex. Course Documents).
Click the Remove button to the right of the document.
Click OK to verify the deletion.

Assessment

1. Types of assessments

Assessments include test and survey. In tests, you can see specific users' responses. Tests can, therefore, be graded. On the other hand, surveys are not graded and are anonymous.

2. Create a question bank using the pool manager

The pool manager is where you can create a bank of questions, often categorized. You can select specific pool items to create your tests or surveys.

3. How to clear an assessment attempt so that a student can re-take it

In the Control Panel, click Gradebook.
Click the grade (or lock symbol) that you want to reset.
On the next page, click the Clear Attempt button.
Click OK when asked, “Are you sure you want to remove this attempt?”

4. Create a test, survey, or question pool

In the Control Panel, choose Test Manager, Survey Manager, or Pool Manager.
Click the Add Test, Add Survey, or Add Pool button.
Type in a name, description, and instructions (last two are optional). Click Submit.
In the Test/Survey/Pool Canvas, set your options and add questions:
1. Click the Creation Settings link and check any options you want to use. Click Submit and OK. This returns you to the canvas.
2. Add questions by highlighting a choice in the Add drop-down box and clicking Go. You can create a question from scratch (choose a question type), pull questions from other pools or assessments in the course (choose that option), or make a random block that pulls a set number of questions randomly from a question pool of your choice (choose that option). The Random Block option is available for tests only. Follow the instructions that each option provides.
3. Repeat step b for each question you want to add to your test, survey, or pool. You also can modify, remove, and re-order questions.
Click OK to exit the Test/Survey/Pool Canvas once you are done with your questions. Should you ever need to get back into the canvas again, go to the appropriate Manager and click the Modify button for the test, survey, or pool.
You are now ready to add your test or survey to a content area (ex. Assignments) and set its options so students can access it. (Students do not access pools, which simply hold questions that can be pulled into tests or surveys.) Important: Students cannot access a test or survey until it is added to a content area and the availability option is set to Yes.

5. How to add (deploy) a test or survey to a content area

In the Control Panel, choose the content area where you want to add the test or survey (ex. Assignments).
To add a test, click the word “Test” on the “Add” line. Go to step 3 if adding a survey. Otherwise, go to step 4.
To add a survey, choose Survey in the drop-down box at the end of the “Add” line and click Go.
On the next page, highlight the name of the test or survey in the list and click Submit. Then click OK.
Choose “Modify the Test/Survey options.” Set the options and click Submit. Keep these tips in mind when setting options:
1. The availability option must be set to Yes in order for students to take the test or survey.
2. Set the "Display After" and/or "Display Until" dates if you want to restrict when students can access the test or survey. The availability option should be set to Yes if you are going to use date restrictions. Blackboard will make the test/survey link appear and disappear for students according to the restrictions. (You, as the instructor, can toggle between "Edit View" and "Display View" on the upper right hand corner of the screen to view unavailable items.)//add screenshot here//
3. Leave the "Open Test/Survey in new window" option set to No to avoid pop-up blocker problems.
4. Should you need to modify your options at a later date, go to the Control Panel, enter the content area in which the test or survey is located and click its Modify button, and choose “Modify the Test/Survey options.”

6. How to remove (undeploy) a test or survey from a content area only (remains in course for re-use)

IMPORTANT: Undeploying a test or survey does not remove it from the course; it simply detaches it from the content area, making it available to be deployed elsewhere. An important fact to remember about undeploying: A warning will appear if grades are attached to an assessment that is about to be undeployed. You have the option of removing the grades or preserving them. Make sure to read carefully and choose the correct option before proceeding.

In the Control Panel choose the content area where the assessment is deployed.
Click the assessment’s Remove button.
Click OK when asked “Are you sure you want to remove this item?”
If students have taken the assessment, a warning will appear with two options for handling the grades. Make the correct choice and click Submit.

7. How to view assessment attempt details (breakdown by percentage of students' answers on tests/surveys)

Note: This can be done only with tests or surveys created and taken in Blackboard

In the Control Panel, click Gradebook.
Click the title of the test or survey whose attempt details you want to view.
On the next page choose Assessment Attempt Details.

8. How to remove a test or survey from a course

If the assessment has been attempted and grades recorded, first undeploy the assessment . Otherwise, skip to step 2.
In the Control Panel, click Test Manager or Survey Manager.
Click the assessment’s Remove button and click OK when asked “Are you sure you want to remove this item?”

Discussion Board

1. How to allow students to modify their discussion board postings

In the Control Panel, click Discussion Boards.
Click the Modify button for the forum you want to change (do not actually enter the forum).
In the forum settings (under the title and description), click the check box for the option "Allow author to modify own published posts" and then click Submit at the bottom of the page.

Assignment

1. How to use the assignment feature (different from the assignment content area)

Summary: This assignment feature allows you to post an assignment (a type of assessment) that students can download, complete, and then re-upload to Blackboard as a way of turning it in to you. You can then download every student's submission to your computer in a single zipped file to grade.

It is similar to the way many instructors use the Digital Drop Box. However, it has some distinct advantages.

For example, each student's submitted assignment automatically will be renamed to reflect ownership.
Additionally, instructors have the ability to retrieve assignments in bulk.
Finally, since the assignment is a type of assessment, a gradebook item is automatically generated for it (though you still will have to manually grade them and enter the grades in the Gradebook).

To use this feature, do the following:

Create an assignment (in Word, PowerPoint, etc.) or scan in an existing one if it is in hard-copy format.
In Blackboard choose the content area (such as Course Documents, Assignments, etc.) where you'll place the assignment. Click on that content area in the Control Panel.
In the drop-down box on the "Add" line, choose Assignment from the list of choices and click Go.
Complete the "Add Assignment" page that follows, making sure to attach your assignment. Click Submit when done.

Students retrieve and turn in the assignment in the following way:

Students should go to the assignment's location and click on its View/Complete link. On the "Upload Assignment" page that follows, download the assignment. (NOTE: If students click the View/Complete link after submitting their assignment, they will only be able to view what they submitted but not make changes. You will have to clear the attempt before a student can re-submit the assignment.)
After downloading the assignment to their computer, students should either click the CANCEL or SAVE button on the "Upload Assignment" page. DO NOT CLICK SUBMIT, as this will submit an empty assignment! Please emphasize this to your students in order to minimize the number of attempts you will have to clear.
After a student completes the assignment, he should go back to Blackboard and click the assignment's View/Complete link again. Then attach the file and click Submit.

You can download the assignments to your computer to grade them and then enter the grades in the Gradebook. Do the following:

In the Control Panel go to the Gradebook. Click on the assignment's title.
Choose Item Download. On the "Download Assignment" page, you'll see a check box beside the name of each student who has completed the assignment. You can choose to Check All to choose all students who have completed the assignment, Check Ungraded to choose all students for whom there is no recorded grade yet (during subsequent downloads), or Uncheck All. Click Submit.
On the next page click the "download assignments now" link. Save the zip file to your computer.
Double-click the zip file to unzip it (WinZip, StuffIt Expander, or another decompression program required). You will see all the downloaded assignments, each with a different username appended to indicate the student to whom it belongs.
Grade the assignments and manually enter the grades into the Gradebook.

Gradebook

1. How to download a copy of your gradebook

In the Control Panel, click Gradebook.
Click Download Grades.
On the next page, choose your delimiter type and click Submit. (The comma option is the standard, placing the gradebook in a spreadsheet format readable by Excel.)
On the next page, click the Download button (Mac users: hold down the Control key and then click Download) and save the gradebook to your computer. It is recommended that you append a date or course designator to the generic gradebook name that is offered.

2. How to add item to the gradebook (to record grades for assessments or assignments not taken through Blackboard)

In the Control Panel, click Gradebook and choose Add Item.
Fill in or choose the following information: Name, category, description (optional), points possible, and grade display option. Choose whether the item and its grades should be visible and included in gradebook score calculations. Then click Submit.
To then add grades, click the item's title in the gradebook.
Choose Item Grade List and enter the grades for each student. Click Submit.

3. How to Add items or grades to the gradebook using the Upload Grades feature

IMPORTANT: Never upload a gradebook spreadsheet that was not first downloaded from Blackboard.

Download your gradebook.
Open in Excel the gradebook you just downloaded and add grades either to an existing column or to a new column (to create a new item in Blackboard when uploaded).
In the Control Panel, click Gradebook and choose Upload Grades.
On the next page click the Browse button, locate your gradebook on your computer, and click Open and then Submit.
Set the following information on the next page:
1. Imported item - the column that contains the newly added grades
2. Existing item - the destination column in the Blackboard gradebook for the newly added grades. Choose "Create new gradebook item" to add grades for an item that you just created in the downloaded gradebook that is not yet in your Blackboard gradebook.
3. Click Submit.
4. If creating a new gradebook item, fill in or choose the following information for the new item on the next page: Name, category, description (optional), points possible, grade display option, visibility, inclusion in gradebook score calculations. Then click Submit. If you are not creating a new item, this page will not appear. You will be taken directly to step 6.
On the next page, click Select All to check all the students' names. Click Submit and then OK on the next page to be returned to the gradebook. You should now see your new grades in the Blackboard gradebook.
Please note you can only upload one column of new grades at a time. Repeat steps 3-6 for each column of grades you added to your downloaded gradebook.

4. Remove an item (column) that was manually added to the gradebook

In the Control Panel, click Gradebook and choose Manage Items.
Click the assessment's Remove button and click OK when asked "Are you sure you want to remove this gradebook item and all grades associated with this gradebook item?"

Presentation

1. How to compress (reduce) file size of pictures in a PowerPoint presentation (Windows computer)

Select one (or more) pictures in your presentation.
In the picture toolbar, select the Compress Picture icon. (If you don't see the picture toolbar, go to View-> Toolbars -> and click Picture.)
Select the options that you want. (Selecting "All pictures in document" will prevent you from doing these steps more than once for each presentation.). Click 'OK' and resave as needed.

2. How to compress (reduce) file size of pictures in a PowerPoint presentation (Macintosh computer)

Select one (or more) pictures in your presentation.
From the File menu select "Save As", click the "Options" button, then check the "Compress graphics files" box.
Click the "Ok" button.
Save the document.

3. How to convert a PowerPoint presentation to a zip file to display as htm/html in Blackboard (Windows only -- WinZip or other compression program required)

Create new folder on your computer (right-click and choose New Folder).
Open your PowerPoint file in Microsoft PowerPoint.
In the file menu, choose Save As Web Page and save the file to the folder you created in step 1. Two items will save to the folder: filename.htm, and a folder called filename_files. ("filename" represents the name of your PowerPoint presentation.)
Right-click the folder you created in step 1 and choose "Add to foldername.zip". ("foldername" represents the name of the folder you created in step 1.). This will create a zip file of the items in the folder (foldername.zip).
Add the zip file to Blackboard as you would any other document EXCEPT:
1. On the Add Content page, change the Special Action field to "Unpackage these files" and click Submit.
2. On the File Options page, select frame.htm (Office XP) or filename.htm (Office 2000) as the entry point and click the Submit button.

How to import questions into an assessment from a question pool or another assessment

Enter the assessment into which you are importing questions by clicking its Modify button either in the Test Manager or in the content area in which the test is deployed.
Change the “Add Question?field to "From a Question Pool or Assessment." It is the last option in the drop-down box.
Highlight the test or pool that contains the questions you want to import. Under Question Types, choose All and then click Search.
Click the check box for all questions you want to import. (Please note you can only import 20 questions, or one full page, at a time. If you need to import questions beyond 20, you'll have to repeat the above steps and choose the next 20 until you have them all.) Click Submit.
The imported questions will be appended to the end of your test. Re-order them if necessary.

How to allow students to modify their discussion board postings

In the Control Panel, click Discussion Boards.
Click the Modify button for the forum you want to change (do not actually enter the forum).
In the forum settings (under the title and description), click the check box for the option "Allow author to edit message after posting" and then click Submit at the bottom of the page.

How to enroll a user into a course (default role will be student)

In the Control Panel, click Enroll User.
Type in the user's last name, user name, or email address (choose the appropriate radio button below the field) and click Search.
Click the check box beside the user’s name and click Submit. (Note: If the user is not found, first make sure the user is not already enrolled. Users that are already in your course will not show up in a search. If this is not the case, please email bb@utmem.edu to have the account created.)
To change the user’s role, see the steps to make a user an instructor, teacher’s assistant, course builder, or grader.

How to change a user's role to instructor, TA, course builder, grader, or guest

If the user is not already enrolled, follow the steps above to enroll a user into a course. If already enrolled, go to step 2.
In the Control Panel click List/Modify Users.
Type in the user's last name, user name, or email address (choose the appropriate radio button below the field) and click Search.
Click the Properties box for the user, scroll down to the “Role and Availability?section and change the user’s role, and click Submit. (Note: This changes the user’s role for this course only.)
If you are assigning the role of guest to a user, please click here to learn how to enable guest access in your course.

How to use the guest role in a course

A complete overview of the guest role and the benefits and disadvantages of using it in your course are in this document.

Enroll the user to whom you want to grant guest access and change his role to guest. (See the steps for enrolling a user and changing his role if you don't know how to do this.)
Enable guest access for your course as a whole: Control Panel->Settings->Guest Access.
Check to make sure that guest access is enabled in the specific areas of your choice: Control Panel->Manage Tools->Tool Availability->click the “Allow Guest?checkbox for any areas you want guests to see. (Make sure to click the guest checkbox for “Content Area?if you want users to see materials in Course Documents, Course Information, Assignments, External Links, etc.)
If you enabled guest access for content areas in step 3, you can still hide individual content areas if desired. For example, you may want your guests to see what is in Course Documents, Course Information, and External Links but not what is in the Assignments area. If so, do the following: Control Panel->Manage Course Menu->click the Modify button for the content area you want to hide from guests and uncheck the "Allow Guest access" checkbox.

How to remove a user from a course

In the Control Panel, click Remove Users from the Course.
Type in the user's last name, user name, or email address (choose the appropriate radio button below the field) and click Search.
Click the check box beside the user’s name, type in Yes, and click Submit. (Note: This removes the user from this course only).

How to use the assignment feature (different from the assignment content area)

Summary: This assignment feature allows you to post an assignment (a type of assessment) that students can download, complete, and then re-upload to Blackboard as a way of turning it in to you. You can then download every student’s submission to your computer in a single zipped file to grade.

It is similar to the way many instructors use the Digital Drop Box. However, it has some distinct advantages. For example, each student’s submitted assignment automatically will be renamed to reflect ownership. Additionally, instructors have the ability to retrieve assignments in bulk. Finally, since the assignment is a type of assessment, a gradebook item is automatically generated for it (though you still will have to manually grade them and enter the grades in the Gradebook).