Tech Tip Tuesday - Discussion Board Update

With the many web browser security issues we had in 8 week 1 we ran into many issues, mostly with the Discussion Board.  I am pleased to report that many of these issues have been resolved! (Kermit the Frog YAY!!)

This week's tech tip, by Nadine Edwards, shows some updated tips and tricks and best practices with the Discussion Board.

Tech Tip Tuesday - Blackboard Calendar

One of the new(ish) features in Blackboard is the Blackboard Calendar.  This isn't a widely used feature (yet) as it does take some time to set up.  However, I'm sure you can see the benefits of having a well organized and well defined course.




This week's video tutorial shows you how to:

• Get to the calendar
• Create a calendar tool link in your course
• Add events 
• What it looks like to the students.

Tech Tip Tuesday - Creating and Troubleshooting Web Links in Blackboard

Often times we like to share outside websites or YouTube videos with our classes to further their understanding of the subject matter.

Whether you are an Internet Explorer, Firefox (you all should be using Firefox with Blackboard!), Chrome or Safari user the new browser security issues and browser updates have altered the way we now need to share links.  Some of our old habits will have to die hard in order to properly make sure our links are working.

This is true when sharing an item that is a web link or if you are adding a website to your instructions or announcements.  View this weeks video tutorial by Nadine Edwards to learn the best ways to go about adding web links.

*The video is a little grainy but you will still be able to follow along.

Tech Tip Tuesday - Discussion Board Tips and Tricks

One of the items that had significant and helpful changes with the summer update of Blackboard is the Discussion Boards.

Nadine Edwards has created a wonderfully detailed video tutorial for this week's Tech Tip Tuesday (I know it's really Wednesday, long day yesterday :) )

In this tutorial she goes through all the features, bells and whistles of the Discussion Board as well as some 'snags' people have run into that have to do with copy and paste.

Stop Boring Your Students

Here is a cheesy but cute video discussing the top three ways to NOT bore your students!

Tech Tip Tuesday - Moving Items Around in Blackboard

When you inherit a course for a certain semester at Stevenson you are actually (usually) getting a copy of a master course in Blackboard.  Any changes you make to your course will not change the master course.  So you are pretty free to make your course your own etc within whatever guidelines the program manager gives you.

There are situations that arise that may make it necessary for you to move items around within your course.  There are a few ways to do this depending on your situation and where you are trying to move it to.

View this weeks video tutorial to learn how to move items around in Blackboard.

Tech Tip Tuesday - Creating Your Faculty Information Area In Blackboard

Whenever you inherit a new course in Blackboard some default tabs will appear in the column on the left.  One of those tabs is called 'Faculty Information'.

It is pretty self explanatory what this tab is for.  It is a one click portal for your student to all your contact information, information about you, photo (optional but nice to have).

However, there are some tips and tricks that faculty need to be aware of to avoid the common mistakes that we see.  For example, when you fill out your faculty information it is hidden from student view by default unless you remember to make it available.

To avoid some of the most common pitfalls when adding your 'Faculty Information' view this short video tutorial on Creating Your Faculty Information Area in Blackboard.

Tech Tip Tuesday - Grade Center Tips and Tricks

It's that busy time of year again for most of us with the ending of 8W1 courses, midterms and the beginning of 8W2.  You may have found yourself starring at your Blackboard Grade Center screen more than you hoped these past few days.  This gave me the idea to show you three tips that might help make your Blackboard Grade Center life easier.


Tutorial Covers:

1. Grade Center Short Link

2. Data Mining Test/Quiz Results

3. Grading Color Codes

Here is the short video tutorial.