Currently we offer five different training tracks. The tracks are broken down according to session formats such as face-to-face two hour sessions, three day comprehensive boot camps, and online self-paced courses.
View our Calendar to see upcoming training opportunities or scroll down for a full list of workshops.
Track 1 – Blackboard Basics: Depending upon whether starting from scratch or working with a migrated course, these two hour workshops focus on everything you need to know to get started teaching in Blackboard Learn 9.1. (link to the road to redesign)
Track 2 – Fundamentals: Go in depth with our two hour fundamentals workshops, covering all the basic components necessary to deliver an online course. These workshops can help if you’ve attended Blackboard Basics, or if you are familiar with Blackboard Learn 9.1 and want to learn more about a specific tool.
Track 3 – Communication and Collaboration: This track focuses on the tools used to incorporate communication and collaboration as well as best practices for doing so. After completing a Track 1 workshop, participants are ready for either Track 2 or 3.
Track 4 – Blackboard Boot Camp: Boot camp involves three days of intensive training on the fundamentals of course delivery in Learn 9.1. The first two days are dedicated to the fundamentals while the third day provides an open-lab format to work on a migrated or built-from-scratch course. There are no prerequisites for Track 4.
Track 5 – Online Facilitate Asynchronous Training:offers an online-only opportunity. There are currently four courses in this series including: Getting Started, Building Courses, Designing Engaging Content, and Building Online Communities. We recommend beginning with the Getting Started course before moving on to the others.
Track 1: Blackboard Basics
Blackboard Basics
Topics covered:
- Need-to-Know Information for Teaching Online at UALR
- Experiencing the Course as Student
- Working with Your Course Menu
- Customizing Your Course
- Using Notifications
- Day 1 Tasks
Register for Blackboard Basics
Working with your migrated course
Topics covered:
- Navigating the Course
- Understanding differences
- Adjusting content
- Editing properties
- Preparing the course for day 1
Register for Working with your migrated course
Track 2: Fundamentals
Presenting Content
Topics covered:
- Planning Content
- Creating Web-Friendly Content
- Building Learning Modules
- Creating a Glossary
Register for Presenting Content
Tests
Topics covered:
- Experiencing Tests as a Student
- Creating Tests
- Deploying Tests
- Respondus Lockdown Browser
- Grading Tests
Advanced Assessments
Topics covered:
- Experiencing Tests as a Student
- Creating Advanced Questions
- Creating Pools
- Advanced Test Creation
- Creating and Using Surveys
- Self and Peer Assessments
Assignments and SafeAssign
Topics covered:
- Experiencing Assignments and SafeAssign from the students perspective
- Assignment Basics
- Grading Assignments
- Using Rubrics
- Using SafeAssign
- Viewing SafeAssign Reports
Register for Assignments and SafeAssign
Mastering the Grade Center
Topics covered:
- Student Experience
- Exploring the Grade Center
- Working with Columns
- Working with Grades
Register Mastering the Grade Center
Track 3: Communication and Collaboration
Discussions and Groups
Topics covered:
- Experiencing Discussion from the Students Perspective
- Creating Discussions
- Moderating Discussions
- Managing Discussions
- Grading Discussions
- Creating Groups
- Managing Groups
Register for Discussions and Groups
Blogs, Journals and Wikis
- The Student Experience
- The Blog Tool
- The Journal Tool
- The Wiki Tool
Register for Blogs, Journals and Wikis
Blackboard Collaborate
Blackboard Collaborate is a web-conferencing tool which can be used to hold synchronous class meetings or record lectures.
Topics covered:
- Creating a Collaborate Session
- Understanding the Collaborate Interface
- Basic Interaction with Collaborate
Register for Blackboard Collaborate
Wimba Voice Tools
Topics covered:
- Review of different Voice Tools
- Installing each tool into your course
- Best ways for using Voice Tools in your course
Register for Wimba Voice Tools
Track 4: Blackboard Boot Camp
3 days total: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Days 1 – 2 Topics covered:
- Navigating Learn 9.1 and Creating Content
- Discussions and Groups
- Journals, Blogs and Wikis
- Assessments and Lockdown Browser
- Assignments and SafeAssign
- Grade Center
Day 3 Topics covered:
- Navigating the Course
- Understanding differences
- Adjusting content
- Editing properties
- Preparing the course for day 1
- Open Lab – to work on course and ask questions
Register for Blackboard Boot Camp
Track 5: Online Facilitated Asynchronous Training
These workshops give faculty an opportunity to experience the system from a students perspective while learning the ins and outs of building and delivering a course online.
The courses run for two week sessions and are completely asynchronous. Â A facilitator provides feedback and guidance throughout the session. Â Faculty are able to be to share and interact with one another while discussing best practices and gaining hands-on experience in the online environment. It is recommended to begin with the Getting Started workshop before moving on to any of the other Track 5 workshops.
Getting Started – This course provides a hands-on introduction to the teaching and learning features of Blackboard Learn. Participants will also become familiar with some common start-up tasks, such as organizing the Course Menu, customizing the course style, creating announcements, adding calendar entries, setting up discussion forums, and adding textbook information.
Topics covered: The Student Experience, Teaching in Blackboard Learn, The Instructor Experience, Sharing Materials, First Day Tasks.
Building Courses – In this course, participants will learn the principles and processes involved in building a course from the ground up.
Topics covered: Planning Your Course, Course Building Basics, Using Course Files, Presenting Your Content, Evaluating Your Course.
Designing Engaging Content -In this course, participants will learn strategies for effectively designing and organizing content to increase student engagement within your courses. As participants work through the lessons, they will develop a plan for improving their own courses and build a sample lesson that incorporates some of the techniques discussed. Finally, participants will learn how to adaptively release content to students.
Topics covered: Â Plans and Possibilities, Prepare Your Content, Create Your Lesson, Customize Content Delivery
Register for Designing Engaging Content
Assessing Learners – In this course, participants are introduced to the features and functions of the tools used to deliver assignments and assess students in Blackboard Learn. Â In addition to learning the tools best practices for presenting assignments and ideas for deterring cheating are included.
Topics Covered: Creating Assignments, Managing Assignments, Creating Assessments, Deploying Assessments, Grading Assessments, Advanced Questions, Question Pools and Sets.
Register for Assessing Learners
Enhancing Communication – Participants will learn to effectively use select Blackboard Learn communication tools to increase student engagement within their course. After exploring strategies for building community among students, participants will experiment with the tools to help decide which are best for their course. Â
Topics Covered: Introduction to tools, Creating Discussions, Working with Discussions, Encouraging Collaboration, and Using Chat.
Register for Enhancing Communication
Building Online Communities – In this course, participants will further explore some of the communication and collaboration tools Blackboard Learn has to offer. Participants will have ample opportunity to communicate, gain feedback, and share ideas with colleagues while using the tools.
Topics covered: Making the Most of Discussions, Journals and Blogs, Working with Wikis, Collaborating with Groups, Evaluating Students
Register for Building Online Communities
Monitoring Student Performance – In this course, participants will gain in-depth knowledge of the tools and features that help monitor and evaluate student performance.
Topics covered: The Grade Center, the Early Warning System, the Performance Dashboard, the Review Status feature, and the reports and statistics to better track student progress.