Blackboard Training

Track 1: Blackboard Basics

These are introductory workshops which should be attended prior to any other workshops.

Blackboard Basics

Topics covered:

  1. Need-to-Know Information for Teaching Online at UALR
  2. Experiencing the Course as Student
  3. Working with Your Course Menu
  4. Customizing Your Course
  5. Using Notifications
  6. Day 1 Tasks

Register for Blackboard Basics

Working with your migrated course

Topics covered:

  1. Navigating the Course
  2. Understanding differences
  3. Adjusting content
  4. Editing properties
  5. Preparing the course for day 1

Register for Working with your migrated course

Track 2: Fundamentals

This track is designed for those just getting started using the Blackboard 9.1 platform. Sessions will focus on all the basic components of Blackboard necessary to delivery a course online.

Presenting Content

Topics covered:

  1. Planning Content
  2. Creating Web-Friendly Content
  3. Building Learning Modules
  4. Creating a Glossary

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Tests

Topics covered:

  1. Experiencing Tests as a Student
  2. Creating Tests
  3. Deploying Tests
  4. Respondus Lockdown Browser
  5. Grading Tests

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Advanced Assessments

Topics covered:

  1. Experiencing Tests as a Student
  2. Creating Advanced Questions
  3. Creating Pools
  4. Advanced Test Creation
  5. Creating and Using Surveys
  6. Self and Peer Assessments

Assignments and SafeAssign

Topics covered:

  1. Experiencing Assignments and SafeAssign from the students perspective
  2. Assignment Basics
  3. Grading Assignments
  4. Using Rubrics
  5. Using SafeAssign
  6. Viewing SafeAssign Reports

Retister for Assignments and SafeAssign

Mastering the Grade Center

Topics covered:

  1. Student Experience
  2. Exploring the Grade Center
  3. Working with Columns
  4. Working with Grades

Register Mastering the Grade Center

Track 3: Communication and Collaboration:

Discussions and Groups

Topics covered:

  1. Experiencing Discussion from the Students Perspective
  2. Creating Discussions
  3. Moderating Discussions
  4. Managing Discussions
  5. Grading Discussions
  6. Creating Groups
  7. Managing Groups

Register for Discussions and Groups

Wimba Basic

Topics covered:

  1. Installing Wimba Live Classroom
  2. Settings
  3. Interface
  4. Viewing reports

Register for Blogs, Journals, and Wikis

Wimba Advanced

Topics covered:

  1. Whiteboard
  2. Application Sharing
  3. Creating interactive sessions
  4. Archiving sessions and recording lectures

Register for Wimba Advanced

Wimba Voice Tools

Topics covered:

  1. Review of different Voice Tools
  2. Installing each tool into your course
  3. Best ways for using Voice Tools in your course

Register for Wimba Voice Tools

Track 4: Blackboard Boot Camp

(9:00 am – 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm)

3 days total: 2 days of training on all aspects of Blackboard Learn 9.1

Topics covered:

  1. Navigating Learn 9.1 and Creating Content
  2. Discussions and Groups
  3. Journals, Blogs and Wikis
  4. Assessments and Lockdown Browser
  5. Assignments and SafeAssign
  6. Grade Center

1 day of training for working with your migrated course

During the morning session we will cover:

  1. Navigating the Course
  2. Understanding differences
  3. Adjusting content
  4. Editing properties
  5. Preparing the course for day 1

The afternoon session will be an open lab in which you will be able to work on your course and receive assistance as required.

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.  A facilitator provides feedback and guidance throughout the session.  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.

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.

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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.

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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:  Plans and Possibilities, Prepare Your Content, Create Your Lesson, Customize Content Delivery

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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.  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.

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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.  

Topics Covered: Introduction to tools, Creating Discussions, Working with Discussions, Encouraging Collaboration, and Using Chat.

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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

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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.

Register for Monitoring Student Performance