Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Blackboard Tip: Grade Center Smart View

You can create different views of your Grade Center. Smart Views are views of the Grade Center based on a variety of student criteria . You can filter which students you view, the columns you view, or a combination of both.

·         From within your course click- Evaluation- Grade center   




·         tclick Manage -Smart Views

      


·       click Add Smart View.

     

·         On the Create Smart View page, type the Name (required) and description (optional) then select a Type of View from one of the following:
        Group (select individual groups select a Group, which was created in the course.
        Benchmark (select users based on performance criteria)
        Focus (select individual users)
        Investigate (a combination of the first three)

    Select the criteria you would like to use to limit users.
       
   


NOTE: If you would like to create a view that include all students but limits columns you view, select Benchmark for your view type and then make the criteria “Grade on Total Greater than or Equal to” 0 , filter Results to choose which columns you would like to view.

     

·        Click Submit then OK.  You can access the new smart view from  the Current View dropdown

     


Friday, August 3, 2012

CAMP YUMA Teaching and Learning through Collaboration


August 6, 2012 through August 9, 2012

Camp Yuma will focus on using technology in collaboration with colleagues to create learning activities and modules that foster learning and engagement with students.
There will be short demonstrations highlighting the use of technology in teaching, then faculty will work with colleagues to create content for classes that can be used across disciplines.  For example, a math teacher and a psychology teacher may choose to collaborate to build a learning activity that highlights a concept relative to both subjects.
Demonstrations will be short and informative with the majority of time allotted for faculty to work together with Distance Education staff circulating and helping hands-on.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Adding Course Content


1.       Click the Edit Mode switch to “On” (this will display all content areas of the course, even those which are unavailable or have no material in them).


2.       Click the Red Plus sign to create content.
a.       Select Create Content Area
b.      Enter content area name for example Course Information
c.       Select Available to User check box
d.      Click Submit

          

 3.       You can rearrange the menu items easily by using the double arrows on the left to Drag-N-Drop the menu item.


 
4.         Click on the content area menu item to add your material.



5.       Click the “Create Item” button to upload a single document (or type in text).

6.       Type in your text in section 1 or Browse to the document in section 2.


7.       Set options as needed and click “Submit.”

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Blackboard Tip: Embed YouTube in Blackboard Updated

Embed YouTube Video in Blackboard.
•    With your blackboard tab open –Click file new tab or press Ctrl T.
In the address bar type in www.youtube.com , you can search for the video you want to embed,  for example,  Arizona Western college
Click on the video link
Click Share-Click Embed
Select Use Old Embed Code , Select the code –right click and select copy   .
Click on the blackboard tab. You can place your video in a content area called videos. Select the plus sign red button + on the upper left menu. Select ”Create Content Area

none;">
  Enter name:  For example, Videos. Select “available to users” check box. Click  “Submit”

for example  AWC   From with the text editor select “toggle html source mode” <> button- from within html source right click and paste code copied from YouTube. Click “Submit”. Videos codes can be pasted also in the Discussion Board and Announcements areas.
Note: The YouTube iframe code is creating errors when pasted in blackboard.   To embed  an iframe  turn the visual editor off- select html – Enter the name-paste code in editor-click submit.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Blackboard Tip: Beginning of the Semester Checklist

Following is a checklist we recommend for the beginning of the semester
                Update the Syllabus
                Check if information accurate when copying from last semester
                Due dates are updated
                Points system and assignments
                Check Course Menu

Following helpful quick tips:
Make sure   Edit Mode is  ON. You may use the drag and drop feature to change the order of menu items. Course Menu items that do not contain any content are automatically hidden from student view but are visible to the instructor while in Edit Mode.
-  In the upper right-hand corner, make sure Edit Mode is ON.
-  To add a new link to the Course Menu, click the red “+” and select the area you want to add. Note: The “+” is unavailable when Edit Mode is turned off
-  Rename, Hide or Delete links as necessary using the chevron (pull-down menu) next to each link. Note: If you remove a content area  menu item, all information within that area is removed permanently.

-  Organize your course menu using the drag and drop feature. For longer course menus you may want to consider creating  Sub headers and Dividers by clicking on the “+” icon and selecting these features
Improve course design and menu options        From within the course control panel Click on Customization and then select Style where you can:



         Choose a course menu style



           Manage how the menu is displayed



            Select Course Entry Point



             Add/change the course banner



                 Note: On the Course Menu, you ca
    Re-arrange the order of menu items by clicking on the double-headed arrow to the left of the menu item then dragging and dropping the item to its new position on the Course Menu    Rename, show/hide, or delete a menu item by clicking on the action link (chevron) next to the item. Add a content area, a link to a course tool, a link to a course area, or an external link to the course menu by clicking on the Add (plus) symbol on the Course Menu


Rearrange


 
Chevron

Add Content




Turn Off unnecessary tools
  1. Select Tools on the Course Menu.
  2. Click Hide Link next to the tools that you are not using.
    To view the Tools that will be available to students, turn off the Edit Mode button
      Create a Banner in PowerPoint
      You may also create a Banner very easily in PowerPoint.
      1. Open a new PowerPoint presentation and select a Blank Content Layout.
      2. Click Design Page setup – Select Banner from Slides size for drop down menu
      3.  Design your banner using WordArt, Text boxes, ClipArt or digital Photos.
      4.  Save the Banner as a JPEG file.
      5. To upload the Banner into Blackboard, select Customization in the Control Panel area.
      6. Click on Style and scroll down to Select Banner, click Browse and Select the JPEG file of the Banner you created in PowerPoint and click Submit
        Set Office Hours and Contact Information
        Changing the course entry point
        1.      From the Control Panel  select Customization and Style.
        2.      Change the Course Entry Point to Announcement
          Make Course Available
          1.       From the control Panel Select Customization and Properties in the Control Panel area.
          2.      In the Set Availability, Make Course Available area select Yes and click Submit.
            Post a Welcome Announcement
            1.   Select Course Tools.  
            2.  Click Announcements link and Create Announcement. 
            3.  Fill in the Subject and Message fields and select the appropriate Options.
            4.  Click Submit.

              Send A Welcome Email
                Send an email to your students once the course is made available. You may want to consider copying and pasting the Welcome Announcement into the body of the email.  
              1.       From the control Panel click   Course Tools. 
              2.       Click Send Email. 
              3.       Select the Users. 
              4.       Type in a Subject and a Message and click Submit