Blackboard
Blackboard (Bb) is a Web-based software application that is widely used by faculty to organize course content and to engage students in the learning process. The application allows students to move easily between courses, and allows them to work productively with faculty and classmates. Bb can be accessed from any computer with Internet connection, whether on or off of the Keene State College campus.
Faculty and students should contact the HelpDesk if they’re having trouble accessing their account, or if they have any administrative questions. Remember, your username is the information before the @ sign in your KSC email address and students default password is your 6 digit date of birth. If you were born on August 17, 2002 your password would be 081702.
Scroll to the bottom of the page for student guides.
Guides for faculty:
Bb - Copy old course material into a new course -
How do I copy materials from my previous Blackboard course into my new course?
Bb - Make your course available tostudents - My students are on my Bb course roster but they say they cannot see my course. How do I make my course visible to my students?
Bb-Getting started with the Discussion Board - How do I set up a discussion board for my students, and can you explain what the difference between a forum and a thread is?
Bb-Re-ordering my Discussion Board forums - I created my discussion forums but they’re not in the order I need. How can I re-order them?
Bb - Create a Wiki and add content - What’s a "wiki", how would I use one, and how do I set one up?
This support document will describe the capabilities of the Wiki tool in Bb, show you how to create a wiki and add content to it.
Bb - Add content and comments to a Wiki - I set up a wiki but I don’t know how to add any content or leave a comment.
This support document will show you how to add a page to a wiki, edit existing pages, create a link from one page to another and how to add comments.
Bb - Using the Blog tool - What’s a "blog", how would I use one, and how do I set one up?
This support document will describe the capabilities of the Bb blog tool and will guide you through the creation process.
Bb - Using the Journal tool - What’s does Bb consider a "journal" and how would I use one, and how do I set one up?
This support document will describe the capabilities of the Bb journal tool and will guide you through the
Bb - Grade Center - What is the grade center anyway? And how do I set up catagories and weighted columns?
Bb - Grade Center and Weighted Columns - I have some assignments that carry more weight then other assignemts. How can I get Bb to calcualte this for me?
This support document will guide you editing the existing “Weighted Total” column that exists in the Blackboard grade center. By editing this column you will be able to assign weighted values to individual assignments or categories of assignments regardless of their individual point value.
Bb - View Survey results - I deployed some surveys to my class but cannot figure out where I need to go to review the results.
This support document will show you how to view your survey statistics.
(PDF) Bb Instructor Manual -
I would like a single document that gives me an overview of all of the tools AND steps me through the setup process.
The Blackboard Learn Instructor Guide provides detailed information about creating and managing Courses. The community engagement capabilities of Blackboard Learn offer the same set of functions and features for managing an Organization.
(PDF) Bb Getting started with course content - Help, Blackboard is completley new to me. I would like an overview of what it can do.
This 4-page guide provides instructors with a high levle overview of the types of content you can create in Bb.
(PDF) Bb Getting started with assignments -I really don’t want students emailing me their assignments espcially since I have 3 sections of 25 students. My emails will become a mess!
This 4-page guide provides instructors with a high level overview of the Assignments tool including the steps needed to setup, manage, and grade an assignment.
(PDF) Bb Getting started with groups - In my class, I often have students work in groups on a mid-term project. Is there an easy way they can do this online where they can communicate and share course material?
This 4-page guide provides instructors with a high level overview of the Groups tool including the steps needed to setup and assign students to groups. .
(PDF) Bb Getting started with building a test - I’m really interested in guaging students understanding of the high-level concepts we’ve been covering in class. This isn’t a high-stakes assessment; just a way for me (and them) to get immediate feedback on my teaching and their understanding.
This 4-page guide provides instructors with a high level overview of the Test tool including questions types, random block questions, managing and distributing a test.
Bb - Making a picture into an active hyperlink - How do I make an active hyperlink out of an image?
This 1-page guide provides instructions on how to embed and make an image into an active hyperlink.
Bb- Embedding videos - I’ve noticed on many web sites that videos are embedded into the web page rather then simply linking from a URL. Can I do this in Bb?
This document will show you how to embed a YouTube video and will show you where and how to use web site generated embed code for your Bb class.
Video tutorials for faculty: Your Course Environment: This tour will orient you to your course environment and highlight features that help you work efficiently (3:25 min) http://www.blackboard.com/quicktutorials/9_Your_Course%20Environment.htm
Adding Content: This tutorial will show you how to create a content area, create an item in it, and select options for the item (2:30 min). http://www.blackboard.com/quicktutorials/Bb9_Course_Content_Add_Content%20Area_Item_with_audio.htm
Make Tools Available on Course Menu: This tutorial will show you how to add a tool to the course menu, make it available to students and reorder course menu items (1:55 min). http://www.blackboard.com/quicktutorials/Bb9_Tools_Add_Tool_Make_Available.htm
Create Grade Center Column: This tutorial will show you how to create a grade center column, select options and enter grades (2:20 min). http://www.blackboard.com/quicktutorials/9_GradeCenter_create_column.htm
Guides for students
Bb- Discussion board (from from California Polytechnic)
Bb- Group pages (from from California Polytechnic)
Bb- Email (from from California Polytechnic)
Bb - How students can create a self-enrolling group - Can I make a group in Bb so that my classmates can collaborate on our final project?
This support document will walk you, the student, through how to create a group that other students can join.
Bb - Making a picture into an active hyperlink - How do I make an active hyperlink out of an image?
This 1-page guide provides instructions on how to embed and make an image into an active hyperlink.
Bb - Adding video for students - I want to embed a clip into my discussion post to suppport my point-of-view. Can I do that in Bb?
This support document will explain how to embed either a YouTube video or a video from another source in Blackboard in a Discussion thread, blog, wiki or journal entry.
Downloading Files: This tutorial will show you how to download a file in Bb. Hint, you don’t have to right-click (2:04 min) http://www.usc.edu/its/blackboard/support/bb9/assets/movies/downloading_files/downloading_files.html (from University of Southern California).
