UIS ProgramPhotos of Students and Faculty

Blackboard 9 Tutorials for Instructors

These videos will assist you to build an efficient and successful course in Blackboard. View the video or read the directions below.

Edit Course

Create Content

Grading Assignments in Blackboard

Grade Center

Tests

 

Copy Content into a Course SHELL Video
To Copy Content from an old course into an empty course at the start of each semester:

  1. Go to your OLD course (from a previous semester or your Gold course).
  2. Go to the Control Panel, select “Packages and Utilities” > “Course Copy”
  3. Under “#2 Select Copy Options,” click “Browse.”
  4. Select the empty course into which you wish to copy your content (circle to the left of the course name).
  5. Scroll down and click "Submit."
  6. Check the boxes next to the items you wish to copy.
    • Do NOT check Announcements. Copying Announcements can be confusing for students unless you intend to hide all old announcements from your new students.
    • Always check “Settings” to retain the menu colors and any banner images you use in your course.
    • If you use GRADED assignments or tests, be sure to check ALL “Content Areas,” “Grade Center Columns and Settings,” and “Tests, Surveys and Pools.”
    • If you use GRADED discussion forums, be sure to check “Discussion Board” and “Grade Center Columns and Settings.”
  7. For “3. Enrollments” NEVER check “Include Enrollments in the Copy.” Copying enrollments will mix your current and former students in your new Blackboard site.
  8. Click “Submit.”
  9. You will receive an email when the copy process is complete. At times the email will arrive a few minutes before the materials are visible in your course. You may need to log out of Blackboard and log back in to see the copied content.

NOTE: If you copied your discussion board from an old course to your empty new course, you will need to delete postings inside each discussion forum. To delete posts quickly:

  1. Go to your course Discussion Board.
  2. Click on the name of a forum to view any threads posted to the forum.
  3. To quickly select all postings, click on the top checkbox (see Fig. 1).

    Select all posts in a discussion forum.
    Figure 1. Select all posts in a discussion forum

  4. Uncheck any posts you wish to reuse. For example, some instructors post questions inside the discussion forums to which students respond.
  5. Click on the "Delete" button to remove any posts with checkmarks.
  6. Repeat with remaining discussion forums.

 

Hiding Blackboard sites in "My Courses"

Most courses close a few weeks after the end of each semester. To hide any additional courses you do not wish to view in the "My Courses" module:

  1. Log in to Blackboard.
  2. On the "My UIS" tab (the first page you see when you log in), locate the "My Courses" module.
  3. In the upper right corner of the "My Courses" module, click on the gear icon (see Fig. 1). When you hover over the gear icon, help text appears that reads "Manage My Courses."

    Hide courses in the My Courses Module
    Figure 1. The Gear icon allows you to hide courses in the "My Courses" module.
  4. On the "Personalize: My courses" page, look for "1. Edit Courses List" section. Uncheck the the boxes for any courses you no longer wish to view.
  5. Click " Submit."

Note: Unchecking a course only removes the course from your view. You will still continue to have access to all of the courses in which you are enrolled or teach on the Courses tab in Blackboard.

 

Make Course Available Video

To make a course available:

  1. 1. Go to the Control Panel
  2. Left click on Customization to extend the menu
  3. Click on Properties
  4. Option 4 Set Availability Choose "Yes"
  5. Click Submit

 

Enroll User Video

To enroll a user in your course:

  1. Go to the Control Panel.
  2. Click on Users and Groups, and then Users.
  3. Click on the "Find Users to Enroll" button.
  4. Next to Username, type the UIS NetID of the person you wish to enroll.
    • If you do not know the NetID of the person you wish to enroll, you will need to look it up. Click the "Browse" button. Search for the person by Last Name, First Name, or Email address. Check the box next to the name of the user, and click Submit.
    • If you need to enroll more than one person, separate the NetIDs with a comma only -- no spaces. (E.G.: jsmit1,mgarc2,jdoe7)
  5. Choose role of user(s) (student, instructor, teaching assistant).
  6. Click Submit.

If you cannot find the person in Blackboard, s/he may already be enrolled in your course (see View, Hide, and Remove Users) or may not yet have a NetID. Please contact COLRS for help.

 

View, Hide and Remove Users Video

To view a list of your students:

  1. Go to the Control Panel and click on Users and Groups > Users.
  2. Put in a % in the search box and click Go. All users will be listed.
  3. If you have more than 25 students, click on the "Show All" button in the lower right corner of Blackboard to view all students on one page.

To hide a student:

  1. Follow the steps to view a list of your students.
  2. Click the chevron symbol next to the name of the user
  3. Choose "Change User's Role in Course" (see Fig. 1)
click on the chevron next to the student's name and select
Fig. 1. Click on the chevron and select "Change user's role in course."
  1. Under "1. Availablity," select "No."
Choose
Fig. 2. Select "no" to prevent a student from viewing a course.
  1. Click Submit.

To remove a student:

  1. Follow the steps to view a list of your students.
  2. Check the boxes next to the students you wish to remove.
  3. Click on the "Remove Users from Course" button.
  4. Click OK to confirm the deletion.

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Edit Course Content Menu Video

A Content Area is a location where you can create graded assignments, folders, items, syllabi, tests/quizzes, etc.

To add Content Areas to your Course Content Menu

  1. Hover your mouse pointer over the Blue "+" sign in the upper right portion of your Course Content Menu.
  2. Choose "Create Content Area"
  3. Name the Content Area
  4. Check "Available to Users"
  5. Click Submit

A Tool Link creates a link from your Course Content Menu to a Tool, such as Email, Discussion Board, Journal, Blog, that you want readily available for your students to access.

To add a Tool Link:

  1. Hover your mouse pointer over the Blue "+" sign in the upper right portion of your Course Content Menu.
  2. Choose "Create Tool Link"
  3. Name the Tool Link the same name as the Tool you want to add
  4. Browse to find tool
  5. Check "Available to Users"
  6. Click Submit

A Course Link creates a link from your Course Content Menu to another location in your course, such as a specific resource or assignment, that you want readily availalbe for your students to access.

To add a Course Link:

  1. Hover your mouse pointer over the Blue "+" sign in the upper right portion of your Course Content Menu.
  2. Choose "Create Course Link "
  3. Name the Course Link
  4. Browse to find the location to link to
  5. Check "Available to Users"
  6. Click Submit

 

  • Change Course Colors, Buttons, Entry Point, and Banner Video
    To Change Course Style:
    1. Go to Control Panel
    2. Left click on the chevron next to "Customization" to expand menu
    3. Click on "Style"
    4. Change options for menu style, course entry point, or add a Banner (796 pixels wide)
    5. Click Submit


  • Set Announcements As Course Entry Point Video
    To Create a Tool Link for Announcements:
    1. Left click on the blue plus sign at the top of the course content menu
    2. Click on Create Tool Link
    3. Announcements should be selected
    4. Type in the title "Announcements"
    5. Select "Available to Users"
    6. Click Submit

    To Set Announcements as your Course Entry Point:
    1. Go to the Control Panel
    2. Click on Customization
    3. Click Style
    4. Scroll down to option 4
    5. Click on the drop down menu, select Announcements
    6. Click Submit
  • Which WebApp Server are you connected Video
    To find the WebApp Server within Blackboard:
    1. Go to the Control Panel
    2. Left click on Course Tools
    3. Click on "Which WebApp Server"
    4. Record the number for reference
  • Create an Announcement Video
    To Create an Announcement:
    1. Go to the Control Panel
    2. Click on the chevron next to "Course Tools" to expand menu
    3. Click on "Announcements"
    4. Click "Create Announcement" button
    5. Type in subject and choose other options
    (Choose "Override User Notification Settings" if you want your users to be emailed a copy of the announcement.)
    6. Click Submit

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  • Archive and Export a Course Video
    To Archive a Course:
    1. Go to the Control Panel
    2. Click on the chevron next to "Packages and Utilities" to expand menu
    3. Click on "Export/Archive Course"
    4. Click the "Arvhive" button
    5. Choose option to include gradebook, click Submit

    To Export a Course:
    1. Follow steps 1-3 above
    2. Click the "Export" button
    3. Choose items to include in Export package
    4. Wait a few moments, then refresh page
    5. Right click on Export File, Save As, Click OK

    The difference between Archiving and Exporting a course would be that when Exporting a course package you can select the items you want to include. Archiving includes all of the user material and data submitted in that course.

 

  • Create a Folder in a Content Area Video
    To Create a Folder:
    1. Go to the Course Content Menu
    2. Left cllick on a Content Area
    3. Hover your mouse pointer over the "Build" button
    4. Click on "Create Folder"
    5. Name the Folder and give a description to your students
    6. Enter other criteria, such as availability
    7. Click Submit

 

  • Add Item in a Content Area Video
    1. Go to the Course Content Menu
    2. Left click on a Content Area
    3. Click on the "Create Item " button
    4. Name the Item and give directions to your students
    5. Enter other criteria, such as adding an attachment and availability
    6. Click Submit

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  • Create Graded Assignments Video
    To Create a Graded Assignment:
    1. Go to the Course Content Menu
    2. Click on "Assignments"
    3. Hover your mouse pointer over the "Evaluate" button and choose "Create Assingment"
    4. Name the Assingment and give directions to your students
    5. Enter other criteria, such as points and individual/group assignment
    6. Click Submit

 

  • Create Discussion Board Forum Video
    To Creat a Discussion Board:
    1. Go to the Course Content Menu
    2. Click on "Discussions"
    3 Hover yoru mouse pointer over the "Create Forum" button
    4. Name the Forum and give directions to your students
    5. Enter other criteria, such as availability and points
    6. Click Submit

 

  • Create Blog Video
    To Create a Blog:
    1. Go to the Course Content Menu
    2. Click on "Blogs"
    3. Click on "Create Blog" button
    4. Name the Blog and give directions to your students
    5. Enter other criteria, such as availability and Index Entries, monthly or weekly
    6. Click Submit

  • Create a Turnitin Assingment
    To create a Turnitin Assignment:
    1. In a content area (i.e. assignments) click on the "More" button at the top right
    2. click on Add Turnitin Assignment
    3. choose type (most are just paper assignments)
    4. click on the "Next Step" button
    5. add Assignment Title and point value
    6. select the start date (date of when students can start turning in their submissions)
    7. select due date (the last day you will allow submissions)
    8. post date (the date that the grades you assign will appear to your students)
    9. click on "more options" to change other settings
    10. click the "Submit" button.

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  • Grade a Discussion Board Forum
    *If you have set up your forum as a Graded Forum
    To grade a forum:
    1. Click on Discussions in your Course Content Menu or go to the Control Panel > Course Tools > Discussion Board
    2. Click on the Forum you want to grade
    3. Click on the "Grade Forum" button
    4. Click on the chevron next to the Username of the student
    5. Click on Grade
    6. Enter Grade at the top of the page
    7. Scroll down to the bottom of the page, click OK

  • Bulk Download SafeAssign and Turnitin Assignments
    To bulk download:
    1. Go to the Control Panel
    2. Left click on Course Tools
    3. Click on Turnitin Assignments
    4. Click the box to select all students
    5. Click on the download button and select original file
    6. A pop up window will appear, choose okay to except these files to be downloaded in a compressed zip file to your computer.
    (similar directions for SafeAssig)

  • Grade Turnitin Assignments
    To grade Turnitin Assignments:
    1. Go to the control panel
    2. click on Course Tools
    3. click on Turnitin Assignment and choose assignment
    4. click on the bubble icon under Grademark to open the submission
    5. make comments and enter grade (the grade will automatically show up in your grade center and to the students after the post date.

  • Grade Assignments Video
    To Grade an Assignment from Grade Center:
    1. Go to the Control Panel
    2. Left click on the chevron next to Evaluation to extend the menu
    3. Click on Grade Center
    4. Find the column of the activity you want to grade
    5. Click the chevron in the column of the student you want to grade
    6. Click on “View Grade Details” then scroll down and click “Open Attempt”
    7. Read the entry, enter in the grade and any instructor notes, click “Submit”
    8. Jump to User by selecting user from drop down menu at the top of the “Grade Details” page


  • Create Column Video
    To Create a Column in Grade Center:
    1. Go to the Control Panel
    2. Left click on the chevron next to Evaluation to extend the menu
    3. Click on Grade Center
    4. Click on the "Create Column" button
    5. Enter in Name, Description, Score, Points Possible, etc.
    6. Click "Submit"

 

  • Reorder Grade Center Columns Video
    To reorder Grade Center Columns:
    1. Go to the Control Panel, click on Evaluation to extend the menu
    2. Click on Grade Center
    3. Click on the "Manage" button, then click Column Organization
    4. Scroll down to "Not in a Grading Period" list
    5. Hold down the left mouse button over the 4 pronged arrow and drag up and down the list to reorder. OR
    There is reorder button in the top left of the "Not in a Grading Period" section. Click on that and reorder items.
    6. Click "Submit"

 

  • Download Grades Video
    To download grades from the Grade Center:
    1. Left click on the "Work Offline" button and select download
    2. Select Full Grade Center for the whole Grade Center to appear and Options, tab.
    3. Click "Submit", then click the "Download" button on the next page
    4. The file should open in Excel

 

  • Edit Rows Displayed Video
    To edit the number of rows displayed in Grade Center:
    1. In Grade Center, left click on "Edit Rows Displayed" button on the bottom right of the window
    2. Type in the rows you want displayed, click "Go"
    NOTE: This view does not stick when you naviagate away from the page or logout of Blackboard.

 

  • Enter Quick Comments Video
    To enter quick comments in Grade Center:
    1. In Grade Center, left click on the chevron next to the grade where you want to leave a comment
    2. Click on "Quick Comment"
    3. Under "Feedback to User" leave comments for the student OR Under "Grading Notes" leave comments about the grade for you, the instructor.
    4. Click "Submit"

 

  • Weighted Grades Video
    To created a weighted column in Grade Center:
    1. Go to the Control Panel
    2. Left click on the chevron next to Evaluation to extend the menu
    3. Click on Grade Center
    4. Click on "Create Calculated Column" button and select "Weighted Column"
    5. Enter in Column name such as Weighted Total and other options
    6. Option 3 - Select Columns > Select the categories (to select multiple hold down the ctrl button on the keyboard and select more than one) > move to the selected (highlighted) colums by click the greater than button
    7. Enter in the percentage to weight each category seperately.
    8. Once total equals 100%, select other options and click "Submit".


  • Show/Hide Student in Grade Center
    To show or hide students in Grade Center:
    1. Go to Control Panel.
    2. Left click on the chevron next to Evaluation to extend the menu
    3. Click on Grade Center.
    4. Click on the "Manage button," and click on "Student Visibility."
    5. Check the box next to the students names.
    6. Click on the "Show Users" or "Hide Users" button.
    7. Click "Submit" to save your changes.

Create a Test Video

To create a test:

  1. Go to the Control Panel.
  2. Click on Course Tools > Tests, Surveys, and Pools > Tests
  3. Click on Build Test
  4. On the next screen, enter a Name for the test.
    If you like you may also add a Description (appears below the name of the test in your content area in Blackboard), and Instructions (appears above the test questions while students take the test).
  5. Click Submit.
  6. To add a new question:
    • Click on Create Question and select the type of question you would like to add (True/False, Multiple Choice, Essay, etc.).
    • Fill out the information for that question type.
    • Click OK.
  7. To reuse one or more questions from another test or pool:
    • Click on Reuse Question and select "Find from Pool or Test."
    • Under "1. Pools and Tests to Search," select the Pool or Test that contains the questions you would like to copy to your new test.
    • Under "2. Criteria," check "All" to see all the questions contained in your pool or test. Check specfic type(s) of questions to limit the questions displayed.
    • Under "3. Assign Points," you may choose to use the points currently assigned to the questions or assign a new point value.
    • Click Search to view the questions.
    • Check the box for each question you would like to copy into your new test.
    • Click on the blue "Add Selected" button to copy the questions into your test.
  8. To include a random block of questions from a pool (for example, to randomly select 10 questions from a pool of 30):
    • Click on Reuse Question and select "Create Random Block."
    • Under "1. Search the Pools below," select the Pool from which you would like to draw questions.
    • Under "2. Criteria," check "All" to include all types of questions in your randome block. Or, if you'd like to limit your random block to specific types of questions (only multiple choice or true/false), check the specfic type(s) of questions to include.
    • Also under "2. Criteria," enter the number of questions to include and the number of points each question should be worth.
    • Click Import.
  9. When your test is complete, click OK to leave the test.
  10. To post/deploy the test for students, please see "Post/Deploy a Test for Students."

Post/Deploy a Test for Students Video

To deploy a test:

  1. Go to the content area where you want to deploy the test (i.e. Assignments, Course Materials, etc.)
  2. Click on the blue Evaulate button and select Create Test.
  3. Click on the name of the test you wish to deploy and click OK.
  4. On the "Test Options" page that appears, you will select how and when your students will view the test.
    • Under "1. Test Information," you will see the information you entered while creating the test. The description will appear beneath the link to the test in your content area.
    • Under "2. Test Availability," choose from these options:
      • Make the Link Available. Select "Yes." You can limit the availability of the test using the Display After/Until tool below. If you choose "No" students will not be able to view the exam.
      • Add a New Announcement for this Test. Select "Yes" to have Blackboard post an announcement that the test is available.
      • Multiple Attempts. If you would like students to have more than one attempt at the test, check the box for multiple attempts. Select either "Unlimited Attepmts" or "Numbers of Attempts." If you choose "Number of attempts," enter the specific number of times you would like your students to be able to attempt the test.
      • Force Completion. If you would like to force students to complete the test the first time they launch (click on) the test, select this option.
      • Set Timer. The timer in Blackboard does not close the exam if a student exceeds the time limit. It simply sets an expected completion time and records the length of time each student spends in the exam. Instructors can view this information in the Grade Center column for the test. To set the timer, check the "Set Timer" checkbox and enter the time in hours and minutes.
      • Display After. Check the box and enter the date and time that the test should become available to students. If the box is not checked, the dates and times will not be saved.
      • Display Until. Check the box and enter the date and time that the test should no longer be available to students. If the box is not checked, the dates and times will not be saved.
      • Password. If you wish to have students enter a password to access the exam, check the box and enter the case-sensitive password. This tool is especially useful when proctoring exams or giving make-up exams for specific students.
    • Under "3. Self-assessment Options," instructors choose how the test results are recorded.
      • Include this Test in the Grade Center Score Calculations. This option is turned on by default. If you do not wish for the test to count toward student total grades, uncheck the box.
      • Hide Results for this Test Completely from Instructor in Grade Center. If checked, this option hides all student scores from instructors. This information cannot be recovered by instructors, ITS or COLRS. Please do NOT check this option.
    • Under "4. Test Feedback," select the feedback you wish students to see after they complete the test: Score, Submitted Answers, Correct Answers, and/or Feedback. Unchecking all boxes until the testing period ends is a common practice. Instructors may edit the feedback option after students are finished taking the test or grading is complete.
    • Under "5. Test Presentation," instructors choose how a test is displayed to students.
      • All at Once. All questions are displayed on a single screen. This is a good option if your test includes fewer than 20 twenty multiple choice or true/false questions. If your test includes more questions or any essay questions, please consider presenting your test with the "one at a time" option.
      • One at a Time. If your test contains more than 20 questions or any essay questions, please select the "one at a time" option. This option forces students to click a "next" button to submit their work as they move through the exam. It can help prevent browser timeout issues. When "one at a time" questions presentation is selected, instructors can choose to Prohibit Backtracking, which that students see each question only once. Students cannot access questions they have previously submitted or change their answers.
      • Randomize Questions. Students will see questions in a different order each time they attempt a test.
  5. Click Submit.

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