Category:Blackboard - FacultyFAQ: Difference between revisions

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== General ==
<table style="width:900px;">


<h4>What is the best way to access Blackboard?</h4>
<tr id="1">
<td style="font-weight:bold; column-span:2; width:900px; align-content:center;">Bb/Faculty - Frequently Asked Questions</td>
</tr>


Open a web browser and enter this address:
<tr id="2">
[http://bb.wpunj.edu http://bb.wpunj.edu] Enter your username and password. This will be the same information you use to access WPConnect or email. If you don't know your username and/or password please file a ticket with the WPUNJ IT Help Desk:
<td style="width:900px; column-span:2;">&nbsp;</td>
[http://www.wpunj.edu/helpdesk/ http://www.wpunj.edu/helpdesk/]
</tr>


<h4>What is the best way to obtain assistance or ask a question?</h4>
<tr id="3">
<td style="font-weight:bold; column-span:2; width:900px;">General</td>
</tr>


The best, one-stop resource to file a ticket with the WPUNJ IT Help Desk. Your ticket will be routed to the appropriate support team and you will likely receive a response very quickly. Please remember to include all the details, such as a the course number with which you need assistance. If a student writes you with a Blackbiard problem s/he is experiencing please have that student contact us directly.
<tr id="4">
[http://www.wpunj.edu/helpdesk/ http://www.wpunj.edu/helpdesk/]
<td style="width:900px; column-span:2;">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>


<h4>Where can I find support material?</h4>
<tr id="5">
<td style="width:900px; font-style:italic; font-weight:bold column-span:2;">How do I . . . </td>
</tr>


A good first step is the WPUNJ IT Wiki. As of this writing the wiki is a new resource and material is being added at a rapid rate
<tr id="6">
[http://www.wpunj.edu/itwiki/ http://www.wpunj.edu/itwiki/]
<td style="width:450%;">[http://bit.ly/wpu-bb-fac . . . access the complete Bb/Faculty Support site?]</td>
<td style="width:450%;">[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLontYaReEU1tzu1T5gfiX-JQA5nBc3isN  . . . Find a roster of Bb support videos for instructors?]</td>
</tr>


<h4>How can I arrange for Bb training?</h4>
<tr id="7">
<td style="width:900px; column-span:2;">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>


You can contact the IRT deparment administrator Denise Giummarra:
<tr id="8">
[mailto:giummarrad@wpunj.edu giummarrad@wpunj.edu] - 973.720.2659 Or file a ticket with the WPUNJ IT Help Desk:
<td style="font-weight:bold; column-span:2; width:900px;">Preparing for the Start of the Semester</td>
[http://www.wpunj.edu/helpdesk/ http://www.wpunj.edu/helpdesk/]
</tr>


<h4>Can I use Blackboard with a Macintosh computer?</h4>
<tr id="9">
<td style="width:900px; font-style:italic; font-weight:bold column-span:2;">How do I . . . </td>
</tr>


YES!  However the Safari web browser is not compatible.  Please use one of the free alternatives:
<tr id="10">
Chrome: [http://chrome.google.com http://chrome.google.com]
<td style="width:450%;">[https://itwiki.wpunj.edu/index.php/Category:Blackboard_-_Faculty#Standard_Practices . . . find a complete review of beginning of the semester support site?]</td>
Firefox: [http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/ http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/]
<td style="width:450%;">[https://itwiki.wpunj.edu/index.php/Category:Blackboard_-_Faculty#Transfer_course_content  . . . transfer course content between or within semesters?]</td>
</tr>


<h4>How can I save a copy of my course?</h4>
<tr id="11">
<td style="width:450%;">[https://itwiki.wpunj.edu/index.php/Category:Blackboard_-_Faculty#Create_course_shells_from_sections_which_are_associated_by_cross-listing_or_multi-sections . . . combine students into a single shell for cross-listed or multi-section courses?]</td>
<td style="width:450%;">[https://itwiki.wpunj.edu/index.php/Category:Blackboard_-_Faculty#Activate_course_shell  . . . make my course available to students?]</td>
</tr>


a. In the Control Panel select '''Packages and Utilities'''
<tr id="12">
b. Click the '''Export/Archive Course''' link
<td style="width:450%;">[https://itwiki.wpunj.edu/index.php/Category:Blackboard_-_Faculty#The_Basics.21  . . . Find when students will be added to course shells?]</td>
c. Select '''Export Package'''
<td style="width:450%;">[https://itwiki.wpunj.edu/index.php/Category:Blackboard_-_Faculty#Communicate_with_students_before_they.27ve_been_added_to_course_shells . . . communicate with students before they've been added to course shells?]</td>
d. In the '''Select Course Materials '''area click the boxes associated with all the content you want to save
</tr>
e. Click '''Submit'''. In a few minutes you'll get an email confirmation that the package is ready
f. Perform steps a. and b., and now you'll find a link to the package you've created. 
g. Place the cursor over the link, left-click and choose ''Save Link As,'' and save the zipped folder to your computer.
Click here to see a [http://tinyurl.com/wpunj-bb-exportcourse short video illustrating the process].
<p>&nbsp;</p>
== Course Shells ==


<h4>When are shells created for a coming semester?</h4>
<tr id="13">
<td style="width:450%;">[https://itwiki.wpunj.edu/index.php/Category:Blackboard_-_Faculty#View_Student_Roster . . . view the student roster?]</td>
<td style="width:450%;">[http://www.wpunj.edu/bb/hide-course-shells.pdf  . . . hide old course shells?]</td>
</tr>


The Blackboard support team creates all course shells and associates faculty with their respective shells.  For any number of reasons some faculy may not see their course shells; if this is the case please file a ticket with the [http://www.wpunj.edu/helpdesk/ WPUNJ IT Help Desk].
<tr id="14">
<td style="width:900px; column-span:2;">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>


'''Approximate times of shell creation:'''
<tr id="15">
Fall semester: late June
<td style="width:900px; font-weight:bold column-span:2;">Course Building</td>
Winter session: mid-November
</tr>
Spring semester: early December
Summer session: mid-March


<h4>When/how are students added to Blackboard shells?</h4>
<tr id="16">
<td style="width:900px; column-span:2;">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>


Students are, and always have been, added on the first day of the semester. From that day through the end of the add/drop period the student enrollment database is refreshed three times daily. In the near future we hope to implement a system by which student enrollments are processed in (nearly) real time.  When that happens the text on this document will change to reflect the new system.
<tr id="17">
<td style="width:900px; font-style:italic; font-weight:bold column-span:2;">How do I . . . </td>
</tr>


<h4>Can I contact my students before the beginning of the semester?</h4>
<tr id="18">
<td style="width:450%;">[http://ondemand.blackboard.com/r91/movies/bb91_your_course_environment.htm . . . Get a tour of the course environment?]</td>
<td style="width:450%;">[http://www.wpunj.edu/bb/faculty/interface-tour.pdf . . . access a map of course features?]</td>
</tr>


Yes! Click here to see the {https://www.wpunj.edu/dotAsset/340835.pdf instructions for emailing students before they are added to Blackboard] course shells.
<tr id="19">
<td style="width:450%;">[http://www.wpunj.edu/bb/edit-mode.pdf . . . set the Edit Mode?]</td>
<td style="width:450%;">[http://ondemand.blackboard.com/r9/movies/Bb9_Course_Environment_Edit_Course_Menu.htm . . . edit the course menu?]</td>
</tr>


<h4>How do I make make my course available to students?</h4>
<tr id="20">
<td style="width:450%;">[http://www.wpunj.edu/bb/faculty/entry-point.pdf . . . change course entry point?]</td>
<td style="width:450%;">[http://www.wpunj.edu/bb/faculty/action-link.pdf . . . use the Action Icon as a gateway to edit all course matieral?]</td>
</tr>


a. In the Control Panel of the course shell select '''Customization'''
<tr id="21">
b. From the menu click on '''Properties'''
<td style="width:450%;">[http://ondemand.blackboard.com/r91/movies/bb91_tools_using_text_editor.htm . . . use the rich text editor?]</td>
c. In area three, '''Set Availability''', select the button associated with ''Yes''
<td style="width:450%;">[http://ondemand.blackboard.com/r91/movies/bb91_course_design_adding_course_banner_entry_point.htm . . . add a course banner?]</td>
d. Press the '''Submit''' button to process the command
</tr>


Click here for a [http://www.wpunj.edu/bb/faculty/course-availability.pdf PDF document illustrating the process].
<tr id="22">
<td style="width:450%;">[http://www.wpunj.edu/bb/upload-course-files.pdf . . . upload a document?]</td>
<td style="width:450%;"></td>
</tr>


<h4>Why do I need to make my course available to students?</h4>
<tr id="23">
<td style="width:900px; column-span:2;">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>


Students only see courses which have been activated, that is, which are being used by the instructor.  If all courses were automatically available students would be confused about which shells should and should not contain content.
<tr id="24">
<td style="width:900px; font-weight:bold column-span:2;">Collaboration</td>
</tr>


<h4>When is the best time to make my course avaialable to students?</h4>
<tr id="25">
<td style="width:900px; column-span:2;">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>


The first day of the semester.
<tr id="26">
<td style="width:900px; font-style:italic; font-weight:bold column-span:2;">How do I . . . </td>
</tr>


<h4>What should I do if I don't see my course shell listed?</h4>
<tr id="27">
<td style="width:450%;">[http://www.wpunj.edu/bb/post-an-announcement.pdf . . . post an announcement?]</td>
<td style="width:450%;">[http://ondemand.blackboard.com/r91/movies/bb91_student_sending_email.htm . . . send an email?]</td>
</tr>


Please file a ticket with the [http://www.wpunj.edu/helpdesk/ WPUNJ IT Help Desk]
<tr id="28">
<td style="width:900px; column-span:2;">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>


<h4>How do I hide old course shells?</h4>
<tr id="29">
<td style="width:450%;">[https://itwiki.wpunj.edu/index.php/Category:Blackboard_-_Faculty#dscbrd . . . get help with the Discission Board?]</td>
<td style="width:450%;">[https://itwiki.wpunj.edu/index.php/Category:Blackboard_-_Faculty#jrnl  . . . get help with the journals?]</td>
</tr>


Are old course shells cluttering up your Blackboard courses module?
<tr id="30">
<td style="width:450%;">[https://itwiki.wpunj.edu/index.php/Category:Blackboard_-_Faculty#blg . . . get help with the blogs?]</td>
<td style="width:450%;">[https://itwiki.wpunj.edu/index.php/Category:Blackboard_-_Faculty#wyky . . . get help with the wikis?]</td>
</tr>


<ol type="a"> <li>Select the [http://www.wpunj.edu/bb/faculty/action-link.pdf Action Link] in the upper right corner of the courses module. You won't see it until you place your cursor in the general vicinity.</li>
<tr id="31">
<li>In the ensuing interface unclick the boxes associated with the couurses you don't want to see. You are not deleting the courses, and the process can be reversed.</li>
<td style="width:450%;">[https://itwiki.wpunj.edu/index.php/Category:Blackboard_-_Faculty#grps . . . get help with the groups?]</td>
<li>Click the Submit button to process the command</li></ol>
<td style="width:450%;">[https://itwiki.wpunj.edu/index.php/Category:Collaborate_Web_Conferencing . . . get help with Collaborate video conferencing?]</td>
</tr>


Click here for a [http://www.wpunj.edu/bb/faculty/bb-course-module-cleanup.pdf PDF document illustrating the process].
<tr id="32">
<td style="width:900px; column-span:2;">&nbsp;</td>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
</tr>
== Transfer Course Content ==


<h4>How do I ask the Blackboard support staff to transfer course content from an old semester to a new semester?</h4>
<tr id="33">
<td style="width:900px; font-weight:bold column-span:2;">Assessments</td>
</tr>


Please fill out the [https://liberty.wpunj.edu/bb/transfer/ Course Content Transfer] form. 
<tr id="34">
<td style="width:900px; column-span:2;">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>


<h4>Why do we have to fill out a form?</h4>
<tr id="35">
<td style="width:900px; font-style:italic; font-weight:bold column-span:2;">How do I . . . </td>
</tr>


Because forms are, for better or worse, the most efficient, economical and precise means of transmitting the information we need to give you want you need.
<tr id="36">
<td style="width:450%;">[https://en-us.help.blackboard.com/Learn/9.1_Older_Versions/9.1_2014_and_2015/Instructor/100_Assignments . . . find an assignment overview?]</td>
<td style="width:450%;">[http://www.wpunj.edu/ctlt/assignment-manager.pdf . . . create assignments?]</td>
</tr>


<h4>What is the best time for me to request a course content transfer?</h4>
<tr id="37">
<td style="width:450%;">[http://ondemand.blackboard.com/r91/movies/bb91_tests_surveys_creating_test.htm . . . create a test?]</td>
<td style="width:450%;">[http://ondemand.blackboard.com/r91/movies/bb91_tests_survey_set_test_options.htm . . . set test options?]</td>
</tr>


''As early as you possibly can''. As soon as you see your course shell has been mounted you can make the request. Conversly, some times are not as propitious; the weekend immediately prior to the beginning of a semester and the first week of a semester are problematic, as these are our busiest periods. Clearly some people have just been given a course and they have no choice but to ask for a course transfer, but if you've known since November that you'll need content transferred and wait until Tuesday of the first week, well, we'd ask that you not do so!  Your help in this area gives us the time we need to do the many chores that accompany the beginning of the semester.
<tr id="38">
<td style="width:450%;">[http://www.wpunj.edu/bb/test-availability-exceptions.pdf . . . set test availability exceptions?]</td>
<td style="width:450%;">[http://www.wpunj.edu/bb/faculty/surveys-create-deploy-review.pdf . . . create, deploy and review surveys?]</td>
</tr>


<h4>Can I request a transfer of material that is not currently on Bb (archived courses)?</h4>
<tr id="39">
<td style="width:450%;">[http://www.wpunj.edu/dotAsset/348071.pdf . . . create a Turn-it-in.com assignment?]</td>
<td style="width:450%;">[https://itwiki.wpunj.edu/index.php/Category:Blackboard_-_Faculty#Assessments:_Respondus_test_editing_software  . . . create and deploy tests using Respondus?]</td>
</tr>


Just fill out the form above and make sure you let us know the year semester, department, course number and section of the archived course.  We cannot search the archives by instructor name, course subject or department, etc.  All we have to go on are the course credentials, as in: 200910-bio1010-61, ''or'' Spring 2009, Bio 1010-61.
<tr id="40">
<td style="width:900px; column-span:2;">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>


<h4>How can I empower myself to transfer content on my own schedule without involving a third party?</h4>
<tr id="41">
<td style="width:900px; font-weight:bold column-span:2;">Grade Center</td>
</tr>


<ul><li>[http://tinyurl.com/wpunj-bb-exportcourse Save copies of all your courses] and</li><li>         [http://tinyurl.com/wpunj-bb-exportcourse Reverse the procedure]</li></ul>
<tr id="42">
<td style="width:900px; column-span:2;">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>


<p>&nbsp;</p>
<tr id="43">
== Merge Course Shells ==
<td style="width:900px; font-style:italic; font-weight:bold column-span:2;">How do I . . . </td>
</tr>


<h4>What is a course merge?</h4>
<tr id="44">
<td style="width:450%;">[https://en-us.help.blackboard.com/Learn/9.1_Older_Versions/9.1_2014_and_2015/Instructor/120_Grade_Center . . . get an overview of grade center features? ]</td>
<td style="width:450%;">[http://ondemand.blackboard.com/r91/movies/bb91_grade_center_customizing_grade_center_view.htm . . . customize grade center view?]</td>
</tr>


Students are diverted from a child course shell or shells to a single parent shell.  The child shells will continue to exist but remain inactive; all students see the parent shell.
<tr id="45">
<td style="width:450%;">[https://en-us.help.blackboard.com/Learn/9.1_Older_Versions/9.1_2014_and_2015/Instructor/120_Grade_Center/010_Customize_Grade_Center/010_Grade_Center_Columns/030_Weighted_Columns . . . create a weighted column?]</td>
<td style="width:450%;"></td>
</tr>


<h4>What courses are automatically eligible for course merges?</h4>
<tr id="46">
<td style="width:450%;">[https://itwiki.wpunj.edu/index.php/Category:Blackboard_-_Faculty#Course_Reports_.26_Retention_Center . . . find out more about course reports and the Retention Center?]</td>
<td style="width:450%;"></td>
</tr>


Course merging is designed to redress the problems caused when a faculty member is teaching a cross-listed or multi-section course.  Rather than teaching Bio10101-01, Bio1010-02 and Bio1010-61 as seperate entities an instructor can take advantage of the merge feature. The same logic does not apply to courses that share similar subject matter but are not otherwise associated.
<tr id="47">
<td style="width:450%;"></td>
<td style="width:450%;"></td>
</tr>


<h4>Do I have any options if my sections are not automatically eligible?</h4>
<tr id="48">
<td style="width:450%;"></td>
<td style="width:450%;"></td>
</tr>


Appeals can be made to the office of the Registrar.  The Bb support staff can not do a thing wihout receiving permission from the office of the Registrar, no exceptions.
<tr id="49">
<td style="width:450%;"></td>
<td style="width:450%;"></td>
</tr>


<h4>How do I request a course merge?</h4>
<tr id="50">
 
<td style="width:450%;"></td>
[https://liberty.wpunj.edu/bb/combine/ Please Fill out and submit this form].
<td style="width:450%;"></td>
 
</tr>
<h4>What is the best time to request a course shell merge?</h4>
</table>
 
As soon as possible. The process is not a simple one and is difficult to process in the first week of school. Clearly some people have no choice but to wait for the busiest week of our semester, but most know far ahead of time that they need at least some of their courses merged, so any time after the course shells are created is and before the first week of the semester is a good time to make your request.
 
<h4>What is the worst time to request a course shell merge?</h4>
 
''The first week of the semester!''
 
<p>&nbsp;</p>
 
== Details, details! ==
 
Please use the [https://itwiki.wpunj.edu/index.php/Category:Blackboard_-_Faculty WPUNJ IT Wiki (Bb: Faculty)] to find information on 
 
<h4>[https://itwiki.wpunj.edu/index.php/Category:Blackboard_-_Faculty#Building_your_Course_Shell Building your course shell]</h4>
 
<h4>[https://itwiki.wpunj.edu/index.php/Category:Blackboard_-_Faculty#Content_Collection Using the Content Collection]</h4>
 
<h4>[https://itwiki.wpunj.edu/index.php/Category:Blackboard_-_Faculty#Assessments Administering Assessments]</h4>
 
<h4>[https://itwiki.wpunj.edu/index.php/Category:Blackboard_-_Faculty#Grade_Center Using the Grade Center]</h4>
 
and
 
<h4>[https://itwiki.wpunj.edu/index.php/Category:Web_Conferencing_with_Collaborate Web conferencing with Collaborate]</h4>
 
[[Category:Blackboard]]

Revision as of 10:10, 30 September 2016

Bb/Faculty - Frequently Asked Questions
 
General
 
How do I . . .
. . . access the complete Bb/Faculty Support site? . . . Find a roster of Bb support videos for instructors?
 
Preparing for the Start of the Semester
How do I . . .
. . . find a complete review of beginning of the semester support site? . . . transfer course content between or within semesters?
. . . combine students into a single shell for cross-listed or multi-section courses? . . . make my course available to students?
. . . Find when students will be added to course shells? . . . communicate with students before they've been added to course shells?
. . . view the student roster? . . . hide old course shells?
 
Course Building
 
How do I . . .
. . . Get a tour of the course environment? . . . access a map of course features?
. . . set the Edit Mode? . . . edit the course menu?
. . . change course entry point? . . . use the Action Icon as a gateway to edit all course matieral?
. . . use the rich text editor? . . . add a course banner?
. . . upload a document?
 
Collaboration
 
How do I . . .
. . . post an announcement? . . . send an email?
 
. . . get help with the Discission Board? . . . get help with the journals?
. . . get help with the blogs? . . . get help with the wikis?
. . . get help with the groups? . . . get help with Collaborate video conferencing?
 
Assessments
 
How do I . . .
. . . find an assignment overview? . . . create assignments?
. . . create a test? . . . set test options?
. . . set test availability exceptions? . . . create, deploy and review surveys?
. . . create a Turn-it-in.com assignment? . . . create and deploy tests using Respondus?
 
Grade Center
 
How do I . . .
. . . get an overview of grade center features? . . . customize grade center view?
. . . create a weighted column?
. . . find out more about course reports and the Retention Center?

Subcategories

This category has only the following subcategory.

B

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