Blackboard "Need-to-know" Tips - Vol. 3; 2006 - 2007

Included in this volume of Blackboard "Need-to-Know" tips:
- Blackboard, Inc. Exemplary Course Program Now Open
- Make the Grade Book Work for You
- Grade Book Training Class
- Record Your Lecture to Video
- Microsoft AutoFormatting and Those Undesirable Question Marks
- Remove Un-needed Tools from your Blackboard Site
- Customize or Simplify Your Course Site

* Blackboard, Inc. Exemplary Course Project Now Open
   The Blackboard Exemplary Course Project provides incentives and resources for faculty to use e-Learning technology effectively. The program is designed for faculty members and those supporting them, who develop technologically rich and pedagogically sound courses.  Entries must be submitted to Blackboard, Inc. by February 5, 2007. For details, contact Barb at 677-2332 or go to the website at http://www.blackboard.com/greenhouse.  You can view the rubric and the course sites of previous winners at the web site.

* Make the Grade Book Work for You
Is your grade book hard to read by this time in the semester?  TIP: Use the Filter to remove the things you don't need to see at the moment.  For example, if you only want to see the student Total Score, use the "Filter Items by Category" in the second tool bar.  Choose "Total" from the drop-down menu and click "Go."  TIP #2: If you want to see how one student is performing, click the student's name, then choose "User Grade List."  You will see all information for that student on one page, without scrolling!  TIP #3: You can set the order how the grade book items are displayed.  Choose "Manage Items" from the grade book tool bar.  Use the drop-down numbers on the left to change the order of the items.  Once back at your grade book, choose "Sort Items by" and choose "Position" from the drop-down menu.

* Grade Book Training Class
Just in time for figuring semester grades….Here is a brief session to help you use the Blackboard grade book.  Learn how to download/upload grades for Excel, how to weight grades, how to display the final grade as a letter grade, and more.  This session is offered on the two dates below:
- Tuesday, November 28, 11:00-11:45
- Friday, December 1, 8:15-9:00
Please come to the ITAC office in Library 20 (in the basement below Wyckoff RM).  If you are interested but unable to attend either date, please contact the ITAC office at 677-2332 for an appointment. 
Additionally, online tutorials are available at http://blackboard.bradley.edu/docs/tutorials.shtml.

* Record Your Lecture to Video
There is a quick way to record your lecture and post it to Blackboard for students to view outside of class.  Use our video classroom in Jobst 215.  It’s easy!  Contact Cory Rabe at 677-3387 to schedule your session over the semester break.  You can use the equipment in the classroom to record your entire class or a single lecture.  The recording can be posted to Blackboard.

* Microsoft AutoFormatting and Those Undesirable Question Marks
Microsoft Word automatically replaces apostrophes with "smart apostrophes" that curve to the left.  This is very readable by MS Word, but not by web browsers.  You can correct this problem by turning off (un-checking) "replace Go to Tools / AutoCorrect then go to "AutoFormat as you type" and un-check the boxes under "Replace as you type".  This will correct the problem for future typing.  However, if you need to fix previously typed text, you will need to do a Find and Replace command and replace the old apostrophe with the "new".

* Remove Un-needed Tools
Results from our Student Blackboard Survey are coming in.  Some students would like to see fewer choices in Blackboard.  You can help them by removing some of the tools that won't be used in your class.  For example, if the calendar and collaboration tools won't be used in your course site, you can remove them to reduce the number of options the students have.  Go to the Control Panel. Choose "Manage Tools" in the lower left then choose "Tool Availability."  You can check the boxes to make tools available or unavailable.

* Customize or Simplify Your Course Site
You can customize Blackboard's buttons to match the way you teach your class.  If you primarily use Blackboard for handouts, you can remove the other buttons that your students won't need.  This helps them go directly to your content and not waste time clicking through the other buttons.  Also, if you need different labels for you buttons, you can change them.  One instructor uses the term "Weekly Agenda" and has made this the first page students see when they access her course.  Within the "Weekly Agenda" the instructor are the current week's lectures, assignments and reminders.
To customize your course buttons, go to the Control Panel.  Choose "Manage Course Menu" in the lower left.  You can add, modify, or remove buttons. WARNING: Removing the button also removes everything located within that button.  You should leave "Communication" and "Tools" for the students to be able to use these tools.

We hope you find these tips helpful.  Please send your comments or questions to Barb Kerns at brk@bradley.edu or stop in to the Instructional Technology Assistance Center in the Library, Room 20.