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Blackboard Learn 9.1

Getting Started

Workshop Overview1

Workshop Roadmap

• Workshop Overview

• The Student Experience

• Creating Your Course Menu

• Customizing Your Course

• Day 1 Tasks

This workshop contains five sections:

1 Workshop Overview

Student Experience2

Learning Outcomes

• Log in to Blackboard Learn™

• Explain the information available on the My Institution tab

• Access information in the user and My Blackboard menus

• Access the What’s New and To Do modules on a course’s Home Page

• Access content and tools from the course menu and Tools link

• Describe what a content area

• Use the navigation features to access content and other courses

2 Student Experience

Hands-on Activity

• Log in to Blackboard Learn to complete the hands-on activity in the Student Experience section.

2 Student Experience

Hands-on Activity

• Use the Student Course to complete the hands-on activity at the end of the Student Experience section.

2 Student Experience

Best Practice: Ensuring a Positive Start

• Be clear about where and how to

begin

• Add visual interest

• Use consistent page design

• Design for readability

• Design for accessibility

2 Student Experience

Creating Your Course Menu3

Learning Outcomes

• Explain the difference between the student and instructor views of the course

• Explain the steps for creating a course menu

• Create the course menu, adding links to tools and content areas

• Describe different strategies for planning content areas

• Create a content area and add items and tools to it

• Edit and order links on the course menu

3 Creating Your Course Menu

Overview

3 Creating Your Course Menu

Four Steps to Course Menu Creation

1. Plan the course menu links.

2. Add tools and blank pages.

3. Create content areas.

4. Organize the course menu links.

Overview

3 Creating Your Course Menu

STEP 1: Plan the Course Menu Links

Before adding links to the course menu, take a step

back and look at your course material, learning

objectives, and activities.

Keep the course menu as simple as possible.

Hands-on Activity

3 Creating Your Course Menu

• Use your Practice Course to complete the hands-on activity in the Creating Your Course Menu section.

Creating the Content Areas

3 Creating Your Course Menu

STEP 3: Create Content Areas

THE FOUR SUB-STEPS for creating content areas:

1. Determine how to organize the content areas.

2. Add the content areas.

3. Add items and tools to the content areas.

4. Edit the items in the content areas.

Determining the Content Organization

3 Creating Your Course Menu

Three common approaches:

• Chronologically

• Type of content

• Subject area

Hands-on Activity

• Use your Practice Course to complete the hands-on activities in the Creating Your Course Menu section.

3 Creating Your Course Menu

Editing the Items in a Content Area

3 Creating Your Course Menu

You can:

• Edit an item’s name

• Edit an item’s availability

• Change the order of items

• Copy or move items

Hands-on Activity

• Use your Practice Course to complete the hands-on activities in the Creating Your Course Menu section.

3 Creating Your Course Menu

Customizing Your Course4

Learning Outcomes

• Explain the features and functions of the Control Panel

• Customize the course style

• Access course structure and themes information

• Select a content view

• Select the page for the course entry point

• Add a banner to the course entry page

• Change tool availability

• Customize the Home Page by adding, removing, and reordering modules

• Edit the notification settings

4 Customizing Your Course

Hands-on Activity

4 Customizing Your Course

• Use your Practice Course to complete the hands-on activities in the Customizing Your Course section.

Day 1 Tasks5

Learning Outcomes

• Create an announcement

• Add calendar events

• Add syllabus lessons

• Create a discussion forum

• Add textbook information

5 Day 1 Tasks

Hands-on Activity

5 Day 1 Tasks

• Use your Practice Course to complete the hands-on activity in the Day 1 Tasks section.

Best Practice: Welcome Your Students

• Use an inviting tone, somewhat informal, yet still professional.

• Add a welcoming message and brief self-introduction.

• Provide specific instructions on how to begin the course.

• Facilitate introductions at the start of the course.

5 Day 1 Tasks

Hands-on Activity

5 Day 1 Tasks

• Use your Practice Course to complete the hands-on activity at the end of the Day 1 Tasks section.

Workshop Wrap Up6

Key Concepts

• Log in to Blackboard Learn and explain the information available on the My Institution tab

• Access information in the user and My Blackboard menus

• Add, remove, and reorder the modules on the Home Page

• Add and access content and tools from the course menu and Tools link

• Explain steps for planning, creating, customizing, and editing the course menu

6 Workshop Wrap Up

Key Concepts

• Describe strategies for planning content areas and organizing the content

• Create content areas and add course materials and tools

• Edit, reorder, copy, and move content area items

• Explain the main functions of the Control Panel used to customize the course style

• Select the course entry point and add a banner to it

6 Workshop Wrap Up

Key Concepts

• Access course structure and theme information

• Change tool availability

• Edit the notification settings

• Create announcements, calendar events, syllabus lessons, and discussion forums

• Add textbook information to your course

6 Workshop Wrap Up