Updates from the Design Center

Hi everyone, these are a few reminders or Blackboard updates from your Instructional Designers: 

• Notifications page: we notice that several of you are turning off access to this page or don’t update this page regularly. Maybe you aren’t aware that you can? If so, great news, we have some new modules that greatly help students. To add these modules, go to Notifications, click Add module, and click Add on the following: Accessibility Statement & Links, Blackboard Support, FERPA & Privacy Statements, and Student Support & Resources Links (on page 2).
  • You can then reorder your boxes by scrolling over the name of the module, holding down your mouse button and dragging to move or reorder so that all modules are in the left column and the Student Support & Resources Links is on the right column.
  • Here’s an example of what that looks like:

• Re-ordering the Course Menu: Perhaps you’ve noticed that when you complete a course copy or add something new to the Course Menu, your links are always added to the bottom under the Blackboard Help links? You can reorder the course menu to help your students easily navigate the course. Scroll to the left of the link name on the menu. When the compass arrows appear, click with your mouse, hold the button down, and drag your links to the top.
• Using material from previous semester: You can use your old content without creating new content from scratch by following the Course Copy Directions, found on the Start of the Semester Tips on the Faculty tab inside Blackboard.
  • You can change all due dates on the Date Management page, found under Course Tools under Course Management on your Course Menu.
    • Tip: Don’t put due dates on the description of items or assignments because then you have to go back and change them every semester and you may miss them. Put due dates on the ACTUAL assignment/discussion/test/quiz/etc and the due date will be put on the course calendar that the students can view in Blackboard. OR create a course schedule for the students to view.

Reminder: The Instructional Design Center Open House: “Fall into Blackboard” will be held the week of August 29th. We are hosting a faculty wine reception on Tuesday, August 30, 4:30 – 6:30 PM. Ruth Newberry, from the Blackboard Outcomes team will be here to answer questions about goal, alignment, and outcomes. Please join us in Drinko Library 235!

Updated event schedule is posted here: www.marshall.edu/muonline/open-house

Recent Releases