Each course offered is hosted on a web site. Course web sites hold the content and tools that students are required to use.
Course web sites can be accessed by clicking on hyperlinks either in the My Courses module area or in the course list available through the Courses navigation tab. A course can also be accessed using the Search Box available through the Course navigation tab.
From the My Courses area of the My Institution page, click on the course name. This takes you to the course web site (see Figure 3), starting with the Announcements page.
Within content areas: To navigate within content areas, click on the hyperlinks and buttons within the Content Frame. (See Figure 5.)
Note the main components of the Course web site interface:
1.The Navigation Path
allows you to return to any page accessed between the main course page and the current page.
2.The Course Menu links you to the available content areas and tools.
This is the menu of buttons on the left side of the page. This menu is always visible while you are in the course web site.
NOTE: Each course varies depending on the instructor’s preferences, so your course may look different, or have different functionality in the navigation items.
By clicking on the Navigation Buttons you can navigate the course web site. Navigation Buttons include:
Announcements-The Announcements area posts timely information critical to course success (room changes, class cancellations, updates on assignments, etc.).
This is where you automatically arrive when entering the course web site.
Staff Information- The Staff Information area provides background and contact information on the course instructors and teaching assistants.
Content Areas- Content areas may contain a wide-range of content items including: attachments, folders, external links, course links, assignments, tests, learning units, and multimedia files. Content areas include:
Course Information (Syllabus): This area displays descriptive materials about the course, including: schedule, materials, description, goals and performance objectives, teaching methodology, grading and course policies, assignments, school policies, etc.
Course Documents/Materials: This area contains learning materials and lesson aids, such as lecture notes, handouts, presentations, and online videos.
Assignments/Homework: This area lists the due date and description for class work. The instructor posts assignments and can modify the task and due date.
External Links: This area connects course users to outside learning materials. Instructors may select outside materials and post a hyperlink and brief description for each external source.
NOTE: Instructors can create other content areas such as Bibliography/Books/Textbooks, Labs, Lectures, and Projects.
Communications Area-
Announcements: Same as the Announcements area.
Collaboration: Collaboration Tools (Virtual Classroom and Chat) allow users to participate in real-time lessons and discussions.
Discussion Board: Course users can participate in an asynchronous online conversation (online forum) when they are not present at the same time to converse online.
Group Pages: Students can access group pages that instructors set up. Participants in groups can have their own (private) Discussion Board, Virtual Classroom, and Digital Dropbox. Using the Group Pages feature, instructors are able to create personal pages for each of the students in a class. Students may be required to submit responses to individual assignments (a journal, for example) using a Group Page.
Roster: Course users can view a list of course participants – instructors, students, teaching assistants, etc., including their e-mail addresses.
Send E-mail: Course users can send e-mail to other participants in the course.
Tools area-
Among the Tools that can be used in the course web site are:
Address Book: Users can save contact information within the course environment.
Calendar: Users can maintain a personal calendar, which includes course events.
Digital Dropbox: A tool for exchanging files between instructors and students.
Glossary Manager: Instructors can manage a glossary of terms – terms and accompanying definitions.
Homepage: Users can edit their course homepage in a course – they can post information about themselves.
My Grades: Users can check grades for a course.
Personal Information: Users can manage personal data and privacy settings – change password, set CD-ROM drive, Set Text Box Editor Options, etc.
Tasks: Users can view and update tasks assigned by the instructor.
Student Manual: Manual with information about Blackboard.
The Electric Blackboard: Users can save notes for the course within the course environment.
The Content Frame is the area where the course content is displayed.
The button allows easier course web site navigation. By opening an additional window, the course map connects you to an expandable and collapsible bookmark.
Hint:
To print out information from the Blackboard web site, you must right click on the Content Frame, and select the Print option from the popup menu.
Need more help?
Please contact the Help Desk by email or by phone at 651-523.2220
