Blackboard Quick Reference Guides

These guides provide step-by-step instructions on how to perform a number of functions in Blackboard. Click on the guides in which you have an interest, and print out copies of those you want to use.  Some of these materials are also covered in our "Blackboard Quick Start" mini-workshops!  Click here for the training schedule.

To get a quick overview on the changes, please check out the What's New in 7.3 document. 

• This seven page Overview Guide provides a great overview of how to use the functions and features in Blackboard. You will want to keep a copy by your computer for easy reference!

Access

• Obtaining Blackboard Account Set-up and Login (for faculty)
• Obtaining Blackboard Login (for students)
• Changing Internet Explorer Browser Startup Page
• Finding Your Employee Enterprise ID

Course Site Management

• Hiding Unwanted Courses
• Creating/Updating a Blackboard Site
• Printing Blackboard Pages
• Hiding Building Blocks
• Backing up Your Course
• Tracking Student Usage and Activity

Navigation

• Navigating in Blackboard
• Using the Control Panel (Overview)

Announcements

• Creating and Managing Announcements
• Creating and Displaying a Banner

Content Development and Management

• Managing Course (content) Menu
• Adding and Editing Items in Content Areas
• Using the Text Box Editor (overview)
• Creating Acrobat PDF Files
• (feature not working currently) Setting up a FAQ Page
• Copying or Moving a Content Item within a Course or to a Different Course 
• Copying Course Content using Import/Export method
• Attaching Files (without use of the Text Box Editor)
• Creating Customized Tables (without Text Editor)
• Using HTML Tags (when Text Editor is unavailable)
• Multi-Language Support 
• Review Status
• Adaptive Release of Content
• Content Metadata Options
• Statistics Tracking
• Syllabus Builder
• Search and Link to Peer-Reviewed Websites with MERLOT
• Adding an RSS Feed (e.g., news headlines) to Your Course
• Making PowerPoint slide shows work in Blackboard
• Creating interactive exercises for posting in Blackboard
     - Studymate
     - Softchalk Lessonbuilder
• Working with Blogs in Blackboard
     - Setting up a blog
     - Creating a blog entry

Assignments

• Adding Assignments through the Assignment Manager
• Grading Assignments in Assignment Manager
• Submitting Assignments in Blackboard (for Students) PDF / Animated Video
• Saving Assignments as RTF (for Students)
• Using Word to Review/Mark Papers Electronically

Communications

• Netiquette
• Using Internal Messaging In Place of E-mail
• Conducting Asynchronous Discussions - updated for version 7.3
       Getting Started with Discussion Board     Doing More with Discussion Board
• Conducting Synchronous Discussions (Virtual Classroom)
• Creating and Using Groups

Assessments

• Creating a Test
• Creating a Pool of Questions
• Removing a Test or Survey
• Creating a Survey
• Using Assessment Question Types
• Options When Building a Test or Survey
• Converting a Test in Word for Use in Blackboard

Gradebook

• Building and Using the Gradebook
• Backing up the Gradebook
• Working with MS Excel and the Gradebook
• Enhancing Display of Gradebook Data

Building Blocks

• Overview of Building Blocks
• Blogs: Setting Up and Creating an Entry
• Wikis: Setting Up and Using
• Getting Started with Wimba voice tools