10 Things You Can Do In Blackboard In Under 5 Minutes Each

1. 10 Things You Can Do In BlackboardIn Under 5 Minutes Each Paul Addison Associate Professor, Computer Information Systems Ivy Tech Community College Region 4, Lafayette paddison@ivytech.edu 3rd Annual Learning College Conference Northwest Region, Thursday, February 26, 2009 (note: some changes have been made since LCC 2009)

2. 10 Things You Can Do In Blackboard In Under 5 Minutes Each #1: Post an assignment link #2: Grade an assignment with a rubric #3: Take and post a picture to your Instructor page #4: Create and post an audio introduction to your Instructor page #5: Start a blog for your class #6: Start a wiki for your class #7: Start an IM for your class #8: Post an announcement and/or email to everyone #9: Create, post and schedule a quiz * #10: Create and post an audio podcast * * Each of these requires an additional 5-minute task

3. #1: Post an assignment link Go to the section where the assignment is to be posted Select Assignments and click Go Enter title, points and other info Browse to link to instruction document Schedule display time Click Submit Students submit via View/Complete link Icon is a green ! icon in Grade Book

4. #2: Grade an assignment with a rubric • In Grade Center, click arrow by icon • Click Grade Item and View Attempt • Right-click file and save to your PC • Suggest folders for each student • Open a rubric and enter student’s name • Grade the file using the rubric, save • Save in folder for that student • Record grade, attach rubric to student

5. #3: Take and post a picture to your Instructor page • Take a picture of yourself with a digital camera • Upload the picture to your PC • Resize picture to about 300 pixels wide • Use Photoshop, Paint or other image software • Go to Instructor section, Add Picture • Add Alternate Text • Click Submit

6. #4: Create and post an audio introduction to your Instructor page Write out what you are going to say Connect a microphone to your PC Use Windows Sound Recorder Test the microphone level Record your introduction (wav file) In Instructor, Add Item Attach Audio Content Find file, add Alternate Text, Submit Plays with controls in Blackboard

7. #5: Start a blog for your class • There is a class-level blog, as well as a content-level blog • Course-level: • Enable in Tools/Building Block • Create in Configure Blog Tool • Access in Course Tools • Content-level: • Enable in Tools/Content Type • Create in content area (Select Blog) • Access in content area

8. #6: Start a wiki for your class • There is a class-level wiki, as well as a content-level wiki • Course-level: • Enable in Tools/Building Block • Create in Configure Wiki Tool • Access in Course Tools • Content-level: • Enable in Tools/Content Type • Create in content area (Select Wiki) • Access in content area

9. #7: Start an IM for your class • This is not the Blackboard chat room feature • This is a private instant messenger • Go to Course Tools and Pronto • You set up an account with your own username • Activate by responding to email • Run Pronto software installation • Pronto runs separately from Blackboard • You login and see all your classes and students

10. #8: Post an announcement and/or email to everyone • In Control Panel, go to Announcements • Add Announcement and dates • You may click Email announcement OR… • Go to Send Email • Send to all students • You get a copy • Subject line has course/section number

11. #9: Create, post andschedule a quiz * • * This requires ExamView software • You can install ExamView in under 5 minutes! • Use a 2008 or newer CD, Version 6.2.0 or later • Create the quiz in ExamView • Export it to Blackboard 7.1+ • Create a name and graphics directory • In Blackboard, import with Test Manager • Earlier versions require you to use Pool Manager • Create Tests & Quizzes content area • Add Test, configure and schedule

12. #9a: BONUS: Install ExamView • On Instructor Resources CDs (Course) • Use a 2008 or newer CD, Version 6.2.0 or later • Click Test Bank and Test Engine • Open, Extract All Files, Next • Suggest saving to common folder: • My Documents / ExamView / Banks • In My Computer, run the Setup file, with the same ExamView folder as destination directory

13. #10: Create and postan audio podcast * • * This requires audio recording and conversion software, or an MP3 recorder • You can install Audacity and Lame in 5 minutes! • You may have an MP3 recorder and connector • Record your podcast using Audacity • Convert the file to MP3 • Log into Ivy Tech Media Server • Click My Files, find and upload MP3 file • Click My Handles, My Podcasts • Copy Embed code • In Blackboard Resources, Add Item • In HTML mode, paste embed code

14. #10a: BONUS: Install Audacity and Lame Conversion Software • Audacity site: audacity.soundforge.net • Download Audacity 1.2.6 (or latest) • Suggest saving .exe file first in Desktop / Installs • Go to Lame page, click on Zip link • File name is like libmp3lame-3.98.2 • Suggest saving file first in Desktop / Installs • Right-click and UnZip Here (file lame_enc.dll) • Creates folder with same name libmp3lame-3.98.2 • Run Audacity and Export to MP3 • It will ask for location of lame_enc.dll • Browse to Desktop / Installs / libmp3lame-3.98.2 • This is a one-time installation

15. 10 Things You Can Do In BlackboardIn Under 5 Minutes Each Paul Addison Associate Professor, Computer Information Systems Ivy Tech Community College Region 4, Lafayette paddison@ivytech.edu 3rd Annual Learning College Conference Northwest Region, Thursday, February 26, 2009 THANK YOU!