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e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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Logging in
To log in to Blackboard open your browser and go to the UHI homepage (http://www.uhi.ac.uk). Click on the VLE (e-learning) link in the Shortcuts drop down list:
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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1. Blackboard Browser Setup. This link opens a summary screen which tells you if your browser is compatible with Blackboard. For Blackboard to work properly you need to have Cookies enabled, Java Script enabled and Java OK:
Note 1: dont worry if you dont have all the free software installedyou may not need it. Your lecturer will tell you what you need. The most common program is Adobe (Acrobat) Reader. Links to all of the free software downloads are on the page. Just click on the link and follow the instructions.
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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Next, click User Login. This opens the Have an Account? Screen. Enter your UHI username and password. If you have any difficulties with logging in, please contact the UHI helpdesk. Please note the Helpdesk hours are Monday Friday, 09:00-17:00. E-mail, 150@uhi.ac.uk Tel: 01463 279 150. Internal Tel: 150.
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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This course entry page is fairly typical for UHI default settings, but your tutor may change the look of the course environment and add or remove links as appropriate to the course. 1. The Home tab at the top left of the screen opens the Blackboard home page, which lists the modules on which you are enrolled. You can customise this page by clicking the Modify buttons on the top right. Clicking any course link opens the course entry page (Figure 7). The Modules tab opens the Course search box, modules list, course catalogue and report card. The UHI e-learning tab opens the UHI e-learning Website. Note: click the browser Back button to return to Blackboard. Please do not close the e-learning Website as it will close Blackboard. 2. The Home button at the top takes you to the Blackboard home tab and the Logout button logs you out and takes you back to the UHI Blackboard Figure 9: The Blackboard buttons login screen. Help takes you to the UHI Helpdesk pages. Note: click the browser Back button to return to Blackboard. 3. The Course menu at the left of the screen gives you access to the course contents. The Announcements page is the e-Learning Team, UHIfor the home default setting Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk Page 6 page. Announcements are posted by your tutor and appear in the main content area (7 in Figure 7 above).
There are four main methods areas of navigation: 1. Top level navigation lets you browse your modules and course catalogue, see your announcements and calendar. 2. The Course menu area lets you browse course content, which appears in the main content area as you follow links.
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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4. The breadcrumb trail shows the links you have followed to get to the present page. You can click on any of the breadcrumb links to take you one, or more, steps back. This is an extremely useful tool and can save you a lot of time when navigating the course.
Learning Resources
Navigation
In Blackboard, you will find most of your course materials in Learning Resources. To access, click Learning Resources on the course menu.
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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Items are articles of course content. Items can be purely text, or contain images, audio, video, hyperlinks and file attachments.
Figure 19: Item icon
Learning Units are similar to folders although the content is displayed differently. They can contain all forms of content. Items in Learning Units have a table of contents, forward and back arrows and you look at them one page at a time, like an e-book. Tests and Surveys (featuring various question types) can be set up in Blackboard and are accessed within Learning Resources.
Course Links let you move to another area of Blackboard, for example to the Discussion Board.
External Links are hyperlinks to Web sites external to UHI, which will open in a new browser window.
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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To open an assignment, click either on the title or the line that begins: View/Complete Assignment
Figure 25: An example of an assignment
Youll now see a screen with three sections. In Assignment Information youll see the assignment title, textual instructions, and any supporting files that you have to download.
Figure 26: The Assignment Information page
The next two sections relate to the submission of work. In Comments you can write a message to your tutor to accompany your work.
Figure 27: The Assignment Materials box
Below Comments, you are asked to attach your assignment materials. Click on Browse to locate your file.
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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Click Add Another File if you have more than one file to submit. Once you have added all of your files, move to Section 3, Submit. At this point you can either chose to Save, which lets you continue working later, or Submit and send your work to your tutor. Once you have clicked Submit, you cannot make any changes to your assignment. You must contact your tutor if you want to resubmit your workalthough allowing you to resubmit your work is at the discretion of the tutor.
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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Forums
Discussions are organised into forums. The main Discussion board page displays a list of available discussion forums. For each forum, you are told the total number of posts, the number of unread posts and the total number of participants.
To take part in a discussion, click the hyperlinked (underlined) name of a forum. Forums are made up of threads. Depending on how the discussion develops there can be a number of related threads. Certain threads will be set up in advance by your tutor.
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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Threads
As students you will normally have the ability to create threads. To do this click on the +Thread button.
Figure 32: Add Thread
In the Message space, write something that will encourage others to respond. You can format your text using the tools provided and attach a file if you wish.
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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When replying to a post, you have the option to show or hide the original post. Give your message a meaningful Subject (title). One useful tactic, where appropriate, is to name the person to whom you are replying and summarise the content, e.g. To David: Assignment 1 word count.
In the Message box write your message. You can format your text using the tools provided, and attach a file if you wish.
Click Submit to upload your post. To see the titles of the posts within a particular thread click on the + icon to the left of the post. This displays all the titles and the + changes to a . Click the to close the titles.
Figure 39: View post titles
Collecting posts
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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You will now see the contents of all the messages you selected. You can print this screen, order the contents by author, date, subject or thread and filter, for example, to show just one persons posts. Note: clicking the subject line of a message when in Collect mode will return you to the first post in the thread.
ToolsCommunication Tools
Collaboration
Blackboard has two communication tools that let you interact synchronously (in real time) with your tutors and fellow students: the Chat tool and the Virtual Classroom. By default, Blackboard populates all courses with two virtual classroom and two chat sessions. Your tutor can add as many additional sessions to this list as they choose. Note: If you are using you own or work computer, before you join a live chat or Virtual Classroom session please make sure you have followed the steps in the How to get Blackboard working on my computersee the Introduction for details. Please dont use another chat tool at the same time as using the Blackboard chat tool as this may cause a conflict and prevent Blackboard Chat from working. Please dont open the Chat tool and the Virtual Classroom tool at the same time as this also causes problems. Please make sure you open the correct tool. If you open a tool and do not see your tutor in the Participant list at the correct time, you may be using the wrong tool, for example you may be in the Virtual Classroom when you are supposed to be using the Chat tool. Close the tool by closing its window and then open the other tool.
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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Click Collaboration.
Chat
To start the Chat tool, click the Join button. The Chat window opens on top of the Blackboard window, in a new Java Window. Depending on your connection it can take up to a minute to open.
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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Note: If you do not see the Chat window, check to see if it is minimised on the Task bar. In the example below (Figure 46) it looks as if the Chat window hasnt opened. But if you look on the task bar you will see that a Blackboard Chat button is visible. Click on the Chat button to display the Chat window.
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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1. The View and Clear buttons let you clear the screen, or view private messages in a different pane. 2. The Participants area shows you who is online. If your tutor has disabled text chat, click on the Hand symbol if you want to ask a question or make a comment. 3. The main content screen shows all participants comments as they appear. 4. The Compose panel is where you type messages. 5. Click Send or press Enter to make them visible to other participants. 6. User info shows you more information (e.g. e-mail address) for any selected participant. Click Private Message to send a message visible only to the chosen recipient. When the session is over, simply click on the close button (red cross) to shut the window.
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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The Virtual Classroom tool lets you share the course map and content, browse the Web together and also has a whiteboard and chat screen.
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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Map
The Map tool displays the contents of the current course in the main content window.
The displayed content has the same functionality as elsewhere in Blackboard and instructors and students can open documents, run sound and video clips etc. This can be useful when discussing particular aspects of a course, or outlining assignments or tasks.
Whiteboard
The Whiteboard tool displays the contents of the current course in the main content window.
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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Participants can draw and write freehand or type text, create shapes, lines and equations.
Group Browser
The Group Browser tool displays the contents of any Website addresses entered in the address box. Tutors and students can enter Web site addresses, browse and share information. The tutor may decide to give limited control of the browser to students, as and when they require it.
Ask Question
The Ask Question tool lets students contact the tutor directly via the chat facility. Any replies received from tutors or fellow students can be accessed from the Question Inbox.
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk Page 21
When the session is over, simply click on the close button (red cross) to shut the window.
Groups
Navigation
Your tutor may set up a group area, where students can communicate on shared projects or tasks. The Groups area is accessed from the Communication link in the Tools menu on the left hand side of the screen. Click Communication. Click Group Pages.
Youll see a list of the group(s) of which you are a member. Click on the group name to get access to the group area.
Figure 56: The Group name link
Youll then see the facilities available to you within your group area.
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk Page 22
Other members of the group will be listed here, with their names and email addresses. The Group Discussion Board link takes you to a discussion board area which is available only to members of your group. Click on a forum link to read and post threads, see the Discussion Board area for more information.
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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The File Exchange link lets you upload and share files with other members of the group.
To add a file click Add File and browse to the file you want to upload. Open it, name it and click Submit to upload it. It is then visible to other members of the group. To download a file, click on a file name to open or download it. When youre finished, click OK to return to the Group Pages area.
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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Fill in the Subject line and message body as appropriate. You can attach an item by using the Attach a file link.
Click on Submit to send the email. Your instructor will give you further information about group projects and activities, and advance warning of any Virtual Classroom or Chat activities, if relevant to your course.
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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You will then see the various options available to you for sending messages. To send a message to all students on your course, click on All Student Users.
Blackboard will automatically insert the email addresses of all the students on your course, and highlight any invalid addresses.
Click the Browse button when it appearsthe Choose file window opens.
Figure 68: The Browse button
Browse to the file you want to attach. Click Open to attach the file.
Click Submit to send the message. You can send e-mail to all users, all groups, all teaching assistant users, all student users and all instructor users. You can also send to a single user or group or select several users or groups. Please note: that Blackboard only sends e-mail messages to your UHI GroupWise mail box. It doesnt have an inbox. Please check your UHI GroupWise email regularly to retrieve messages sent to you.
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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You will then see the Messages Inbox and Sent items.
To send a message, click the New Message button. The Compose Message window opens.
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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As with the Email tool, you can upload an attachment by using the Browse button.
Click Submit to send the message. All messages sent to you appear in your inbox. Youll see the number of unread messages and the total number of messages and in your Inbox. Click the Inbox link to see your unread messages.
In the Inbox area, you can create a new message as well as mark, unmark and delete them.
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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To read your messages, click the message title. Within the message, you can create a new message, reply to sender, reply to all recipients, forward, delete or print.
Attached documents are linked in the Attachment area. If you are not deleting the message, click on OK when you have finished. To delete a message click Remove. You can add folders to your messages area to organise and classify your messages for easy retrieval.
Figure 79: The Messages Add Folder link
Please note: to access Blackboard messages you have to log in to Blackboard and go to the Communications, Messages area. New messages are not flagged. If this tool is used on your course, it is up to you to check your messages on a regular basis.
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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Views
There are various ways to search for events in the Calendar. By default you will initially be shown the present day in Day view. Use the tabs to switch to view by week, month or year.
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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Digital Dropbox
Navigation
The Digital Dropbox is a tool that is used to store files on the Blackboard server, or send them to your tutor. You could, for example, store draft versions of work, or forward completed documents to your tutor.
Access the Digital Dropbox via the Tools menu, Course Tools.
Figure 84: The Digital Dropbox link
Browse for the file you want to upload, name it and add any comments.
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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Click Submit to upload the file. Please note: this will upload the file to the Blackboard server, but it will not send it to your instructor. That comes in the next step. To submit a file to your tutor, click Send File.
You can then select a file you have already uploaded from the Select File menu, or use the Browse button to select a file from your computer.
Add any comments as necessary and click Submit to send it to your tutor. Files sent using Add File and Send File will be visible in your Digital Dropbox area.
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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Please note that once Sent, you no longer have the option to remove that file. Files sent to you by your tutor will be visible in your Digital Dropbox area, ready for download, along with any comments left by the tutor.
Once the document is returned to you, you have the option to remove it after download.
Homepage
Navigation
As you may have little face-to-face contact with fellow students and your tutors, it is essential that you upload your photograph and tell others about yourself. To help you do this Blackboard lets you set up a homepagewith the aid of a simple template. To create a homepage, follow these steps: Select Course Tools from the Tools menu. Then click Homepage. The Homepage template opens.
The template
The Homepage template has 4 sections. The first of these is Homepage Information.
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk Page 34
In the Introduction write a brief and friendly biography. In Personal Information you can include details that relate to your abilities to interact online. For example, if you are rarely online in the evenings and weekends, share this with your fellow students in this section as it will help them to know what to expect from you. The next section lets you upload a photograph of yourself.
To upload an image, use the Browse button to find an appropriate image on your computer. Blackboard suggests that the image be 150 pixels x 150 pixels. To resize your photo you may need image editing software. If you have a digital camera, then you can use its image editing software. If you do not have a digital camera there are free image editing programs you can download from downloads page of the e-learning Website (http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning/downloads).
Section 3 of the template lets you pick up to three of your favourite Websites to share with your classmates and tutors. Use the description box to explain why you like a particular Website and why someone else might want to visit it.
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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From there you can either search for someone you know or list all of the people enrolled on your course.
Figure 96: The Roster Search window
Your tutors do not have home pages accessible through the Rosteryoull find their information in the Staff information section.
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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The View Grades screen shows you a list of the assignments and activities for your course. If appropriate the due date, possible points and weight are shown.
When you submit an assignment, the date and time are automatically recorded by Blackboard. When your tutor marks your work, your score appears in the Calculated Grade column. These grades are clickable links. Clicking on a grade shows the tutors feedback and lets you download any attached files.
Tasks
Navigation
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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To alter the status of your task, click on the wording in the Status colum. Clicking on Not Started, will change the status to In Progress. Clicking again will take you to Completed.
Help/ contact
If you have a problem with Blackboard, please check the Blackboard FAQ page on the e-learning Web site: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/e-learning/faqs All known issues and their solutions are recorded there. If you need help, please contact the UHI Helpdesk. Please note the Helpdesk hours are Monday Friday, 09:00-17:00. Please tell them your login id, student id, full name, College, the problem and (if applicable) the exact error message. Tel. 150 (internal) / 01463 279 150 (external). The Helpdesk e-mail is 150@uhi.ac.uk or you can fill in the on-line form on the UHI Website at http://www.courses.uhi.ac.uk/helpdesk/scripts/internal/logcall.php. If you want them to phone you, please include your phone number and the time that you will be available.
e-Learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, October 2009 Web: http://www.uhi.ac.uk/elearning elearning@uhi.ac.uk
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