Welcome to the Blackboard Help & Support Site for Faculty at Jacksonville University. This site will help you use our Blackboard LMS, design and develop your course sites and help answer some of your questions.
The JU Blackboard system has been upgraded to the latest release, version 9.1 Service Pack 8 (June 2012). This new version of Blackboard has an updated look and feel, and several new features.
Blackboard 9.1, also called Blackboard Learn, has new features and capabilities that we are sure you will appreciate. Blackboard Learn uses a web 2.0 interface that allows users to drag-and-drop items that appear on the screen, select drop-down menus, and even access contextual help. You will enjoy using fewer clicks to navigate the system and complete tasks on your courses.
How to Login
Blackboard is configured to use your JU username and password. This is the password that instructors use to login to WebAdvisor, Jacksonville University computers, e-mail and many more systems on campus.
Supported Web Browsers for Blackboard 9.1
In order for students to have the best experience using JU's Blackboard system, it is important to use one of the web browsers supported by Blackboard. See the currently Supported Web Browsers & Operating Systems.
System Requirements
Blackboard FAQBe sure to read the
Blackboard FAQ where you will find the answers to the most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about using Blackboard at Jacksonville University.
Blackboard Demo Course
We have created a demo class for students to learn more information about using Blackboard. This demo course is designed to acquaint students with different features of Blackboard. The demo course will allow them to see how most online courses are designed, how to find information in different content areas and to introduce you to other features of Blackboard. Touring the demo course will allow students to see what taking an online course is like before enrolling in an online program. Be sure to follow the instructions in the demo to become acquainted with both Blackboard and online instruction.
We strongly recommend that if you are new to Blackboard you complete the demo course before your class begins. Guests who are interested in learning how Blackboard works are encourages to use the demo course as well.
To begin the Blackboard demo, click here to go to Blackboard* and use the following log in to access the course.
User ID: student
Password: demo
*Be sure to Logout of Blackboard if you are currently logged in with your JU account.
After logging in, click on the hyperlink on the right hand side of the page called Blackboard Demo Course. This will bring you to the announcements page and simply follow instructions.
If you would like to be added into the course with your own account and have it under your Course list send us an email (
acole1@ju.edu)
Please feel free to share this demo course with your students and let the CTL know your comments or if you have any suggestion.
Tutorial Links for Faculty The following tutorials are available in PDF format and interactive videos for using Blackboard 9.1 for Faculty. To view the video tutorials, you may need to install the latest version of the free
Adobe Flash Player.
About Blackboard Learn 9.1
| Blackboard Learn™ Release 9.1 New Features - Official brochure |
(PDF) |
| Blackboard Learn™ 9.1 Service Pack 8 - Official brochure |
(PDF) |
| Blackboard Learn™ Service Pack 8 - Release Notes |
(PDF) |
| Blackboard Learn 9.1 System Requirements |
(PDF) |
| The New 2012 Theme for Service Pack (SP) 8 |
(Video) |
| New Features/Enhancements in Blackboard 9.1 SP8 |
(PDF) |
Before You Start
| Organizing your Online Content |
(PDF) |
| Preparing your Content for Online Delivery |
(PDF) |
| Moving your Content into Blackboard |
(PDF) |
| Creating Accessible Course Content |
(PDF) |
| Balancing Asynchronous and Synchronous Learning in Blackboard |
(PDF) |
Get Started
| Introduction to Blackboard Learn 9.1 - A Self-Paced Tutorial |
(PDF) |
| Bb 9.1 Course Management Quick Reference Guide |
(PDF) |
| Getting Started with a Course Moved from Blackboard 8 |
(PDF) |
| Blackboard Tool and Functionality Guide |
(PDF) |
| 2012 Blackboard Exemplary Course Rubric |
(PDF) |
| Begining of Semester Checklist |
(PDF) |
Working In The Course Environment
| Log In + Hide/Unhide the Course Menu |
(Video) |
| Did you forget your password? |
(PDF) |
| Manage the "My Courses" Module Settings |
(PDF) |
| Hiding Courses from View on the Home Page |
(PDF) |
| Getting Started with the Course Environment |
(PDF | Video) |
| Exploring the Course Environment |
(PDF) |
| Course-To-Course Navigation |
(Video) |
| Select the Course Entry Point |
(Video) |
| Add a Banner to Your Course Entry Point |
(Video) |
| Create a Blank Page (for displaying content) |
(Video) |
| Adding Files to Course Files |
(Video) |
| Making Your Course Available to Students |
(PDF | Video) |
| Manage the Course Menu |
(PDF | Video) |
Building The Course Content
| Getting Started with Course Content |
(PDF) |
| Using the Text Editor |
(Video) |
| Edit the Course Home Page |
(Video) |
| Create an Item |
(PDF) |
| Create a File |
(PDF) |
| Add an Image |
(PDF) |
| Copy Content |
(PDF) |
| Move Content |
(PDF) |
| Capture a screen in Windows XP |
(PDF) |
| Build a Learning Module |
(PDF | Video) |
| Create a Lesson Plan |
(PDF | Video) |
| Create a Module Page |
(PDF) |
| Create a Content Folder |
(PDF) |
| Create a Blank Page |
(PDF | Video) |
| Add a Glossary Term |
(Video) |
| Create Syllabus |
(PDF) |
| Add Textbook Information |
(Video) |
| Create a Tool Link |
(PDF | Video) |
| Create a Course Link |
(PDF) |
| Add a URL |
(PDF | Video) |
| Create a Mashup |
(Video) |
| Mashups - Pasting from Word |
(PDF) |
| Mashups - Using Flickr |
(PDF) |
| Mashups - Using Slideshare |
(PDF) |
| Mashups - Using YouTube |
(PDF) |
| Attach Course Files to a Content Item |
(Video) |
| Tour the Course Files Feature |
(Video) |
| Add Your Own Web Content Through Course Files |
(Video) |
| Enable Review Status |
(PDF) |
| Adaptive Release |
|
| Create a Simple Adaptive Release Rule |
(PDF | Video) |
| Best Practices for Using Adaptive Release |
(PDF) |
| Create Multiple Rules to Release a Content Item |
(PDF | Video) |
Communication and Collaboration
| Announcements and Scheduling |
|
| Create an Announcement |
(PDF | Video) |
| Create a Course Contact |
(PDF | Video) |
| Create a Course Task |
(PDF | Video) |
| Send Email |
(PDF | Video) |
| Send Blackboard Messages |
(Video) |
| Blogs |
|
| Create a Blog |
(PDF | Video) |
| Create and Edit Blog Entries |
(Video) |
| Commenting on a Blog Entry |
(Video) |
| Manage and Grade Blogs |
(PDF) |
| Work with Group Blogs |
(PDF) |
| Chat |
|
| Create and Manage a Chat Session |
(PDF) |
Getting Started with Interactive Tool
Discover the differences among Blogs, Journals, Wikis, and
the Discussion Board and how to use each tool affectively
in your course. |
(PDF) |
| Discussion Board |
|
| Create and Edit a Discussion Board Forum |
(PDF | Video) |
| Manage and Grade a Discussion Board Forum |
(PDF | Video) |
| Change Discussion Board Forum Settings |
(Video) |
| Create a Discussion Board Thread |
(Video) |
| Reply to a Discussion Board Thread |
(Video) |
| Grade Discussion Board Threads |
(Video) |
| Search the Discussion Board and Collect Posts |
(Video) |
| Tag Discussion Board Posts |
(Video) |
| Rate Discussion Board Threads |
(Video) |
| Manage Discussion Board Roles |
(Video) |
| Moderate Discussion Board Forums |
(Video) |
| Work with the Group Discussion Board |
(PDF) |
| Journals |
|
| Getting Started with Journal Prompts |
(PDF) |
| Create a Journal |
(PDF | Video) |
| Create and Edit Journal Entries |
(Video) |
| Commenting on a Journal Entry |
(Video) |
| Manage and Grade Journals |
(PDF) |
| Work with Group Journals |
(PDF) |
| Twitter |
|
| Add a Twitter Feed in Your Course |
(PDF) |
| Virtual Classroom |
|
| Create and Manage a Virtual Classroom Session |
(PDF) |
| Wikis |
|
| Create a Wikis |
(PDF | Video) |
| Adding Rich Content to a Wiki |
(Video) |
| Editing Wiki Pages |
(Video) |
| Linking Wiki Pages |
(Video) |
| Viewing a Wiki Page History |
(Video) |
| Manage and Grade Wikis |
(PDF | Video) |
| Work with Group Wikis |
(PDF) |
Integrate Other Web 2.0 Tools
Engage your students by adding new ways to communicate
and collaborate to your course. Several free Web 2.0
tools are described and rated. |
(PDF | Video) |
| Post a Google Docs link into your Bb Course |
(Video) |
Assessing Learners
| Assignments |
|
| Getting Started with Assignments |
(PDF) |
| Downloading Assignments |
(Video) |
| Clean Out Graded Assignment Files |
(Video) |
| SafeAssign@JU |
(PDF) |
| Create a SafeAssignment |
(PDF | Video) |
| Create Extra Credit Activity |
(PDF) |
| Grade Center |
|
| The Grade Center |
(PDF | Video) |
| The Needs Grading Page |
(PDF) |
| Managing Grade Attempts |
(PDF) |
| Hide a Grade Center Column from Student View |
(PDF) |
| Create Smart Views |
(Video) |
| Create a Grade Rule |
(PDF | Video) |
| View Grade Details |
(Video) |
| Anonymous Grading |
(Video) |
| Create Grading Notes |
(Video) |
| Create a Grade Center Report |
(Video) |
| Grade Assessments Question by Question |
(Video) |
| View and Download Grade History |
(Video) |
| Color Code the Grade Center |
(Video) |
| Work Offline with the Grade Center |
(Video) |
| Rubrics |
|
| Create a Grading Rubric |
(PDF | Video) |
| More on Interactive Rubrics |
(PDF) |
| Associating a Rubric with a Gradable Item |
(Video) |
| Grading with Rubrics |
(Video) |
| Blackboard Rubrics Quick Guide |
(PDF) |
| Student Performance |
|
| Performance Dashboard |
(Video) |
| Check on Students with the Performance Dashboard |
(PDF | Video) |
| Early Warning System |
(PDF) |
| Send Notifications |
(PDF | Video) |
| Edit Notifications |
(PDF) |
| Create Rules for Notifications and Alerts |
(PDF) |
| Tests and Surveys |
|
| Online Assessment |
(PDF) |
| Create a Survey |
(PDF) |
| Read Survey Results |
(Video) |
| Getting Started with Building a Test |
(PDF) |
| Create a Test |
(PDF | Video) |
| Setting Test Options (includes setting the timer for a test) |
(Video) |
| Automatic Regrading |
(PDF | Video) |
| Test Question Types |
(PDF) |
| Create a Multiple Choice Question |
(Video) |
| Create a True or False Question |
(Video) |
| Create a Fill in the Blank Question |
(Video) |
| Create a Fill in Multiple Blanks Question |
(Video) |
| Create a Short Answer Question |
(Video) |
| Create a Matching Question |
(Video) |
| Create a Calculated Formula Question |
(Video) |
| Create a Calculated Numeric Question |
(Video) |
| Create an Essay Question |
(Video) |
| Create a Hot Spot Question |
(Video) |
| Create a Jumbled Question |
(Video) |
| Create a Linkert Question |
(Video) |
| Create a Multiple Answer Question |
(Video) |
| Create an Ordering Question |
(Video) |
| Create a Quiz Bowl Question |
(Video) |
| Add an Existing Question to a Test |
(Video) |
| Create Test Pools |
(PDF | Video) |
| Create a Random Block and Add It to a Test |
(Video) |
| Tagging Question for Reuse: Categories & Keywords |
(Video) |
| Question Finder: Metadata |
(Video) |
| Export and Import a Test or Survey |
(Video) |
| Upload Test Questions from Excel |
(PDF | Video) |
| Awarding Negative Points for Incorrect Answers |
(Video) |
| Best Practices for Faculty - Quizzes and Surveys |
(PDF) |
| Strategies to Minimize Cheating in Online Exams |
(PDF) |
| Testing Best Practices for Students in Blackboard Learn |
(PDF) |
| Create a Self and Peer Assessment |
(PDF) |
| Best Practices for Using Self & Peer Assessments |
(PDF) |
Managing Group Work
Setting Permissions
| Turning Tool Availability On and Off |
(Video) |
| Making Tools Available to Students |
(Video) |
Reporting and Course Utilities
| Course Reports |
(Video) |
| Run a Report of User Activity by Content Area |
(PDF) |
| Run a Report of User Activity by Forum |
(PDF) |
| Run a Report of User Activity by Group |
(PDF ) |
| Run a Report of All User Activity |
(PDF | Video) |
| Save a Course Report |
(PDF | Video) |
| Turn on Statistics Tracking for a Content Item |
(PDF | Video) |
Content Reuse
At the End | End of Semester Checklist |
(PDF) |
Best Practices IMPORTANT: Blackboard created the videos in support of the previous version of Bb, version 9.1. However, we are using the latest version, 9.1-SP8. There are some small and subtle differences between what you will see in these videos and the JU Blackboard Learn Server.
Contact Information
If you are experiencing any trouble with Blackboard please contact the IT Helpdesk at 904-256-7200 or by sending an email to helpdesk@ju.edu. Please be sure to give or enter the following information in your issue ticket: Complete name, Email address, Student id, Operating System of your computer, Web Browser you are using (Name and version), Course id, Course Name and Area of problem. Be sure to give a full and detail description of your issue and include the steps to repeat it at our end. It's important to be as specific as possible so we can determine the problem.
Bb Ambassadors: The Bb Ambassadors serve as "advanced experts" to their colleagues. The 2011-12 Bb Ambassadors are:
Arturo Cole
JU Blackboard Administrator
Director of Online Marketing and Development
Marilyn Repsher Center for Teaching & Learning
Jacksonville University