We have broken up our Blackboard training into several key areas, from the basics to more in-depth features. Please choose which best suits your needs:
Basics of Using Blackboard
For new users who want to learn how to navigate the system, become familiar with the in-built tools and add basic content.
Using Blackboard to Create Content: Making Your Course Look Good
Once you know the basics of Blackboard, this training shows you a few simple tricks for upgrading the visual quality of your course.
Creation of Blackboard Summative and Formative Assessments
Learn how to add Blackboard Tests into courses for both Summative and Formative learning activities.
Blackboard Assignments
Blackboard has its own Assignments tool that allows you to check for plagiarism, mark online and release grades and feedback at a given date. If you are collecting posters or videos from your students, this may be a preferable choice over Turnitin.
Using the Preview User
The Blackboard system allows you to test almost all parts of your content via the use of a “Preview User” option in your course. This 2 minute video guides you through this part of the system.
Personalising the Student Experience: Adaptive Release of Content
Adaptive release tools in Blackboard allow you to release content under certain pre-set circumstances (rules), enabling you to personalise student learning.
Reading Lists and Blackboard
To create or edit your reading list, view the University Library’s guidance.
If your Reading List is not available in the Blackboard left-hand menu, follow this guide created by the University of Manchester’s Library team.
Groups for Collaboration, Group work and Administration
This training is designed to introduce to you the “Groups” tools in Blackboard. These tools enable you to separate your students into groups to:
– Allow students to work together collaboratively OR
– Allow you to administer students on your course OR
– Allow you to personalise the learning of your students
Using the Grade Centre to Access Student Grades
The Blackboard Grade Centre stores all student grades and submission data for Blackboard assignments and tests in a course. It is possible to manually mark submissions from the Grade Centre, and it can be used to calculate overall weighted grades or averages for multiple assessments.