What is Blackboard?
Blackboard is a Learning Management System (LMS) which allows instructors and students to meet in one closed area online to participate in coursework. It is much like a website; however, participants must have a username and password in order to have access to the site. Within the LMS, there are built in tools such as discussions, e-mail, chat, assignments, assessments and a gradebook. Instructors can determine which elements of the LMS they wish to use as they design the course.

Who can teach in Blackboard?
Instructors do not have to teach fully online to teach in Blackboard. There are three different ways in which Blackboard can benefit an instructor. It can be used to augment a class, to blend a class and to teach fully online.

Augmenting—this is when an instructor teaches a traditional course (face-to-face) but also creates a course shell for some element of the course. The instructor may choose to post a syllabus online, lecture notes or even exams. The utilization of the online component in an augmented course is to enhance the face-to-face class but does not take time away from the face-to-face meetings.

Blending—when an instructor chooses to blend a course, he or she is determining that half of the course will still be conducted through face-to-face meetings while the other half is conducted online using the Blackboard LMS. The result of this is reduced seat time in the classroom- section designated ends with an R. Instructors need to have departmental approval to make their course reduced seat. The instructor determines which elements to present in the classroom and which elements to present online. Students who register for these courses only attend class in the classroom for half of the duration of the course and complete the other portion online as the instructor has designed the curriculum.

Fully online—these courses are taught completely online using the Blackboard LMS-section designated ends with an L. Instructors design the course content and all necessary elements based on the content area and students complete all coursework within the LMS. Instructors may choose to still meet with students synchronously (at the same time) through the use of the chat feature or Wimba’s Live Classroom, or instructors may choose to facilitate all coursework asynchronously (not occurring at the same time). This is not self-paced curriculum. Students still have deadlines for course material completion just as in a face-to-face class but all assignments and activities are turned in online within the Blackboard LMS.

I’m interested. What’s next?
There are several options depending on how you would like to utilize the online element in your course.

I want to augment or blend—Some of the tools that can benefit when augmenting your face-to-face class are discussion, e-mail, chat, and posting notes and there are many others to choose from. Click on our Course Request link from the Center for Learning, Teaching and Technology’s home page and complete the steps to request an empty course shell for your class. Your course shell will be set up within seven business days of the request. You are also welcome to attend one of our one week online trainings as an introduction to utilizing Blackboard in this medium. You will need the call number(s) for the course(s) you will be requesting. The call number can be found on the assist website, under the Enhanced Course Section Search link.

I want to teach online but have had no prior experience with online teaching—click on our TOL Training link from the Center for Learning, Teaching and Technology’s home page and sign up for our training. We will assist you with pedagogical considerations and technical training to ensure that your course is designed to meet all of your and your student’s needs. The complete explanation of the training program is available on that web page.

I know how to use Blackboard and I have been through training. What do I do to prepare to teach online?— Click on our Course Request link from the Center for Learning, Teaching and Technology’s home page and complete the steps to request an empty course shell for your class. Your course shell will be set up within seven business days of the request. Remember that all requests for new course shells for courses that will be taught fully online are due two months prior to the first semester the course will be taught (for a Fall offering, request shell by end of June; for a Spring offering, request shell by mid November). You will need the call number(s) for the course(s) you will be requesting. The call number can be found on the assist website, under the Enhanced Course Section Search link.

What else does the Center offer?—the Center for Learning, Teaching and Technology is dedicated to providing the latest in technology for online learning as well as research concerning all aspects of this medium. We are always interested in the faculty perspective and collaboration as we continue to improve upon the services we offer. We invite you to the following:

Innovations in Online Learning (IOL) Luncheons—each month, the Center hosts a luncheon to introduce and discuss the latest technologies available. All faculty are invited to these luncheons. Check your mail for our invitation postcard or click on our Calendar of Events link on the CLTT homepage to check the date for the next luncheon.

Champions in Online Learning—this recently created group offers opportunity for online faculty to showcase the technologies and unique design in their online courses. We encourage all faculty to become Champions in Online Learning and participate in this ongoing collaboration to utilize best practices in all courses. Click our Champions link on the Center’s home page for more information.

Additional Software Trainings that can enhance courses—we are excited to provide additional trainings both face-to-face and online for your convenience. If you click on Software Trainings link on the CLTT home page, you will find a list of the software supported by UTPA and additional software from which we feel you might benefit. Click on any to learn more.