New to Blackboard

Getting Started

Whether you're new to online instruction or new to Blackboard Learn, you can start with the basics and add to it over time. Start with a week or two of materials and add more later. This process helps you get students involved while you develop and refine the next portion of materials.

We've compiled the basics of course building for the novice Blackboard Learn instructors. We want to help you build the basic course to get you started. As you get more comfortable working in Learn, you can add more to your courses.

Students may have anxiety about online courses too. You can help them feel comfortable in these ways:

Customize your Blackboard Profile. All users in Blackboard have a personal profile that contains information to facilitate online interaction and allow Bb to send you notifications, if desired. It is pre-populated with basic information like your name and email, but you can customize it with additional data and even add a profile picture! By default, your name and picture (or the default silhouette) will appear in several places in Bb, like course discussions, blogs, messages, conversations, groups, and the class roster. To access your profile, log in to Blackboard and click your name in the menu on the left. Please see the Customize your Blackboard Profile help article for more information about customizing your profile.
Include information on how to contact you and where to find your course information.
Add an introduction video about you. You can help students realize that their instructor is a real person with enthusiasm for the subject matter.
Upload a syllabus.
Hold office hours in discussions, Blackboard Collaborate, or the Microsoft Teams for Blackboard LTI integration to help orient your students to your courses and answer questions on a regular basis.
Ask your students to find quiet places to work, turn off cell phones, and remove distractions.
Provide resources for working online and materials that they can print or download for future reference.

Teaching online can be overwhelming to start, but we're here for you! After you complete these basic steps, you'll have a course ready for students!

Visit Blackboard's Quick Start page for more information.

Blackboard Request Form

The Blackboard Request Form may be used to add and remove users from a course, merge multiple sections, import content, and request an under development site. Requests are usually processed within 2 business days.

If an instructor submits a request to have a GTA, course builder, or guest added to their course we add them as requested. We do not require chair approval in these situations.
- If an instructor requests an undergraduate teaching assistant (UTA) be added to a course, please make sure to select this specific option on the request from. Approval from the department chair is required to complete these requests. There are two roles available for UTA's. College/departments must decide, based upon their requirements, which type of role is being used.
  - UTA-Grader role provides access to all of the same tools the instructor and teaching assistant have in the course. This includes posting content, grading, participating in discussions, blogs, wikis and all student interactions.
  - UTA-Builder role provides access to all tools the course builder has in the course. This includes posting content and sending announcements. This role does NOT provide access to grading or any student interactions.
- Note: In order for someone to be added to a course with the instructor role they need to be listed in Campus Connection as the instructor of record for that course.
- Note: Giving someone TA or Instructor access to a course in Blackboard allows them to copy content from one course to another.
If a course copy request is submitted by an individual who was not the original instructor/developer, we require written approval from the original instructor or the Department Chair/Dean.
When a department Chair/Dean requests access to a course or requests to have someone added to a course, we recommend the Department Chair/Dean notify the original course instructor as a courtesy, but this is not required.
The above procedures are in place based on FERPA guidelines to protect access to student grades.

Attend a Workshop

TTaDA offers a variety of professional development workshops and events for faculty and staff focused around four competency areas: Personal & Professional Development, Policy & Procedure, Software & Technology and Teaching & Learning. Check out the Upcoming Sessions for available session dates and times.

We also offer workshops and specialized training to departments on a variety of topics. Please contact us for more information or to schedule a session.

Instructional Design Consultation

A team of Instructional Designers are available to provide assistance to instructors, administrators and staff. Whether you need to develop a full course or program, review and revise an existing course, or flip all or part of your course, Instructional Designers are here to help. We provide instructional design assistance for fully online, flipped, hybrid, blended and traditional face-to-face courses. If instructors have any questions or concerns about a course, we are available in person, over the phone, by email, or through web-conferencing tools.

REQUEST A CONSULTATION

Resources and Tutorials

Faculty Resource Site

The Faculty Resource Site is a Blackboard Course that all UND Faculty are enrolled into at the start of each semester. The resource site has information on using the technologies UND has made available to faculty, staff and students for teaching and learning.

Additional Resources

Browser Support

To see a list of supported web browsers please visit Blackboard's Browser Support page.

UND Tech Support

UND Tech Support provides support to students, faculty and staff to provide technology tools for success in and outside of the classroom.