CETL - Distance Education

Notes

With the Notes tool, you can create general or learning module notes to use as a reminder or study aid. General notes are relevant to the entire course; learning module notes are relevant to specific content within a learning module, such as a quiz or discussion topic.

Both general notes and learning module notes are private and cannot be viewed by other members of the course. To access your notebook, under My Tools, click Notes.

You can create general notes, edit notes, print notes, and delete items.

My Progress

The My Progress tool displays a report that includes information about your participation in the course.

My Files

You can use My Files to create and store your personal files in CE 6. Each user has their own My Files that is always private and cannot be accessed by other users.

You can use My Files for the following tasks:

Locating and Viewing Files and Folders - To locate and view files and folders, you use the folder tree in the left frame and the list view in the content display area at the center of the screen. The breadcrumbs, at the top of the screen, display your current location in the course.

To preview files, you click their titles. You can also set the number of items listed on one page, sort by a column, or filter by file type.

Creating and Editing Files and Folders - You can create and edit HTML files and organize them in folders. You can also rename files and folders. Files in WebCT use a default character set selected by the WebCT administrator but you can declare unique character sets for individual files.

My Grades

The My Grades screen displays all released grades for your course.

Viewing My Grades

From My Tools, click My Grades. The My Grades screen appears, displaying all released grades for your course. Depending on administrator settings, you may see Section Instructor or Teaching Assistant comments. If an item has been set to display statistics, you'll either see the average score or a View Statistics button that lets you see detailed statistics.

Who's Online

You can use the Who's Online tool to chat in real time with users who are enrolled in any of your courses and logged in to CE 6 at the same time you are logged in. You can access the Who's Online tool from My WebCT. If a link to the Who's Online tool appears under Course Tools on the course menu, you can also access it there.

The Who's Online tool is similar to the Chat tool except that you use the Who's Online tool to chat with users without first entering a course. You use the Chat tool to chat with users only while you are in a particular course.

Web Links

The Web Links tool allows you to view web sites that are outside of the course, but pertain to content in the course.

Example: For an English Literature course, the designer for the course may have added a web link to a web site with an article written by one of the authors being studied in the course.

Viewing and Printing the Syllabus

You can use Syllabus to view and print the course syllabus. Depending on its format, the syllabus may contain sections that can be expanded and collapsed. You can expand each section to view course information that is specific to that section. You can also print the syllabus allowing you to have a copy on hand for easy reference.

Search

You can search for data within a course.

Note: Depending on administrator settings, it may take from one hour to one day for new course content to be added to the Search index.

Mail

Mail allows you to communicate with other users via written correspondence, in text or HTML format, and file attachments. You can send mail to other users in the selected course or section.

Mail can be used to exchange messages with other users, but it cannot be used to exchange messages over the Internet. This ensures that you do not receive undesired or irrelevant messages from external sources and contributes to the stability of the messaging system by limiting exposure to viruses.

Learning Modules

Learning modules contain related course content that is organized to specify a learning path. A learning path is meant to guide you through the content in order to help you achieve the learning module's objectives.

When you work with a learning module, you can navigate the content by using the table of contents or Action Menu.

If the table of contents is set to display, it appears as either a pane to the left of the learning module, or as the first page of the learning module. Navigate the learning module by clicking links in the table of contents.
If the Action Menu is set to display, it appears above the learning module. Navigate the learning module by clicking the navigation buttons in the Action Menu.

The Action Menu can also provide links to content, such as a quiz or discussion topic, or tools which help you work with the learning module. These tools are: Bookmarks, Create Printable View and Notes.

Discussions

The Discussions tool provides asynchronous communication between Section Instructors, Teaching Assistants, and Students. With the Discussions tool, you can post and read messages.

The Discussions tool is divided into discussion categories, discussion topics, and discussion messages.

Discussion categories can be used to group related discussion topics, but topics can also exist on their own. Topics can be a question or the introduction of a new concept to which you can post messages. By default, discussion messages are presented in threads, which are a series of replies to the same subject, allowing you to follow the discussion.

Chat

The Chat tool allows you to communicate in real time with other users in the course. You can use Chat to engage in real-time conversations with all users or selected users. You can also use the Chat tool's Whiteboard to draw objects, enter text, and import images that can be viewed in real time by other users.

Your Section Instructor has the option to create Chat rooms, Whiteboard rooms, or combined Chat and Whiteboard rooms.

Calendar

Calendar allows you to view and create dated reminders about events. Entries can be viewed for a day, week, or month.

Course members can create course-related entries that are viewable to all course members. Institution Administrators can create institution-related entries that are viewable to all institution members.

All users can create personal entries that are not related to any course but are for personal reminders. These types of entries are private.

You can access Calendar from the My WebCT screen or from Course Tools in a course.

Assignments

You can use the Assignments tool to view, complete, and submit assignments that are sent to you from the Section Instructor. If the Assignments tool is available, a link to it appears under Course Tools on the course menu. If there are new assignments, a New icon appears next to Assignments.

There are two types of assignments:

Text with Attachments - A Text with attachments assignment requires you to submit your assignment by entering text in the Assignments tool or by attaching your own files.
Web Site - A Web site assignment requires you to submit a ZIP file containing linked HTML files that create a Web site. You specify an entry point for your Web site and use relative links to link all pages.

Assessments

The Assessments tool is used to deliver online tests on course content.

There are three types of assessments in CE 6:

Quizzes: online tests for which grades are assigned.

Surveys: anonymous online tests for which no grades are assigned.

Self tests: assessments for which you receive a grade but the grade is not recorded or counted towards your final grade in the course. Self tests are merely to give you the chance to test your knowledge and understanding of course content.

Announcements

Announcements are course-wide notices sent by administrators or instructors. Announcements appear in your My WebCT, on the Announcements screen, or they can appear as a pop-up message when you log into the course.

Announcements usually include important information pertaining to your course.

Accessing Content in the Course Content Tools

You can access a variety of content from the Course Content tool. For example, the Section Instructor can put links to assignments and quizzes in the Course Content tool. This allows you to access the assignments and quizzes from a central location, without having to go to each course tool.

The link to the Course Content tool appears in one of the following locations:

under Course Tools if the course menu appears vertically

as the first link if the course menu is appears horizontally

The course menu is visible throughout the course.

Blackboard CE 6 Tools

A tool is a function in the Blackboard software that allows you to perform specific activities. Blackboard CE 6 has the following types of tools:

Course Tools - allow you to access course material, complete assessments and assignments, and communicate with others; and

My Tools - allow you to monitor your own progress. You can view your marks and track your activities in a course. You can also make your own notes about course material that you want to focus on.

Place your cursor over the Tool below for information about what it does.


	Notes With the Notes tool, you can create general or learning module notes to use as a reminder or study aid. General notes are relevant to the entire course; learning module notes are relevant to specific content within a learning module, such as a quiz or discussion topic. Both general notes and learning module notes are private and cannot be viewed by other members of the course. To access your notebook, under My Tools, click Notes. You can create general notes, edit notes, print notes, and delete items. My Progress The My Progress tool displays a report that includes information about your participation in the course. My Files You can use My Files to create and store your personal files in CE 6. Each user has their own My Files that is always private and cannot be accessed by other users. You can use My Files for the following tasks: Locating and Viewing Files and Folders - To locate and view files and folders, you use the folder tree in the left frame and the list view in the content display area at the center of the screen. The breadcrumbs, at the top of the screen, display your current location in the course. To preview files, you click their titles. You can also set the number of items listed on one page, sort by a column, or filter by file type. Creating and Editing Files and Folders - You can create and edit HTML files and organize them in folders. You can also rename files and folders. Files in WebCT use a default character set selected by the WebCT administrator but you can declare unique character sets for individual files. My Grades The My Grades screen displays all released grades for your course. Viewing My Grades From My Tools, click My Grades. The My Grades screen appears, displaying all released grades for your course. Depending on administrator settings, you may see Section Instructor or Teaching Assistant comments. If an item has been set to display statistics, you'll either see the average score or a View Statistics button that lets you see detailed statistics. Who's Online You can use the Who's Online tool to chat in real time with users who are enrolled in any of your courses and logged in to CE 6 at the same time you are logged in. You can access the Who's Online tool from My WebCT. If a link to the Who's Online tool appears under Course Tools on the course menu, you can also access it there. The Who's Online tool is similar to the Chat tool except that you use the Who's Online tool to chat with users without first entering a course. You use the Chat tool to chat with users only while you are in a particular course. Web Links The Web Links tool allows you to view web sites that are outside of the course, but pertain to content in the course. Example: For an English Literature course, the designer for the course may have added a web link to a web site with an article written by one of the authors being studied in the course. Viewing and Printing the Syllabus You can use Syllabus to view and print the course syllabus. Depending on its format, the syllabus may contain sections that can be expanded and collapsed. You can expand each section to view course information that is specific to that section. You can also print the syllabus allowing you to have a copy on hand for easy reference. Search You can search for data within a course. Note: Depending on administrator settings, it may take from one hour to one day for new course content to be added to the Search index. Mail Mail allows you to communicate with other users via written correspondence, in text or HTML format, and file attachments. You can send mail to other users in the selected course or section. Mail can be used to exchange messages with other users, but it cannot be used to exchange messages over the Internet. This ensures that you do not receive undesired or irrelevant messages from external sources and contributes to the stability of the messaging system by limiting exposure to viruses. Learning Modules Learning modules contain related course content that is organized to specify a learning path. A learning path is meant to guide you through the content in order to help you achieve the learning module's objectives. When you work with a learning module, you can navigate the content by using the table of contents or Action Menu. If the table of contents is set to display, it appears as either a pane to the left of the learning module, or as the first page of the learning module. Navigate the learning module by clicking links in the table of contents. If the Action Menu is set to display, it appears above the learning module. Navigate the learning module by clicking the navigation buttons in the Action Menu. The Action Menu can also provide links to content, such as a quiz or discussion topic, or tools which help you work with the learning module. These tools are: Bookmarks, Create Printable View and Notes. Discussions The Discussions tool provides asynchronous communication between Section Instructors, Teaching Assistants, and Students. With the Discussions tool, you can post and read messages. The Discussions tool is divided into discussion categories, discussion topics, and discussion messages. Discussion categories can be used to group related discussion topics, but topics can also exist on their own. Topics can be a question or the introduction of a new concept to which you can post messages. By default, discussion messages are presented in threads, which are a series of replies to the same subject, allowing you to follow the discussion. Chat The Chat tool allows you to communicate in real time with other users in the course. You can use Chat to engage in real-time conversations with all users or selected users. You can also use the Chat tool's Whiteboard to draw objects, enter text, and import images that can be viewed in real time by other users. Your Section Instructor has the option to create Chat rooms, Whiteboard rooms, or combined Chat and Whiteboard rooms. Calendar Calendar allows you to view and create dated reminders about events. Entries can be viewed for a day, week, or month. Course members can create course-related entries that are viewable to all course members. Institution Administrators can create institution-related entries that are viewable to all institution members. All users can create personal entries that are not related to any course but are for personal reminders. These types of entries are private. You can access Calendar from the My WebCT screen or from Course Tools in a course. Assignments You can use the Assignments tool to view, complete, and submit assignments that are sent to you from the Section Instructor. If the Assignments tool is available, a link to it appears under Course Tools on the course menu. If there are new assignments, a New icon appears next to Assignments. There are two types of assignments: Text with Attachments - A Text with attachments assignment requires you to submit your assignment by entering text in the Assignments tool or by attaching your own files. Web Site - A Web site assignment requires you to submit a ZIP file containing linked HTML files that create a Web site. You specify an entry point for your Web site and use relative links to link all pages. Assessments The Assessments tool is used to deliver online tests on course content. There are three types of assessments in CE 6: Quizzes: online tests for which grades are assigned. Surveys: anonymous online tests for which no grades are assigned. Self tests: assessments for which you receive a grade but the grade is not recorded or counted towards your final grade in the course. Self tests are merely to give you the chance to test your knowledge and understanding of course content. Announcements Announcements are course-wide notices sent by administrators or instructors. Announcements appear in your My WebCT, on the Announcements screen, or they can appear as a pop-up message when you log into the course. Announcements usually include important information pertaining to your course. Accessing Content in the Course Content Tools You can access a variety of content from the Course Content tool. For example, the Section Instructor can put links to assignments and quizzes in the Course Content tool. This allows you to access the assignments and quizzes from a central location, without having to go to each course tool. The link to the Course Content tool appears in one of the following locations: under Course Tools if the course menu appears vertically as the first link if the course menu is appears horizontally The course menu is visible throughout the course. Blackboard CE 6 Tools A tool is a function in the Blackboard software that allows you to perform specific activities. Blackboard CE 6 has the following types of tools: Course Tools - allow you to access course material, complete assessments and assignments, and communicate with others; and My Tools - allow you to monitor your own progress. You can view your marks and track your activities in a course. You can also make your own notes about course material that you want to focus on. Place your cursor over the Tool below for information about what it does.