1. Office of Learning &Technology
Purdue University North Central

2.  We will cover:
 The “big picture” and getting started with your
course
 Adding folders, web links, and files to you course
 Arranging the sidebar menu
 Dealing with StudentView and course availability
 Creating Discussions
 Modifying color themes and banners

3.  It is not a bad idea to start out with pen and
paper and map out your course
 What materials should be in there?
 What order do you want students to find
things in?
 What activities are you planning to do with
students (tests/quizzes,
assignments/projects, discussions, etc.)?

4.  Do not try to do everything at once – there’s
no right way to put together a course online
 You also do not need to do all of the “fancy
stuff” right away – start with familiar tools
first to lay the groundwork
 Look to your learning objectives, and the rest
may come together easier than you think!

5.  Audience: who are the learners?
 Behavior: what do you want to be able to
observe them doing?
 Condition: under what conditions will they do
this?
 Degree: to what degree must they perform to
be successful?
 For example: After the course, students will be
able to discuss at least three major outcomes
from the American Civil War, including social and
political implications.

6.  Faculty new to BlackBoard may ask, but there is
no easy answer – every course is different
 But, there are some fundamentals that will help
students find their way:
 Syllabus
 Course Calendar with due dates
 “Class Café” or Q&A discussion board for general help
 Lecture notes or introductions to units
 Assignments and/or quizzes
 Links to useful resources or readings

7.  Adding a Folder
 Adding aWeb Link
 Adding a File

8.  Rearranging Menu Items
 Adding a Menu Item
 Hiding/Showing a Menu Item

9.  StudentView
 Course Availability

10.  Creating a Discussion Forum
 Creating a Link to a Discussion Forum in a Content
Area
 CourseTheme
 Creating a Banner
 Adding a Banner to your Learn course.

11.  Staci: atrekles@pnc.edu
 Alex: acrisw00@pnc.edu
 Twitter: @PNCOLT
 http://pnc.edu/distance for all workshop
notes, links, and training needs