This document discusses approaches to providing Blackboard support at the National University of Ireland, Galway with reduced staffing. It provides context about NUI Galway and the roles of its Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) and Information Systems Service (ISS) in supporting Blackboard. It then outlines 10 tips for supporting Blackboard with fewer resources, such as going hosted, streamlining support processes, promoting self-help, training other staff, being strategic, and utilizing champions and professional networks. The document concludes by asking what additional tips readers would suggest.

1. Doing More with Less:
Approaches to providing Blackboard support to
academic staff in the context of reduced staffing
Sharon Flynn & Paul Gormley (@sharonlflynn, @pgormley123)
Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
National University of Ireland, Galway

2. Context: NUI Galway
• Established 1845
• 17,000 students
• 2,200 staff
• 5 colleges
• Undergrad & postgrad
• Traditional, blended &
distance

3. Context: Blackboard @ NUI Galway

4. Context: Blackboard @ NUI Galway
CELT ISS
LT team - Pedagogical BB Admin & helpdesk -
Technical

5. Context: Reduced Staffing
cc licensed ( BY ) flickr photo by cogdogblog:
http://flickr.com/photos/cogdog/4461665810/

6. Our Top 10 Survival Tips
cc licensed ( BY NC ND ) flickr photo by Hizonic:
http://flickr.com/photos/hizonic/8205345711/

7. Tip 1: Go hosted
cc licensed ( BY ) flickr photo by hisperati:
http://flickr.com/photos/40987321@N02/5580348753/

8. Tip 2: Just Say No
cc licensed ( BY NC SA ) flickr photo by Mausi Photography:
http://flickr.com/photos/artistic_europe/3609333774/

9. Tip 3: Streamline Support
cc licensed ( BY NC ) flickr photo by muffinresearch:
http://flickr.com/photos/muffinresearch/78447350/

10. Tip 4: Promote Self Help
www.nuigalway.ie/blackboard

11. Tip 5: Extend Training
cc licensed ( BY NC SA ) flickr photo by sharonlflynn:
http://flickr.com/photos/sharonlflynn/6811534709/

12. Tip 6: Train support/admin staff
cc licensed ( BY NC ND ) flickr photo by rockcc_histcoll:
http://flickr.com/photos/rockcc_histcoll/2866398096/

13. Tip 7: Be strategic
cc licensed ( BY ND ) flickr photo by ContentAction:
http://flickr.com/photos/contentaction/4035851949/

14. Tip 8: Use your champions
cc licensed ( BY NC ) flickr photo by Tim.Deering:
http://flickr.com/photos/tdeering/446539692/

15. Tip 9: Share good news
cc licensed ( BY NC SA ) flickr photo by the justified sinner:
http://flickr.com/photos/the_justified_sinner/3685583354/

16. Tip 10: Use your PLN
cc licensed ( BY ) flickr photo by mkreyness:
http://flickr.com/photos/martinkreyness/301315926/

17. What would you add?
• Go hosted • Use your champions
• Just say no • Share good news
• Streamline support • Use your PLN
• Promote self help •
• Extend Training •
• Train admin staff •
• Be strategic •

18. Thank You
Email : sharon.flynn@nuigalway.ie, paul.gormley@nuigalway.ie
Twitter: @sharonlflynn, @pgormley123
learntechgalway.blogspot.com