1. The document provides instructions for Blackboard 9 faculty training on building a course, including adding discussion boards, assignments, grading, and file compression. 2. It explains the three ways to add a discussion board and how to create forums, threads, and replies. Instructions are also given for creating assignments, grading columns, and entering student grades. 3. Finally, it offers tips for compressing files like zipping folders, compressing PowerPoint pictures, and using video compression tools to minimize file sizes before embedding in Blackboard.

1. Blackboard 9 Training for
Faculty
Part 2 – Building Your Course

2. Topics
Discussion Board
Assignments
Grading
File Compression

3. Discussion Board
There are 3 ways to add a Discussion Board to your course:
1. Click on “Discussion Board” under ‘Add Interactive Tool’ from your Assignment or Learning
Content menu.
2. From the Control Panel.
3. From the new Discussion Board menu button.

4. Discussion Board (cont’d)
Create a “forum” or topic that students can write about. Click on
Discussion Board.
Click on the Create Forum button.
Add the Name, Description and Forum Availability information.
In the Forum Settings Option 3 section, choose your settings.
(Refer to Quickstart Guide, page 14).
Click the Submit button.

5. Adding a Thread
Instructors and students can participate in the discussion forum by
adding new threads or replying to existing threads.
Click on the link of the discussion forum that you want to respond
to.
Click on the Create Thread button to add a post to the
discussion forum.
Add your Subject and Message.
You can attach a file by selecting the Browse My Computer or
Browse Course Files.

6. Replying To a Thread
As you review the threads that have been added to the discussion forum,
you also have the ability to reply to those threads.
Click on the thread that you want to reply to.
Click the Reply button.
Enter your reply in the message area.
Add an attachment if you want to.
Click Submit.

7. Assignments
Blackboard provides an easy and efficient way for instructors to create
assignments that allow students to upload their completed assignment
directly into the Grade Center.
Enter the area of your course where you want to add an assignment.
Click the chevron on the Create Assessment button and select
Assignment.
Add the name of the assignment, any instructions, file attachments, grade
points possible, availability, due dates and recipients.
Click on Submit.

8. Grading
Access the Grade Center from the Control Panel.
Click Grade Center, then Full Grade Center.
Grade columns can be added manually or through the creation of an
assessment, graded assignment, graded discussion board, etc.
Click on the Create Column button at the top of the Grade Center.
(Cont’d)

9. Grading (cont’d)
Enter the name of the column in the Column Name field.
Enter a description of the column in the Description field.
Select Primary and Secondary Display field, Category field and
Points Possible field.
Click on the calendar to select a Due Date.
Determine each of the options in Section 3.
Click the Submit button.

10. Entering Student Grades
Click in the cell next to the student in the appropriate grade
column.
Type the grade in the cell.
Press Enter to save the grade

11. File Compression
It is a good practice to reduce file size whenever possible. The
following are suggestions on methods that will help you do so.
Zip Files to Compressed Folder
Find and select the source file(s) or folder(s) that you want to zip.
Right-click and select Send To > Compressed (zipped)
Folder.
Compress PowerPoint Files
1. Open your PowerPoint Presentation and find a slide that has a picture in
it.
2. Highlight the picture.
3. Click on the Format tab.
4. Click on Compress Pictures to make adjustments.
5. You can also save your PowerPoint as a PDF file.

12. File Compression (cont’d)
Additional Compression Programs

13. Video Compression
Below are some suggestions for using video in your
Blackboard 9 courses:
• Keep video clips short – approx 5 mins
• When possible, link (vs. embed) to video housed on servers
external to Bb
• Before embedding a video file in Bb, minimize its file size using a
conversion tool such as QuickTime Pro or AVS (free)
• Use Bb9 YouTube Video Mashup tool
• Two other file conversion programs to compress
all types of files:
http://www.convertfiles.com
http://www.online-convert.com/

14. QUESTIONS?????