This document provides guidance on improving course structure and design in Blackboard. It discusses organizing content into logical units and weeks, using design tools to structure pages clearly, and implementing communication tools like announcements, discussions and chat to engage students. Checklists are provided to help with course introductions, organization, instructional design and using Blackboard tools appropriately.

1.  
Day Five: Course Structure Redux

2.  Course Design Checklist
 Grade Center
 Course Management: Control
Panel
 Course Introduction
 Course Organization and Design
o Unit Breakdown
o Weekly Breakdown
 Instructional Design
o Providing instructions
o Creating clear and attractive pages
 Using Design Tools to Organize
 Using Communication Tools to
Organize

3. Course Introduction
 Is an introductory email or Announcement sent to your students providing them
information on how to access your course?
 Are students instructed on how to contact you?
 Do students know how to contact technical support?
 Are students provided information on how to prepare their browser for their
online course?
 Is it clear to the students where to find the course content?
Course Organization
 Are font styles and content layout consistent throughout course?
 Is content organized in a logical order using modules, topics, chapters, etc.?
 Is the content presented in a logical progression for the semester?
 Are section titles clear? So they help students navigate the course?
 Is there an Introduction area containing a Syllabus, course schedule, etc.?
 Does each module incorporate materials (assignments, discussions, etc.)
needed to proceed through that module?
 Is the content under the unit or module headings organized in a logical manner
for students to navigate?

4. You can find the Control
Panel under Course
management on the
bottom, left side of your
screen.

5. The Grade Center is one of
the options you will find in
the Control Panel
You can choose to look
at
• the entire grade book
(Full Grade Center) or
• at the submissions
that have not bee
graded (Needs
Grading)

6. The full Grade Center allows you many options for managing
grades. You can add columns, adjust point values, and change
individual grades.

7.  Syllabus
 Welcome Note
 Personal Introduction
 Technical Requirements
 Sample assignments
 Expectations and
suggestions for success

8.  Unit Breakdown
(Modules)
 Weekly Breakdown
(Folders)
 Consistent Design
 Provide Discussion
Forum or Blog for
Course-Related Q & A
 Up-to-date Links
 ADA Compliance
 Make them
downloadable!

9.  Providing Instructions
 Creating clear and
attractive pages
 Introducing each unit
with a discussion of the
topic
 Offering practice quizzes
or assignment
submissions
 Posting rubrics with
model submissions in
each unit
 Using activities that
foster student professor

10. • Email class often to create a sense of a “conversation” about
the course
• Use Discussion forum or blog to create asynchronous “office
hours”
• Use Announcements to communicate important information and
to keep it visible
• Use Chatroom to conduct virtual office hours while you are in
your office
• Consider setting up Skype on your computer
• Add Journals for students to individually recordpage and
To access Bb, students can go to the main JSU their class
progress and Blackboardthat progress with you the
click on to share in the dropdown menu, to
Distance Learning page, or to a link you provide in your
• Know that social networks and virtual worlds are advanced
home page.
ways of fostering interaction

11.  The two pages
to the right
contain the
same
information.
 The page on
the bottom
delivers that
information in
a
clear, concise
format.

12. The Control Panel
is the first stop for
customization.

13.  Folders vs Modules
 Color coding
 Icons and Text
 Course menu options
 Tables of contents
 Repeating structures

14.  Announcements can be
entered and scheduled at
the start of the semester
 Copy and email unit
instructions
 Use the Discussion Forum
or Blog to post reminders
 Require students to check
in during your office hour
chats and use that
opportunity to share
course info
 Give general feedback on
assessments or
assignments via
communication tools

15. We will use Day Five Checklist to look
at how to improve the current course
design.
 Use Design Tools for Course layout
 Complete Course intro Folder
 Create/Post Sample Assignments
 Create Course Q&A Forum or Blog
 Organize Content for one unit or week
 Decide on a plan for repeating