2013 MCCC Blackboard Workshop Schedule

The MCCC eLearning and Instructional Support department is hosting the following Blackboard training workshops in February and March. If you are interested in attending any or all of the workshops listed below, please RSVP to elearning@monroeccc.edu.

Blackboard Training Workshop Schedule:

• Blackboard Basics -- NO Blackboard experience needed! This basic workshop is targeted to those MCCC instructors that have never used Blackboard, but are curious about what advantages it may offer. During the workshop we will discuss the basics of how to post content, announcements, email and grades on Blackboard. February 6 (Wednesday) from 12:30-1:30 PM in C8
  
• Adding a variety of content to your Blackboard course. This session will focus on how to add a variety of content items to your Blackboard course, such as documents, YouTube videos, images, etc. February 14 (Thursday) from 12:30-1:30 PM in C8
  
• Using Rubrics in your Blackboard course. This session will focus on the basics of creating a rubric and utilizing the Rubrics tool within Blackboard. February 20 (Wednesday) from 12:30-1:30 PM in C8
  
•   Creating tests and surveys in your Blackboard course. This session will focus on creating online tests and surveys in Blackboard, as well as discussing Respondus Lockdown Browser (specialized browser that helps minimize student cheating while taking online tests). February 28 (Thursday) from 12:30-1:30 PM in C8
  
• Using the Assignments and SafeAssign (plagiarism detection) tools in Blackboard. This session will focus on how to create and grade online assignments, as well as use the SafeAssign tool to help with student plagiarism detection. March 6 (Wednesday) from 12:30-1:30 PM in C8

Again, if you are interested in attending any of these training workshops, please RSVP to elearning@monroeccc.edu.

Respectfully,

Jeff

MCCC Online Course Recommendations

Greetings, MCCC online and blended instructors:

As some of you may already know, the withdrawal rate for MCCC online courses runs nearly 6% higher on average when compared to the traditional on-ground course withdrawal rate. There are several possible reasons for the higher withdrawal rate in online courses, such as: change in work or home situation, the online format didn’t suit the students’ learning style, the students didn’t have the necessary skill set for online coursework, etc. Some of these factors are obviously beyond our control; however, some of the factors could be positively influenced by course design and instructional approach.  To this end, I recommend the following:

•  Ensure that your online course is clearly organized and easy to navigate. (eLearning tips: Ask a colleague to look at your course from a new student perspective to see if it is intuitively organized. Limit the number of links on your Course Menu to 10 and arrange them in alphabetical order)
  
• Clearly communicate your overall course objectives and individual assignment, assessment and lecture unit learning objectives so that students clearly understand where they need to focus. (eLearning tips: List overall course objectives on syllabus and individual assignment, assessment and lecture unit learning objectives within the instructions for each).

• Help online students feel connected, as opposed to solitary, by using the discussion board to facilitate instructor-student and student-student discussions (eLearning tips: Create a “self-introductions” forum and ask your students to introduce themselves to their classmates. Host weekly discussions on the vital topics of your course).

• Identify those students that lack the skills, motivation, etc. early on in your course and intervene by encouraging them to contact the eLearning office for additional assistance.

 If you are interested in implementing some of the recommendations above but need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Also, if you have other recommendations that may help with this issue, I welcome your input.

Have a wonderful semester,

Jeff

Winter 2013 Blackboard and eLearning Information

Greetings:

I hope you had a wonderful break and that your winter 2013 Blackboard course development is going well. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you require any assistance with your Blackboard course. This week, the eLearning and Instructional Support office is hosting several Blackboard information sessions to which you are invited (see details below):

·        Blackboard Open Lab - Monday, January 7th from 2 PM to 6 PM in C8 (Please RSVP by email or phone for individual appointment / jdpeters@monroeccc.edu or 734-384-4129)

·        Using Blackboard to Supplement Instruction - Tuesday, January 8th from 1 PM to 2 PM in C8 (Please RSVP by email or phone if  you plan to attend the group workshop)

·        Blackboard Open Lab - Tuesday, January 8th from 2 PM to 6 PM in C8 (Please RSVP by email or phone for individual appointment)

·        Blackboard Open Lab - Thursday, January 10th from 2 PM to 6 PM in C8 (Please RSVP by email or phone for individual appointment)

Also, below are numerous links to information related to effective Blackboard course design and utilization. I hope the information provided below is helpful to you. Let me know.

Have a wonderful semester,

Jeff

Blackboard tutorials

               Print-based resources

• Instructions for utilizing basic Blackboard tools: http://www.monroeccc.edu/distancelearning/files/Blackboard_9.1_Introduction_fall2011.pdf
• Blackboard 9.1 supported browsers and operating systems: http://kb.blackboard.com/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=55574750
• Keys to effective utilization of Blackboard: http://www.monroeccc.edu/distancelearning/files/KeysToSuccessfulBlackboardCourse2011.pdf
• Sample Syllabus: http://www.monroeccc.edu/distancelearning/files/eLearning_Syllabus_Template.pdf
• Exemplary Online Course Rubric: http://www.monroeccc.edu/distancelearning/files/ExemplaryOnlineCourseRubric.pdf
• Additional Blackboard instructions can be found in the “Faculty Resource Center”, which should be listed within the “My Courses” area once you log into Blackboard.
  
  Video tutorials
• Modifying Blackboard Course Menu: http://www.monroeccc.edu/distancelearning/tutorials/BbCourseMenu_demo/BbCourseMenu_demo.htm
• Adding files (e.g. MS Word, MS PowerPoint, PDF, etc.) to your Blackboard course: http://www.monroeccc.edu/distancelearning/tutorials/AddFiles2Blackboard_demo/AddFiles2Blackboard_demo.htm
• Blackboard Assignments tool: http://www.monroeccc.edu/distancelearning/tutorials/BbAssignment_Tool_Faculty_demo/BbAssignment_Tool_Faculty_demo.htm
• Internet Explorer and Blackboard External Links: http://www.monroeccc.edu/distancelearning/tutorials/IE_BbExternal_Links_demo/IE_BbExternal_Links_demo.htm
• Blackboard Communication tools: http://ondemand.blackboard.com/communicate.htm
• Blackboard Grade Center, Tests and Assignments tools: http://ondemand.blackboard.com/assess.htm
• Miscellaneous Blackboard tutorials: http://www.monroeccc.edu/distancelearning/elearning_trainingMod.htm

Additional resources:

• eLearning website: http://www.monroeccc.edu/distancelearning/elearning_faculty.htm
• General instructional information: http://www.monroeccc.edu/distancelearning/files/ClassroomBestPractices.pdf
• IMPLEMENTING THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES: Technology as Lever  http://www.tltgroup.org/programs/seven.html
• Students With Disabilities at Monroe County Community College: http://www.monroeccc.edu/lal/students_disabilities.htm
• How to Make Presentations Accessible to All: http://www.w3.org/WAI/training/accessible
• MCCC Copyright Procedures: http://www.monroeccc.edu/policies/pdfs/600%20Business%20Policies/643a%20copyright%20proc.pdf
• TEACH Act (copyright) Checklist: https://www.cu.edu/ip/copyright/downloads/TeachActChecklist.pdf

Fall 2012 End of Semester Blackboard Information

I hope that your fall 2012 semester was enjoyable and productive! As you are wrapping up your fall courses, I thought I would take this time to share some information related to Blackboard:

·        Fall 2012 Blackboard profile: 117 faculty taught 60 online, 6 blended and 218 supplemental courses using Blackboard with an unduplicated student total enrollment of 3213.

·        Fall 2012 online student profile: 717 unduplicated online students; 79.2% from Monroe county and 14.2% outside of Monroe county but residing in Michigan; 28.8% were under 21 years of age and 43.5% were between the ages of 21 and 30; 69% were female; 75% of online students were also enrolled in on-ground MCCC classes.

·        For those of you that need to download your Blackboard grades, here are instructions for doing so: http://www.monroeccc.edu/jpeters/files/Download_Grades_Using_Blackboard9_1.pdf

·        If you plan to upgrade your home computer system over the break, please keep in mind that the new Internet Explorer 10 is not supported for our current version of Blackboard (Release 9.1.60230.0).

·        Earlier this semester, I informed you of a seminar regarding making web-based content accessible. If you missed that webinar, here is the recording: http://www.mccvlc.org/~staff/content.cfm?m=86&id=86&startRow=1&mm=0

·        The Higher Learning Commission is conducting a focused visit at MCCC on March 4^th and 5^th, 2013. A portion of this visit is to examine the distance learning (eLearning) program here at the college.

·        As you are beginning to develop and prepare your winter 2013 Blackboard courses, here are several resources that may be helpful to you:

§  Keys to an effective Blackboard course: http://www.monroeccc.edu/distancelearning/files/KeysToSuccessfulBlackboardCourse2011.pdf

§  Exemplary Online Course Rubric: http://www.monroeccc.edu/distancelearning/files/ExemplaryOnlineCourseRubric.pdf

§  Blackboard 9.1 supported browsers and operating systems: http://kb.blackboard.com/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=72810639

§  Instructions for utilizing basic Blackboard tools: http://www.monroeccc.edu/distancelearning/files/Blackboard_9.1_Introduction_fall2011.pdf

§  Modifying Blackboard Course Menu: http://www.monroeccc.edu/distancelearning/tutorials/BbCourseMenu_demo/BbCourseMenu_demo.htm

§  Adding files (e.g. Word docs, images, etc.) to your Blackboard course: http://www.monroeccc.edu/distancelearning/tutorials/AddFiles2Blackboard_demo/AddFiles2Blackboard_demo.htm

§  Blackboard Assignments tool: http://www.monroeccc.edu/distancelearning/tutorials/BbAssignment_Tool_Faculty_demo/BbAssignment_Tool_Faculty_demo.htm

§  Miscellaneous Blackboard tutorials: http://www.monroeccc.edu/distancelearning/elearning_trainingMod.htm

§  Internet Explorer and Blackboard External Links: http://www.monroeccc.edu/distancelearning/tutorials/IE_BbExternal_Links_demo/IE_BbExternal_Links_demo.htm

Classroom Accessibility:

§  Students With Disabilities at Monroe County Community College: http://www.monroeccc.edu/lal/students_disabilities.htm

§  How to Make Presentations Accessible to All: http://www.w3.org/WAI/training/accessible

Copyright and TEACH Act Resources:

§  MCCC Copyright Procedures: http://www.monroeccc.edu/policies/pdfs/600%20Business%20Policies/643a%20copyright%20proc.pdf

§  The TEACH Act and Blackboard: http://www.ala.org/advocacy/copyright/teachact/teachactbest

§  The TEACH Act Check List: https://www.cusys.edu/ip/copyright/downloads/TeachActChecklist.pdf

Additional e-Learning Resources: http://www.monroeccc.edu/distancelearning/elearning_faculty.htm

Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this email.

Happy holidays,

Jeff