Back-to-School Blackboard Checklist for Instructors

Posted on August 08, 2023

Before the Semester Starts:

  • LMS Access: Ensure you have access to Blackboard with your UIC credentials.
  • Course Setup: Create or update your course shells, modules, and assignments within the Blackboard. Request a course copy early (at least a week before classes start).
  • Syllabus Upload: Upload your course syllabus and any other relevant course documents for students.
  • Content Upload: Add lecture notes, presentations, reading materials, and multimedia content to your course modules.
  • Assignment Setup: Create assignments, quizzes, discussions, and any other assessments in Blackboard.
  • Communication Channels: Set up discussion boards, forums, and announcements to facilitate communication with students.
  • Virtual Classroom: If applicable, schedule virtual classroom sessions via Zoom and set up your Blackboard course Zoom room.

Engaging with Students:

  • Welcome Announcement: Post a welcome announcement in Blackboard, introducing yourself and outlining the course structure.
  • Access Instructions: Share clear instructions with students on how to access your Blackboard site and navigate the course.
  • Communication Guidelines: Inform students about your preferred communication channels (email, discussion boards, etc.) and response times.
  • Icebreakers: Initiate icebreaker activities to foster engagement and build a sense of community among students.
  • Interactive Content: Incorporate interactive elements like polls, quizzes, and multimedia to enhance student engagement.

Ensuring Accessibility:

  • Accessible Content: Ensure all course materials, documents, and videos are accessible to students with disabilities. You will notice a new accessibility indicator called Anthology Ally next to each uploaded file. Use Ally as a tool to improve accessibility when possible.
  • Alt Texts: Add alt texts to images and descriptions to make content screen-reader friendly.
  • Closed Captioning: Provide closed captions for videos to accommodate students. Panopto and Echo360 both provide automatic closed captioning.

Tech Troubleshooting:

  • Support Resources: Familiarize yourself with our tech support resources (linked below) and avenues for assistance.
  • Testing: Use Blackboard’s student preview user feature to ensure all links, videos, and resources are accessible.
Modified on August 21, 2023