Monday, April 29, 2013

ONLINE FACULTY: NEW 2013SU Blackboard Course Setup Procedure


This summer eLearning Services will implement a new procedure for Blackboard Setup of Online and Hybrid Courses. Online faculty will be automatically enrolled into their Blackboard courses using data retrieved directly from Colleague/Owl Link. The ‘Blackboard Course Request Form’ for online and hybrid courses will be replaced with an electronic email form for course setup.  
Note:  On-campus courses will continue to use the “Blackboard Course Request Form.”  

The new procedure for Blackboard Online and Hybrid Course Setup will work as follows:

  1. The faculty assignment is entered into Colleague/Owl Link (by the department chair, dean or other designee).
  2. Through an automated process, faculty will be enrolled in their online and hybrid courses in Blackboard based on the faculty assignment entered into Colleague/Owl Link.   
  3. Once faculty are enrolled in their Blackboard courses, they will receive an email.  The email will contain an electronic form requesting faculty to respond with any “Special Instructions” for their online and hybrid courses.  “Special Instructions” include Instructor Orientation information, On-campus testing, and Special Computer Requirements that are posted on the eLearning website for student access prior to the start of the semester. 
We will begin setting up summer Blackboard courses on Tuesday, April 30th. Below are some FAQ's that will answer some common questions.  If you have any additional questions regarding this process let us know. 

 
Blackboard Online and Hybrid Course Setup FAQs

Q1: How often will Blackboard be updated with faculty assignments?
A1:  Faculty assignments will be updated in Blackboard once per day (M-F) at 10:30 a.m.  At the start of each semester, faculty assignments will be updated twice per day (M-F) at 10:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. 

Q2: What should I do if my course is not showing up in Blackboard?
A2:  Check the Owl Link “My Class Schedule” area to confirm that you are listed as the instructor of record.  If you are not listed as the instructor, contact your department chair to update Colleague/Owl Link.   If you are listed as the instructor in Owl Link, your faculty assignment will be updated in Blackboard during the next scheduled update (see A1 above).   

Q3: What should I do if I confirm I am the instructor of record in Owl Link, but still do not see my course(s) in Blackboard?
A3: You will need to wait until the next scheduled Blackboard update (see A1 above).   If the Blackboard course is still not available after the scheduled update, contact eLearning.   

Q4: What should I do if my course is no longer on my Blackboard course list? 
A4: Check the Owl Link  “My Class Schedule” area to confirm that you are listed as the instructor of record.  Contact your department chair if you are no longer listed as the instructor; otherwise contact eLearning.

Q5: What happens if my section assignment changes after my Blackboard courses are set up?
A5: Once the assignment change has been entered into Owl Link, your new Blackboard course sites will be available after the next scheduled Blackboard update (see A1 above).  Note: You will no longer have access to course sites for course(s) you are no longer teaching. 

Q6: What happens if my section assignment changes after I have posted content?
A6: The content will remain in the course.  Contact eLearning immediately to discuss removing the content. 

Q7: What should I do if the Blackboard course site already contains content?
A7: You should contact eLearning immediately.  This can only happen when a section assignment change occurred after the original faculty member began to upload content.   We will need to contact the original faculty member prior to removing the content.

Q8: How do I request instructor-led orientation?
A8: All online and hybrid faculty will receive an email with an electronic form requesting “Special Instructions” which includes Instructor Orientation.

Q9: How do I indicate any “Special Instructions” for my online or hybrid course, such as on-campus testing or special computer requirements?
A9: All online and hybrid faculty will receive an email with an electronic form requesting information regarding Instructor Orientation, On-campus testing and Special Computer Requirements.