Welcome back to Blackboard News You Can Use, your brief monthly newsletter to help you promote student success through MATC’s web-based learning environment, Blackboard Learn. In this edition, we share news and reminders about resources to support your teaching practice.
Faculty Training and Support
The faculty liaisons are your first point of contact for Blackboard how-to questions and assistance. See the Faculty Liaison Schedule for their availability to meet online for consultations.
Upcoming Training Courses
Enroll in professional development’s free 1 credit online courses to learn how to use Blackboard tools. See our full schedule for details and how to register. Courses will meet online and require an additional 8 hours of online coursework.
| Course | Date/Time |
| ZERD-197-802 Introduction to Blackboard 9.x | Sat. October 17th and 24th, 9-11 AM |
| ZERD-198-801 Intermediate Blackboard 9.x | Thurs, October 15th, 22nd, & 29th, 5-8 PM |
Upcoming Webinars
In addition to our training courses, faculty are invited to attend a series of free Remote Instruction Webinars that will be provided by the Blackboard Company throughout the fall term.
Additional special topic webinars will be provided by MATC Faculty Support Liaisons this semester. Before you join a session, review the First-Time Guide to Using Collaborate and EdTech Magazine’s Tips and Workarounds for Common Videoconferencing Problems to prepare. On the appointed date and time, click on the webinar link and enter your full name to join a session!
| Session Topic | Day | Time | Leaders | Collaborate Room Guest Link – Just Click to Join |
| Using Advanced Features in Bb Collaborate | Thursday, October 8 | 4- 5 PM | D. Olson E. Dischler |
Join Here: https://us.bbcollab.com/guest/51f158fb4db341a69bb36b9efe72e163 |
Hot Topics
Sharing Collaborate Ultra Recordings
Blackboard recently added a new security feature to Collaborate Ultra to allow faculty greater control over who can view recordings. If you choose to share a link to a Collaborate Ultra session through a public link, edit the recording’s settings, and enable the “Allow Public Access” option. See this demonstration video for details. Alternatively, we strongly recommend that faculty download Collaborate Ultra recordings and upload them to Knowmia to take advantage of speech-to-text closed captioning, student engagement tools, and analytics.
Courses Page Displays Blank Squares in Firefox 81.0.0
When using the Mozilla Firefox browser version 81.0.0, Blackboard’s Courses page may load with blank squares where courses should be. If you experience this bug, update your Mozilla Firefox browser. Mozilla Firefox version 81.0.1 resolves this issue.
Making Courses Available to Students in Blackboard
Course sections in Blackboard are now assigned calendar start-dates reflective of the start-dates in INFOnline. Faculty may release their courses to students earlier than their scheduled start-dates by following our updated course availability instructions – see page 2.
Setting Up Career Essentials
Per the Higher Learning Commission, faculty must assess student attainment of the college’s Career Essential core abilities through a process facilitated through Blackboard. To get started, please see these resources. Our faculty support liaisons are available to consult with you online if you have any questions about the process.
Getting Started with TechSmith Knowmia – Our New Instructional Video Tool!
Faculty and students may use Knowmia to record, caption, and share instructional videos. Knowmia videos include tools for supporting and monitoring student engagement, including analytics, quizzing, and conversations. To learn how to get started with the product, see the linked resources below. Additional training is available through the Knowmia Webinar Series.
- Getting Started with Knowmia at MATC [Recorded Webinar] and Knowmia First Time Faculty Guide
- Student Quick-Start Guide to Recording and Sharing Videos
- Student Quick-Start Guide to Recording and Sharing Mobile Videos
Resources to Support Your Move to Online Instruction
Faculty Support
- Blackboard Support Guide
- Delivering High-Quality Instruction Online in Response to COVID–19: Faculty Playbook
- Planning Modules for Online Learning
- Accessibility Best Practices for Designing Instruction
- Tips for Designing Inclusive Learning Experiences
- Regular Substantive Interaction Guide
Student Support
- Alternative Course Access Guide
- Live Online Blackboard Orientation
- Student Support Contact Us Form
- Internet Resources for Wisconsin Residents during Public Health Emergency
- MATC Library Website & Get Help Guide
- MATC Online Tutoring Schedule & NetTutor
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Published by the Department of Online Learning
Website: edtechnews.matc.edu Email: onlinelearning@matc.edu
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