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New Tools and Features in Blackboard 8.0
With the upgrade of the Blackboard course management system to version 8.0, NIU faculty can expect to see a number of new and enhanced features when they log in to Blackboard. The new version...
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Constructivism: A Holistic Approach to Teaching and Learning
Constructivism is about how students learn - that students construct their own understanding and knowledge of the world through experiences and by reflecting on those experiences. Instructors help make...
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Conducting Online Office Hours Using Wimba Classroom
Whether teaching in a traditional face-to-face, hybrid, or online course, offering optional office hours provides students with the opportunity to seek further clarification and assistance, enriching...
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Plagiarism Prevention Using Blackboard SafeAssign
Despite our efforts to educate students regarding the principles of solid academic writing, students may not always understand how to properly reference source content. The new SafeAssign plagiarism...
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Redesigning Course Materials for Online Delivery
The true challenge in delivering online materials is keeping the environment dynamic and interactive. The goal of this workshop is to provide suggestions and offer examples of how to retool current...
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Creating and Sustaining Groups in Blackboard
The two major complaints we hear from students about group projects are (1) the problems of getting members together for meetings and (2) the inequity of effort among group members. Virtual groups,...
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Requesting and Combining Blackboard Courses Using the Blackboard Faculty Tools
The Blackboard Faculty Tools (BFT) are a suite of web-based utilities integrated within Blackboard for use at NIU. Using the BFT faculty can perform a variety of Blackboard course tasks, including:...
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Blackboard 8.0 Grade Center Preview
With the anticipated upgrade of the Blackboard course management system to version 8.0, NIU faculty will see an entirely redesigned and newly named Grade Center. This online (not a hands-on) workshop...
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Blackboard 8.0 Self and Peer Assessment Preview
Blackboard 8.0 brings some very exciting new features, including the Self and Peer Assessment tool. This tool allows students to submit work through Blackboard which is then evaluated by a random group...
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Blackboard 8.0 Grade Center Overview
With the recent upgrade of the Blackboard course management system to version 8.0, NIU faculty will see an entirely redesigned and newly named Grade Center. This online workshop will review the...
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Timesaving Tips Using the Blackboard Grade Center
The redesigned Grade Center in Blackboard 8.0 provides not only an easier-to-use interface for posting grades and feedback for students but also numerous new features including smart views, grading...
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Teaching During a Health Crisis
The H1N1 virus, formerly referred to as Swine Flu, is expected to make a comeback to the United States this school year and officials say that college campuses could be impacted. It's prudent for...
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Tips for Teaching with Blogs
Blogs have become common tools for communicating and collaborating online. While setting up a blog takes only a matter of minutes, effectively incorporating blogs into online teaching requires...
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Tracking Student Performance in Blackboard
Blackboard provides a variety of tools that help faculty track student performance in the course. The Early Warning System is a feature integrated into Blackboard that allows faculty to monitor student...
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Controlling Student Access to Materials in Blackboard
Course content does not always apply to all users in the course. Faculty at times may wish to create custom learning paths through course content and activities, displaying content to certain users for...
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Blackboard Grade Submission Tool Preview
At the request and under the guidance of NIU faculty, ITS worked throughout the summer and fall 2009 to develop and pilot a building block for Blackboard that will allow faculty to publish grades from...
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Tips for Communicating Effectively Using Blackboard
The announcement, discussion, and email features in Blackboard are just a few of the many tools available for faculty to communicate with students and foster collaboration during the course. What are...
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Tips for Effective Group Collaborations in Blackboard
The built-in groups tools available in Blackboard make it possible for students to easily engage in online discussion, share files, chat, and email. However, simply placing students in groups in...
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Tips for Assessing Student Learning Using Blackboard
The online assessment tools of Blackboard can be utilized to facilitate meaningful and memorable learning activities for students. These online assessment tools include: surveys, test, quizzes, and...
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Greener Teaching Techniques
Greener living has increasingly become a central issue in American life. In our personal lives, we recycle, use reusable bags at the grocery store, and light our homes with CFL bulbs. However, what can...
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