Introduction to Blackboard

Blackboard, a course management system or courseware, is a web-based software system that is designed for faculty and students to enable teaching and learning. Presentation software, as well as text and graphics and audiovisual media (video and audio), are easily incorporated in these systems to create a powerful interactive, multimedia-learning environment. Course management systems include course-content organization and presentation, communication tools, student assessment tools, grade-book tools, and functions that manage class materials and activities. As with the most productive educational technologies, Blackboard allows us to break down the barriers posed by classroom time and space, that is to support students when class is not in session and to allow an interchange between student and teacher, students with other students, and students with course material without having to literally be in the classroom.

Blackboard is a university-wide resource supported by the BU Office of Information Technology. For any technical support issues (to request a website, to add guest faculty, teaching assistants or other students or troubleshoot any other problems), go to the Blackboard support page, OneHelp at http://www.bu.edu/help/blackboard/

A few important aspects regarding Blackboard:

Course webs are set up by individual faculty and can be copied from course webs created in previous semesters, including CourseInfo webs.
A web needs to be created for each semester and students enrolled in that course are automatically added to the web each semester.
You can remove users from your course web by going to the Control Panel - User Management – Remove User. Users are not automatically removed from the course web.
All users, both faculty and students including guests, need to have an ACS account (BU username and Kerberos password) to request a course web and to access Blackboard.
If you have Alumni auditors in a class contact the Alumni Office (Mary Kate Allee - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) who will enable them to enroll and access the course web.
If you have guest students to enroll, they need to go to the LRC in the Alumni Library 11^th Floor with a note from you introducing them and see Ron Tate – This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it who will initiate the online process for them to get an account. Once they have a username they should supply it to you and you can go to the One Help site and choose “Add users to a site”. You will then type in the student name and their username and they will be added to the web.

Courseware has become an indispensible part of teaching and learning at SPH. Click the links below for more information on setting up a course web and effectively using it for instruction. Rob Schadt, EdD, Director of the Office of Teaching, Learning and Technology is available for consultation by appointment.