Tip #102: End of the Semester Checklist

Tip: At the end of each semester, you should

1. Make courses unavailable
2. Backup each course Gradebook
3. Archive each Blackboard course

Make courses unavailable:

1. From the Control Panel, click Customization and select Properties.
2. Underneath Set Availability, check the box next to No.
3. Click Submit.

Backup the course Gradebook:

1. From the Control Panel, click on Grade Center and select Full Grade Center.
2. Click Work Offline on the right side and select Download.
3. On the Download Grades page under Data, select Full Grade Center, and under Options, select the Delimiter Type as Tab. Under Save Location, select Download Location as My Computer.
4. Click Submit. A file containing the Grade Center data will be created.
5. Click the Download button and choose where to save the file.
   NOTE: The file will be downloaded with an *.xls extension which will open in Excel.

Archive your Blackboard course

1. From the Control Panel, click Packages and Utilities and select Export/Archive Course.
2. Click Archive.
3. On the Archive Course page under Select Copy Options, select Include Grade Center History.
4. Click Submit.
5. An email will be sent when the archive has been completed.
   NOTE: Refresh the screen to view the zip file. The course archive may take up to 15 minutes to generate.
6. Click the Archive File of the course to save to computer.

Tip #101: Backing up the Grade Center

Tip: You can back up your Grade Center by downloading a copy of it in spreadsheet format.

Here’s how to back up your Grade Center:

1. From the Control Panel, click on Grade Center and select Full Grade Center.


2. Click Work Offline on the right side and select Download.


3. On the Download Grades page under Data, select Full Grade Center, and under Options, select the Delimiter Type as Tab. Under Save Location, select Download Location as My Computer.


4. Click Submit. A file containing the Grade Center data will be created.


5. Click the Download button and choose where to save the file.
   NOTE: The file will be downloaded with an *.xls extension which will open in Excel.

Tip #100: Best Practices for Student Test Taking in Blackboard

Tip: You can help students reduce the chances of technological mishaps while taking exams by encouraging them to follow a few best practices. Please share these tips with your students.

Tips for instructors setting up tests can be found here.

Best Practices for Students Preparing to Take a Test in Blackboard

• Allow adequate time to take the test. Last minute testing leads to frustration!
• Do not start a test until you are ready to complete it. If a test is timed, the clock will start counting down from the moment you enter the test. If you exit the test, it will continue to count down until the test is submitted.
• Take tests during hours that the IT Helpdesk is open. This will allow you to get help quickly if needed.
  

  IT HelpDesk Regular Hours (940-898-3971 or helpdesk@twu.edu)
  Monday - Thursday 7:30 am - 9:00 pm
  Friday - 7:30 am - 5:30 pm
  Saturday - 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
  Sunday - 3:00 pm - 9:00 pm

• Do not take a test on an iPad, iPhone or other smart phone device.
• Do not take tests at public schools, hospitals, or other places of work that have heavy firewalls.
• Use only Internet Explorer 8 or Firefox to take tests.
• Disable pop-up blockers on your browser.
• Clear your internet browser cache before beginning a test.

Best Practices for Students While Taking a Test in Blackboard

• If a Java or certificate popup appears asking for permission, grant permission by clicking Yes.
• Do not open any other browser window or application for the duration of your test session.
• Look at the Instruction box at the top of the test for test settings.
  • If Force Completion says “This Test can be saved and resumed later,” be sure to save answers regularly.
  • If Force Completion says, “This Test must be completed now,” do not click Save Answer or Save All Answers.
• Do not click outside of the test—including the navigation on the left side panel in Blackboard.
• Do not click on any browser navigation such as the Back, Forward, or Home buttons.
• Do not let test pages remain static for too long. If a question needs to be thought out, be sure to make some mouse movements to make sure the browser detects that you are still active in the test.
• Do not use the scroll wheel on your mouse as this may inadvertently change answers.
• Do not double click the Save button.
• When ready to submit, click the Submit button only once. Look at the page load progress bar to determine if the submission page is loading. Wait at least 2-5 minutes for a confirmation that your quiz was received. The quiz must be sent, scored, and the results returned to you.

Note: For test security, Instructors or Teaching Assistants are the only ones who can reset tests. If you are locked out of a test, follow their procedures to request a reset.

Tip #99: YouTube Mashups

Tip: Embed a video into your course shell by searching for Youtube videos using the Mashup tool.

1. Go to the Course Menu and select the content area where you would like to embed the video.


2. Click Build Content, and select YouTube Video on the right side under Mashups.


3. Enter your search terms in the Search bar, and click Go.


4. Click Preview to watch a video.


5. Click Select to choose a video.


6. Once a video has been selected, a screen will open with the following options for your video:
1. Add YouTube Content to Course
• Name – The name of the video will automatically be entered into this line and can be changed.
• Description – Any text entered will appear underneath the embedded video.
2. Mashup Options
• View – The video can be embedded in three ways:
1. Embed Video to allow students to view the video directly in Blackboard.
2. Thumbnail posts a small image of the video in Blackboard and opens the video in a popup.
3. Text Link with Player posts a link for students to click to open the video in a popup.
• Show YouTube URL – Select yes to create a link to the video’s YouTube page.
• Show YouTube Information – Select yes to display the length of video, name of creator, and date the video was added.


7. Complete items 3 (Attach or Link Content) and 4 (Options) as desired.


8. Click Submit to save and embed video.

Tip #98: How to Copy a Wiki

Tip: The copy wiki tool allows the instructor to retain the content and permissions from a previous wiki for use in a new wiki.

1. From the Course Menu, click Tools.


2. Click Campus Pack Collaboration Space.


3. On the right side under the Content section, click the Add Content button at the end of the box.


4. On the right, click Copy from Existing.


5. Select the course name from the list in the first column. A list of all Campus Pack wikis, blogs, journals, and podcasts will load in the second column. Select the wiki to be copied.


6. In the Title box, enter the title for the copied wiki. The title of the original will stay the same.


7. To retain the permissions from the original wiki, check the box under Copy sharing settings.


8. Select Copy to save. The copied wiki will open automatically.

Tip #97: Using the Collaboration Space to Link Wikis and Blogs

Tip: By creating a link on the course menu you can provide students with quick access to all wikis and blogs in the course. Students will see the wikis and blogs that are available to them.

1. Hover over the plus sign (+) icon at the top of the Course Menu to show the drop down menu. Select Create Tool Link.


2. Enter the name of the link that will appear on the course menu.


3. Under Type, select Campus Pack Collaboration Space.


4. Check the box next to Available to Users.


5. Click Submit.


6. Once students enter the Campus Pack Collaboration Space through this link, they will see all wikis, blogs, journals, and podcasts that have been made available to them in the course. Students will also see a list of course members and recent activity in the blogs and wikis.

Many thanks to Christopher Johnson in Distance Education for sharing this tip with us!

Tip #96: Score Options for Multi-Attempt Exams

Tip: After deploying an exam with multiple attempts, you can specify which grade (or combination of grades) will be used by the Grade Center for scoring.

To specify the grade to be used for scoring multi-attempt exams:

1. In the Grade Center, click on the action link in the exam’s column header cell and select Edit Column Information.


2. In the dropdown box next to Score attempts using, select which grade you would like to use and then click Submit.

Your options are:

• Grade of Last Attempt
• Highest Grade
• Lowest Grade
• Grade of First Attempt
• Average of Attempt Grades

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