Get your Course in Blackboard - TODAY!

Do you need to put files into Blackboard for your students?  It doesn't take long to get up and running!  Follow these four easy steps to begin teaching your class in Blackboard.

Download the quick start guide outlining the four steps, follow the instructions on this page or watch the short videos which will demonstrate the steps to begin teaching your class in Blackboard.  Click here for the Quick Start Guide.

 #1  Request Your Course

Click here to see a video clip of this step!

Courses are created in Blackboard upon request by the instructor. Course requests are made through DataVU.

Log into DataVU.

Click the section for Faculty.

Click the link for My Class Schedule.

Select the current term from the drop down box and click Submit.

In the first column, put a check into the box of each class you would like created in Blackboard.

* Note - If you want to combine sections, you can manually add students to one of our Blackboard courses. Email IDFC for more information.

Check out this video to help you understand the Blackboard screen.

#2  Email Your Students

Click here to see a video clip of this step!

Email the entire class in just a few clicks to inform them of the new course site.

From your course Control Panel, click on Course Tools to expand the menu. 

Click Send Email.

Email All Users or All Student Users.

Fill in the message with the subject and the text of the message.

Click Submit.

A copy of the message will automatically be sent to you.

#3  Add Content

Click here to see a video clip of this step!

Content can quickly be added to the Information or Content sections of your course.

Click the link for the content are where you wish to upload files.  Click the Create Item button.

Give the item a name.

The Text area can be used to display a description of the file you are going to upload.

To attach a file, click the Browse button and locate your file.

Upload Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, PDFs, picture files, audio or video files.

To have your item available immediately, skip the Options and click the Submit button.

#4  Make Your Course Available

Click here to see a video clip of this step!

Courses are created as “unavailable” in order to give instructors time to add content before the students have access to the course.

To make the course available, click on Customization in the Control Panel.  Then click Properties.

Scroll down to #3 - Set Availability. 

Click the "yes" radio button and then click Submit. 

Your course will instantly be available to your students.

You may wish to send another email to your students letting them know that your course is now ready for them to view.