New to Blackboard - Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning (2024)

Welcometo our resource page for faculty who are new to using the Blackboard LMS System or who have not ever used it as a regular part of their class. These resources should help you get your bearings and plan to have a basic course set up for your students to access. If you’ve never used any “learning management system” before, you should also plan to take advantage of the support provided by Information Technology Services, both self-serve and live/recorded webinars.

Do you need to check another page?

  • Go back to ourTeaching in Fall 2021Landing Page.
  • See additional Blackboard resources on ourOnline Asynchronous Resourcespage.

Get Blackboard

All registered classes at Mason are assigned a Blackboard course shell on the Mason server. To locate your Blackboard courses, go to MyMason (https://mymason.gmu.edu), log in using your Mason ID and two-factor authentication, and click on the Courses tab. Your Blackboard course already has student enrollment data, but no students can see your course until you make it available using the instructions found at your MyMason page.

Get Help
  • The team atStearns Centeris available to help you with questions about the design and implementation of your course, with advice about strategies, choices, policies, and interactions that improve your students’ learning and your own efficiency and satisfaction — whether you’re teaching in a classroom, via synchronous web-conferencing, in the field, or asynchronously via Blackboard.
    • Check our list of upcomingoffice hours, webinars, and workshops
    • Get in touch with an Instructional Designer by submitting questions or requesting a 1:1 consultationhere
    • Check out our self-paced courses (see below)
  • The team atInstructional Technology Servicesis available to help you with questions about how to use Blackboard and related tools to support all of your courses.
    • Blackboard Office Hours (faculty/staff live support) weekdays, 9 am-5 pm EST:Log in to MyMason, on the Home page under Welcome Faculty and Staff!, find the link to join the session.
    • Emailcourses@gmu.eduor contact theITS Support Center
Ask the Stearns Center TeamAsk the ITS Team
How can I best organize my course week to week and day to day?How can I receive and locate a Blackboard “sandbox” course to practice in?
How much work should I assign, in what patterns and modes?How do I adjust the settings for tools like Blackboard Discussions or Tests?
How can I best blend asynchronous, synchronous web-conferencing, and in-person learning?How can I adjust the formatting or layout of my Blackboard content?
How can I revise this assignment or activity to fit a new modality, level, or course?How can I set up, record with, edit, or embed Kaltura videos?
How can I improve my assignment design or my grading rubric?How do I set up, use, record, and/or share Blackboard Collaborate or Zoom synchronous video sessions?
How can I engage and motivate all my students?How can my students access specific Blackboard resources?
How can I provide feedback to students to help them improve?How do I adjust the settings of Blackboard rubrics or Gradebook?
How can I create effective assessments and exams that support academic integrity?How do I set up Respondus Lockdown Browser for my students’ exams?
Find Basic Blackboard Training Through ITS and Other Sources
Build Your Course Using the Stearns Center Blackboard Template

See a model and get information

  1. View our template-based course.All faculty are invited toview and explore our Sample Basic Blackboard Site.
    1. This site uses a version of our template that models the basic information you would want to provide for your students, in a clear and accessible structure.
    2. Please note that guest access gives you just a preview, but you cannot edit or even view all sections.
  2. View and download advice andresources. On the Sample Basic Blackboard Site (above) you can view our folder of resources and advice for faculty that you may find helpful: see “Facilitation Toolbox” in the left-hand green menu (you may need to click-and-drag this menu over if you’re using a mobile device or other small screen). You can also add resources to your course.

Add our resources to your site

  1. OPTION A: Remodel your Blackboard site to match the Sample by uploading our Template.
    To request a copy of the template, please follow the instructions here (link).
  2. Updateyourcourse site menu:Once you install the template, all the new sections will appear at the bottom of your left-hand menu.In Edit Mode, you can click to the left of a menu item to drag it up toward the top of the menu; you can click on the gray chevron to the right to rename, hide, or delete any item
    1. NOTE about rubrics:The template also has embedded rubrics that you can keep, or you can delete them by going to Course Management >> Course Tools >> Rubrics.
    2. NOTE about gradebook:The template has embedded discussion forums, quizzes, and assignments. Each of them has a column in the grade book. You can revise the prompt and keep the activity in your gradebook; you can also delete the activity and create your own. Delete the activity from tool itself (e.g., from the discussion forum page or where it appears in the lesson).
  3. OPTION B: Add a FEW sample resources to your Bb site. If you have already developed a working Blackboard site but would like to have easy access to some basic resources, you can take a look at ourMinimalist Site Outlineand then follow thedirections on this handoutto install a set of basic instructor resources (about Collaborate, Discussions, and other basic tools) that are part of the Minimalist Site directly into your Blackboard course.
  4. Need help?For questions about using Blackboard’s settings, tools, and layout, contactcourses@gmu.edu— or use theircall-in or chat optionsfor consultation.
Use a Sandbox Blackboard Course to Practice Building Your Course

If you are new to Blackboard and would like to practice building content and activities in a private site before you modify your course site, you canrequest one or more “sandbox” course(s); each course site will come pre-loaded with the Stearns Center Template (see above) to facilitate your course design.

Once you have built items in your sandbox, see ourinstructions on how to copysome or all of your course items from your private sandbox to your official Mason Blackboard course site.

Use Our Self-Paced Courses to Improve Your Course Design Skills

Stearns Center is currently offering two self-paced courses, open to all faculty and instructors. Once you enroll, you can work through the modules in order, or you can skip to specific sections that will help you with your current course design. Each course has an “Ask a Question” discussion forum staffed by Stearns Center and is supported by office hours (see above) and by ITS support throughcourses@gmu.edu.

  • Online Course Development Primerprovides the basic guidance for creating an asynchronous online course.
    • To access the course,
      • Firstlog into Blackboardusing your Mason ID and password so that your connection is stable
      • Then return to this webpage andclick this link
      • Look for the “+Enroll” button bottom left of your screen
      • Enroll yourself
    • The course has seven modules; completing each is estimated to take 5-8 hours
      • Module 1: Conceptualizing Your Online Course (Review the Course Readiness Checklist and Request a Sandbox)
      • Module 2: Organizing and Building Your Course Schedule
      • Module 3: Aligning Goals and Assignments
      • Module 4: Tracking and Measuring Student Learning (tests, quizzes, assignments, rubrics)
      • Module 5: Engaging with Students (discussion boards and lectures)
      • Module 6: Supporting Interaction and Collaboration (including Collaborate and Zoom information)
      • Module 7: Continuous Improvement
  • Pivotal PedagogyFundamentalsprovides basic guidance for teaching a face-to-face, hybrid, and/or web-conferencing-based course, with a solid Blackboard “home base” so that you are prepared in case the university “pivots” to remote teaching during the semester.
    • To access the course,
      • Firstlog into Blackboardusing your Mason ID and password so that your connection is stable
      • Then return to this webpage andclick this link
      • Look for the “+Enroll” button on the left side of your screen
      • Enroll yourself
    • The course has seven modules; completing each is estimated to take 3-6 hours
      • Module 1: Exploring Your Course’s Learning Pattern (Review the Pivot-Ready Checklist, Request a sandbox, and Consider how to integrate F2F, Synchronous Web-Conferencing, and Asynchronous course elements)
      • Module 2: Redistributing Learning in Your New Pattern
      • Module 3: Aligning Goals and Assignments in Your New Pattern
      • Module 4: Building Assessments to Support Patterned Learning (tests, quizzes, assignments, rubrics)
      • Module 5: Engaging Students in Your Learning Pattern (discussion boards and lectures)
      • Module 6: Supporting Interaction and Collaboration (including Collaborate and Zoom information)
      • Module 7: Planned Flexibility

NOTE: Cohort-based, fully facilitated seven-week versions of both courses will be offered to Mason faculty beginning in late September 2020; contact your department chair if you are interested in enrolling, and/or see more information on our Webinars and Trainings page.

Incorporate Active & Interactive Learning in Your Blackboard Course Design

Incorporating active and interactive strategies into your course can support your learning goals and engage students. Active learning includes teaching methods and strategies that involve student participation and engagement with the material in a meaningful way. Interactive learning involves students working together to do things like to solve a problem, answer a question or complete a project in ways that enhance their learning. Research shows that both active and interactive learning help students to retain information and increase critical thinking.

Active Learning in Your Class: You can incorporate active and interactive learning into any part of your course, including synchronous lectures, reading assignments, homework problems, class projects and discussion. Even incorporating one or two simple strategies can make your course more dynamic. Check out our quick Guide to Transforming Learning Tasks for the Online Environmentfor some ideas you can easily add to your course.

Common Active and Interactive Strategies: Even if you are used to lecturing or facilitating small group discussions, you can utilize active learning strategies to make them more engaging.

  • Microlectures provide brief but effective explanations of a concept or skill and allow students to focus on key concepts. Download this guide to preparing afive-minute microlecturethat emphasizes key concepts without overwhelming you or your students.
  • For synchronous sessions, you might try an interactive lecture, which keeps students engaged through activities that can also be collaborative. Take a look at theInteractive Lectures section of this guide on lecturingfor tips you can use.
  • Discussions can engage students in higher-order learning by providing an environment for peer-to-peer learning. Start by downloading ourGuide to Facilitating Effective Online Discussions.

Feedback: Feedback is essential, but it can also be time consuming. Consider our overall tips forManaging Feedback to Students

New to Blackboard - Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning (2024)

FAQs

How to login to gmu Blackboard? ›

All Blackboard Courses users log in via mymason.gmu.edu. The username is the same as your Mason NetID. The password is the same as your Mason email account.

What is Blackboard for teachers? ›

Blackboard Instructor, a powerful app designed specifically for instructors, helps educators increase efficiency, simplify workflows and amplify student engagement.

Does George Mason use Blackboard? ›

All users access Blackboard through the myMason portal. To access Blackboard, log in to mymason.gmu.edu and select the Courses tab.

How do I add a teacher to Blackboard? ›

Unofficially added (manually, via Blackboard)
  1. In your course menu, click Users & Groups >> Users.
  2. Click on Find Users to Enroll.
  3. Enter the instructor's Username (do not leave any spaces) ...
  4. In the Role drop-down list, choose Instructor.
  5. Leave Enrollment Availability set to Yes.
  6. Click Submit.

Why can't I log into my Blackboard account? ›

For your security, the system might lock you out if you incorrectly enter your username or password too many times or the login process takes too long. Your institution may allow you to unlock your account if you reset your password.

What are the disadvantages of blackboard teaching? ›

Another disadvantage is the high cost and lack of portability associated with traditional whiteboards or flipcharts, which are often used as substitutes for chalkboards. Furthermore, the use of conventional chalks and blackboards can also result in dust and magnetic field pollution, impacting the teaching environment.

How to create an account on blackboard? ›

User management made simple.
  1. From the base navigation, go to Admin > Users > Create User.
  2. Enter user information. Every account must have a first name, last name, username, and password. All other fields are optional.

What rank is George Mason University in education? ›

George Mason University 2024 Education Program & Specialties Rankings. George Mason University is ranked No. 86 (tie) out of 255 in Best Education Schools. Schools were assessed on their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence.

Is George Mason a respected school? ›

George Mason University's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #105.

What is George Mason University known for academically? ›

The most popular majors at George Mason University include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services; Health Professions and Related Programs; Social Sciences; Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services; ...

Can teachers see you on Blackboard? ›

As an instructor, you can see when your students opened, started, and submitted tests and assignments with the Student Activity report. In general, this feature looks and functions the same whether you're working in an Original or Ultra course.

What can a teaching assistant do in Blackboard? ›

Blackboard Tips for Teaching Assistants

Faculty and TAs may post course materials, deliver tests and surveys, hold online discussions, and facilitate many other course-related functions. As a TA, your responsibilities in Blackboard will be determined by the faculty member you work with.

How do I log into Blackboard as a student? ›

If you are already signed into your Microsoft account, you will be automatically connected to Blackboard. If you are not already signed into your Microsoft account, enter your Username and Password and click on the “Sign In” button. D. You should now see a page welcoming you to the new Blackboard.

How do I access my Blackboard? ›

In most cases, the web address given by your institution directs you to the login page. If you're directed to another location, look for a login button or a special portal area. If you can't find your institution's site, search the web for your institution's name + Blackboard, or contact your IT help desk.

Why is Blackboard not working? ›

If you are having difficulty logging into Blackboard you may need to clear your web browser's cache or cookies. The instructions below are current for web browser versions as of March 2022. Web browsers are frequently updated and the instructions for your specific computer and web browser may differ.

How do I log into RDP Blackboard? ›

Log in via direct link

If MyRDP is unavailable, you can log in to Blackboard directly at https://rdpolytech.blackboard.com/. To sign in, use your RDP email address and password.

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