Blackboard (courseware)
The Blackboard service is specifically designed to house and manage all course content and activities on-line. For further information on Blackboard, see the Web site: http://blackboardsupport.calpoly.edu/
Don't want to learn the intricacies of HTML, Dreamweaver or FrontPage? Don't want to hassle with UNIX permissions and maintaining a web site? Don't want the entire world on the World Wide Web to see your course material? Don't have enough room in your Cal Poly web site account (only 8 MB available) for all your course materials? Don't have enough room in your Cal Poly email account (only 30 MB available) to receive students' digital assignments? Do you want to have a location to post important links on the Web that relate to your discipline? Do you want to have more time outside of class for discussion or for collaborative learning by implementing group/team projects? Consider using Blackboard!
What is Blackboard?
Blackboard is a comprehensive and flexible e-Learning software platform developed for educators to enhance their teaching and learning environments by means of the Internet. Blackboard allows you to place ALL or just PART of your course content online without ever hassling with learning all the intricacies of HTML (the programming language used to create Web pages on the Internet). Cal Poly's Blackboard includes course development and management tools, communication and collaborative tools, personal information management, and academic web resources for faculty and students.
Blackboard's Features:
- User Authentication - Only Cal Poly faculty, staff, and students can login to Blackboard through the My Cal Poly Portal. Anyone else has to sign in as a guest (and only if you have the "Allow Guest Access" feature turned on) and is restricted to specific areas of Blackboard.
- Automatic Course Creation for All Cal Poly Courses - All Cal Poly courses listed in SIS will have a course shell in Blackboard each quarter at the time that the Open Enrollment begins.
- Automatic Student Enrollment - All students enrolled in a Cal Poly course through POWER/CAPTURE will be enrolled into the Blackboard course shell beginning on the first day of Open Enrollment.
- Form-based Content Entry - You don't need to know HTML to create your web page. Fill out the Blackboard forms and your content is instantly online.
- Upload Files to Share with Your Students - Cal Poly faculty, staff, and students have unlimited space in which to upload files. It is convenient to have your web page, handouts, tests, and more all in one location.
- Time/Date Release of Content/Assessments - As an instructor you can add content now and have it viewable at a future date/time.
- File Exchange Tools - Blackboard's Digital Drop Box allows for file exchange between students and the instructor. Cal Poly faculty, staff, and students have unlimited space in which to exchange files.
- Asynchronous and Synchronous Communication/Collaboration Tools - Asynchronous tools include email correspondence and threaded discussions via the Discussion Board. Synchronous tools include the Virtual Classroom for real-time online chat. Group tools allow collaboration among student groups for special projects.
- Online Assessments (Exam, Quiz, and Survey) with a Synchronized Grade Book) - As an Instructor you can create assessments through forms provided in Blackboard. You have the option of placing grades online through your Blackboard Online Grade Book. Students have the option of viewing their grades online 24/7.
- Math Equation Tools - The implementation of another software package, EDU campus, which works within Blackboard, allows instructors to add mathematic and scientific equations to their Blackboard courses.
All current Cal Poly faculty, staff and students have a username and password for Blackboard. For specific help or more information about Cal Poly's Blackboard, please refer to:
Cal Poly's Blackboard Support Site
Cal Poly's Blackboard Consultation Information