OBJECTIVES. Introduction to mycourses

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1 OBJECTIVES Identify elements of mycourses from the instructor, designer and student perspective. Integrate content into a course in a variety of file formats. Learn to use the Communication Tools: Chat, Mail, Discussion and Announcements Personalize your mycourses section by modifying layout. June 2015 Introduction to mycourses mycourses is run by the application Blackboard Learn. mycourses is a course management system that provides a variety of online delivery tools to manage and teach your course. Tools such as discussions, chat, interactive course content, online assessment and much more are provided in a secure environment. These tools can help faculty enhance their instruction both in online and traditional courses. Faculty can communicate with students online, create and add course content, provide assignments, administer quizzes, and manage grades. This workshop will provide an introduction to the interface and tools available within mycourses. Note: The mycourses URL is: mycourses.msstate.edu, placing www in front of the URL will not work. Getting Help The ITS Help Desk is a service provided to all Mississippi State University students, staff, and faculty. The ITS consultants are available to help with various computer-related problems as well as provide answers to computer and technology-related questions. Visit the Web site at for handouts and resolutions to common computer problems. If you cannot find an answer to your question on the Web or you do not have access to the Internet, please call at (7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday). You may also contact the ITS Help Desk by at helpdesk@ msstate.edu. Instructor Tina Green tgreen@its.msstate.edu

2 Table of Contents mycourses Tab... 3 Browser Test...4 Notifications Dashboard Tab...4 Personalize Notifications Dashboard...5 Edit Notification Settings...5 Add or Remove Modules...6 Accessing the Settings Menu...7 Editing Personal Information...8 Set Privacy Options...8 Default Course Shell...9 Course Home Page...10 Accessing Courses...10 Moving Course Menu Items Adding Course Menu Items Adding Content Area Adding Tool Link...12 Adding Web Link...12 Adding a Course Link...13 Adding a Blank Page...14 Editing Course Menu Items...15 Adding Course Content...16 Adding a Syllabus...16 Adding a Content Folder...17 Adding New Files...18 Adding Items...19 Adding an Image...20 Adding a YouTube Mashup Adding an NBC Learn Mashup...23 Adding a Learning Module...25 Adding content to a Learning Module...26 Adding a Test...27 Adding an Assignment...29 Adding a SafeAssignment...30 Enabling and Disabling Course Tools Adding Course Tools Adding a Discussion Board Link Adding Blog Link...34 Adding Chat Link...36 Setting up Blackboard Collaborate...38 Creating Announcements...40 Course Messages Send Student View...44 Course Calendar...45 Course Reports...46 Retention Center...48 Grade Book

3 mycourses Tab Upon logging into mycourses you will enter the mycourses page. This page consists of two tabs: mycourses and Notifications Dashboard. Both pages are module-based. You are not allowed to add or remove modules from the mycourses page. Tabs Course List Student Help Modules The mycourses tab contains modules, which contain information related to all courses assigned to the instructor. Student Help Course List Modules Blackboard On Demand Learning Center and the Student Orientation course allow students to familiarize themselves with mycourses. A list of all courses available. Boxes of content available in module pages. 3

4 Browser Test Your computer should be properly configured for mycourses. This needs to be completed on each and every computer from which you access mycourses. mycourses offers a browser checker to assist you. It is extremely important that you use the Browser Test feature. 1. From the mycourses tab, go to the module that is titled Browser Test and click the Test Your Browser button. 2. Your browser is configured properly if you see green checkmarks. Any Red X presents and issue and should be addressed. Required Components Optional Components Notifications Dashboard Tab The Notifications Dashboard alerts the instructor and students to all events in all courses enrolled in. The Notifications Dashboard contains modules. Modules can be added or deleted. The Notifications Dashboard can be personalized. 4

5 Personalize Notifications Dashboard You can personalize the Notifications Dashboard. 1. To personalize the Notifications Dashboard, click the Personalize Page button. 2. Choose your theme from the Color Palette Library and click the Submit button. Edit Notification Settings You can edit the notification settings within each course or all at once. 1. To edit the notification settings, click the Edit Notification Settings button inside any module on the Notifications Dashboard page 2. To edit global notification settings, click on the Edit General Settings link. 5

6 3. Edit your general course settings and click the Submit button when finished. 4. To edit the individual notification settings for all courses, choose Bulk Edit Notification Settings. To edit course settings one by one, choose your course under Edit Individual Course Settings. 5. Edit your course settings and click the Submit button when finished. Add or Remove Modules You can add modules to the Notifications Dashboard as well as module pages in your course sections. 1. To add a module to the Notifications Dashboard, click the Add Module button. 2. Choose the module from the list and add it by clicking the Add button located under the module. Use the Search box or the Category to find specific modules. Note: Modules that are on the Notifications Dashboard page by default have Required listed under them and cannot be removed. 6

7 3. To remove a module, click the Remove button located under the module name and description. 4. Click the OK button to complete. Accessing the Settings Menu The mycourses user menu allows you to visit recently viewed courses and change settings. From the menu you can change your personal information and edit your notification settings. 1. To access the settings menu, click the dropdown box at the top right corner of the screen. 2. At the bottom of the drop-down click the Settings link. 3. Click the Personal Information link from the list. 7

8 4. You will have a choice of which settings to change. Editing Personal Information mycourses allows you to personalize your account. 1. From the Personal Information list, choose Edit Personal Information. 2. You can change any field that has an open text box. Click the Submit button when finished. Note: The default address is NetID@msstate.edu. If you would like to personalize your address for the system, change the field. Set Privacy Options After setting your personal information, mycourses allows you to personalize who can see it and who can contact you. 1. From the Personal Information list, choose Set Privacy Options. 8

9 1. Set your privacy options then click the Submit button. Default Course Shell A default course shell is created for every course in mycourses. The shell includes a left navigation menu, which includes: Home Page Provides a link to course modules available Library Resources Opens the library resources page Student Support An online learn course to help students within mycourses Help Blackboard Help mycourses provides a great deal of flexibility allowing instructors to change the navigation menu for each course. Items that can be added to this menu are: Content Area Module Page Blank Page Tool Link Web Link Course Link Sub header Divider A page that content can be displayed on A page that will display course modules such as What s New A page that will be created within mycourses A link to any course tool that is available in the course A link to an outside URL A link to another place within the course A sub header on the menu bar A divider on the menu bar It is recommended that you limit the number of items on your left navigation menu. Be careful not to grow the menu so large that it becomes unhelpful. Prior to building your course, you should think about the organization of the course. For example some courses are organized by units or weeks, while others are organized by content type such as PowerPoint or study guides. Use content area and folders to create a good course organization. 9

10 Course Home Page Breadcrumb Edit Mode Switch Course Menu Content Frame Course Menu Content Frame Breadcrumbs allows the instructor to create and instruct course content. The course menu can contain items that are created by default as well as items created by the instructor. contains the content added by the instructor. Content can be in the form of folders, files, tool links, or modules. allow the user to go up to the previous level in the tools. Edit mode switch Accessing Courses on/off allows the user to change modes for the course. The Edit mode should be left to On. 1. To navigate quickly from one course to another in mycourses, next to the Home Page icon, click the drop-down arrow and choose a course to access. Home Page icon 10

11 Moving Course Menu Items The mycourses course menu can be customized to suit the instructor. Course menu items can be added or removed. They can also be relocated. There are two ways to move course menu items. 1. To move a course menu item, click the Reorder menu items icon. Select the item to be moved, then click the up or down arrows in the box. Click the Submit button when finished. 1. To move a course menu item, mouse over the left corner of the item until you see a crosshair. Then left click the crosshair and drag the item to it s new location. Move mouse until you see a crosshair Adding Course Menu Items Course menu items are added by using the plus sign at the top of the course menu. Adding a Content Area 1. To add a content area, mouse over the plus sign at the top left corner of the course menu and choose Content Area. Give the content area a name. Click the Submit button to finish. Note: You can make the content area available now by checking the box. 2. Click your new course menu link to access the content area. Note: Until you add content to a Content Area, you will see a grey box beside the menu name in the content menu. 11

12 Adding a Tool Link 1. To add a tool link, mouse over the plus sign at the top left corner of the course menu and choose Tool Link. 2. Give the link a name in the Name field. Then click the dropdown under Type and choose the tool that you would like to add to the menu. Click the Submit button when finished. 3. Click your new tool link to access the tool in the content frame. Adding a Web Link 1. To add a Web link, mouse over the plus sign at the top left corner of the course menu and choose Web Link. Fill in the Name field and enter the URL in the URL field. Click the Submit button to finish. Note: You can make content available now or later. 12

13 2. Click your new web link in the course menu to access the web site. Adding a Course Link 1. To add a Course Link, mouse over the plus sign at the top left corner of the course menu and choose Course Link. Click the Browse button to locate your course link. Select the link from the file menu. Enter a name for the link in the Name field. Then click the Submit button to finish. 2. Click your new course link to access the link in the content area. 13

14 Adding a Blank Page 1. To add a Blank Page, mouse over the plus sign at the top left corner of the course menu and choose Blank Page. 2. Enter a name for the page in the Name field. Then click the Submit button to finish. 3. Enter your content in the Content field. Then add any attachments. Set your options. Click the Submit button to finish. Note: You can set your visibility options to show or hide the item. Note: It is a good idea to set your tracking at this time. Note: You can set your display date and time restrictions. 14

15 Editing Course Menu Items Course menu items can be renamed, hidden, or deleted. 1. To rename, hide, or delete your course menu item, click the chevron beside the item. The edit menu will appear. 2. To rename the item choose Rename. Then give the item a new name. Choose the green check mark to accept or the red X to decline. 3. To hide the item choose Hide Link. The link will be visible to you only. An slash icon will appear to the right of the menu item. 4. To show the item choose Show Link. The link will be visible to students. 5. To delete the item choose Delete. The link will be removed from the menu. 15

16 Adding Course Content You can add course content in numerous forms to mycourses. Content can be added in a file and folder structure or by Learning Modules. Adding a Syllabus 1. To add your syllabus click the Build Content drop-down from the content menu. Choose File from the menu. 2. Give the Syllabus a name in the Name field. Use the Browse My Computer button to browse for your file. 3. You can use or replace your selected file. 4. Set the standard options and click the Submit button. 5. Your Syllabus file appears. 16

17 Adding a Content Folder 1. To add a content folder to mycourses, navigate to a content area and click the Build Content button. From the drop-down menu select Content Folder. 2. Give the folder a name in the Name field. Set your standard options. 3. Click the Submit button to finish. 4. Your content folder will appear. 17

18 Adding New Files You can add files to mycourses in many formats. If you want to add a file that is strictly to be downloaded, choose the File option. 1. To add a File to a content folder, click the Build Content menu item and choose File from the list. 2. Provide a file name in the Name field. Click the Browse My Computer button and select your file from the browser. Set your standard options then click the Submit button. 3. Your file will appear. 18

19 Adding Items You can add items to mycourses. An item contains text and a file or files as an attachment. Adding an Item will save screen space as opposed to adding a single file. 1. To add an Item to a content folder, click the Build Content menu item and choose Item from the list. 2. Provide a file name in the Name field. 3. Click the Browse My Computer button and select your file from the browser. You can add multiple files to insert. Each file has to be added individually. 4. Click the Submit button and your Item will appear. 19

20 Adding an Image 1. To add an image to your content area, click the Build Content drop-down and choose Image from the list. 2. Click the Browse My Computer button and select your image file from the browser. Provide a file name in the Name field. 3. Choose your image options in the Image Options area. 4. Click the Submit button. 5. Your Image will appear. 20

21 Adding a YouTube Mashup You can add YouTube videos directly to mycourses. As long as the YouTube link is valid, the video will be in your course. It is a good idea to include the YouTube link for the video in the embedded link. 1. To add a YouTube video to your content area, click the Build Content drop-down. Under Mashups choose YouTube Video from the list. 2. In the Search field type in your search criteria or plug in a YouTube URL. Click the Go button when you ve entered your search criteria. 3. The Name field will be populated for you. You can change this if you like. 4. Set your options for the Mashup. 21

22 5. Click the Submit button. 6. Your YouTube Mashup will appear. To open the player window, click the Watch Video link. 7. To play the video, click the play arrow button for the video. 22

23 Adding an NBC Learn Mashup NBC Learn videos can easily be added to any mycourses course page. To add a video, just follow these instructions. 1. To add NBC Content to your content area, click the Build Content drop-down. Under Mashups choose NBC Content from the list. 2. You will be redirected to the NBC Learn site. From there you can simply search for content by using the Search NBC Learn search field. 3. You can also use the Advanced Search area or browse all available content in NBC Learn. 23

24 4. After locating your video, click the thumbnail and the NBC Learn video player will open with controls located at the bottom. Click the EMBED link and NBC Learn will embed the video into your course. 5. Your NBC Learn content will be listed in the Content Area. 24

25 Adding a Learning Module A learning module allows you to organize materials in a logical order. It allows the course material to be structured so that files and tools are available in a sequential manner. Any course content that can be added to a Content Area can be added to a Learning Module. 1. To add a Learning Module to your content area, click the Build Content drop-down and choose Learning Module from the list. 2. Give the learning module a name and optional description. Set your learning module options, standard options, and table of contents options. 25

26 3. Click the Submit button to finish. 4. Your learning module link will appear in the content frame. Adding content to a Learning Module To add content to the learning module, simply click the link for the learning module to add content to add use the course contextual menus to add content, assessments, or tools. 1. Click the link for the learning module. Then click any contextual menu to add content. 2. Your learning module content will appear in the content frame and the table of contents. 26

27 Adding a Test Creation of quizzes should be done by using Respondus. If you have existing quizzes in your course, you can create a link to them in any content area or learning module. 1. To add a link to a test to a content area, click the Assessments contextual menu. Then choose Test from the drop-down box. 2. Choose your quiz from the list. Click the Submit button when finished. 3. Give the test a name and optional description. 27

28 4. Complete the remaining test options and click the Submit button when finished. 5. The test link will appear in the content frame. 28

29 Adding an Assignment To add an assignment, you must be in a content area or learning module. The Assignment tool is located under the Assessments contextual menu. 1. To add a link to a test to a content area, click the Assessments contextual menu. Then choose Assignment from the drop-down box. 2. Give the assignment a name and optional description. Attach files to the assignment if required and set the grading with points or a rubric. 3. Set the availability and due date options. Next set the recipients. 29

30 4. Click the Submit button to finish. 5. Your Assignment link will appear in the content frame. Adding a SafeAssignment 1. To add a SafeAssignment link to a content area, click the Assessments contextual menu. Then choose SafeAssignment from the drop-down box. 2. Give the SafeAssignment a name in the Name field and give the possible points. Set all of the user options and click the Submit button to finish. 3. Your SafeAssignment will appear in the content frame. 30

31 Enabling and Disabling Course Tools mycourses gives the instructor the ability to choose which tools are available in the course. Follow the instructions below on how to enable or disable tools in the course. 1. From the Customization section of the course menu, choose Tool Availability. 2. Check the box that applies to how you want your tools to be available. Click the Submit button when finished. Adding Course Tools You can add course tools to a content area to mycourses. Tools such as Discussion Boards, Chat, and Blackboard Collaborate can be added in a folder structure or by Learning Modules. The following will show you how to create links to these tools in mycourses. Adding a Discussion Board link Adding a discussion board can involve just creating the link to the discussion board tool, creating a forum while creating the link, or creating a link to an existing forum. Only the instructor can create forums. 1. To add a discussion board, choose Tools from the course menu. Choose Discussion Board from the list. 31

32 2. If there are no existing forums, you can choose to create one by clicking the Create New Forum button. Note: Alternatively, if there are existing forums in mycourses, you can choose one from a list of existing forums. 3. Enter the forum name, optional description, and availability. 4. Complete your forum settings and click the Submit button. 32

33 5. You will be redirected to complete the setup of the link to your discussion board tool. Select the forum created in the previous step and click the Next button. 6. Complete your discussion board link settings and click the Submit button. Your link will appear in the content frame. 33

34 Adding a Blog link Adding a blog can involve just creating the link to the blog tool, creating a blog while creating the link, or creating a link to an existing blog. Only the instructor can create blogs. 1. To add a blog, choose Tools from the Course Menu. Choose Blogs from the list. 2. If there are no existing blogs, you can choose to create one by clicking the Create New Blog button. 3. Enter the blog name, optional description, and availability. 34

35 4. Complete your blog settings and click the Submit button. 5. You will be redirected to complete the setup of the link to your blog tool. Select the blog created in the previous step and click the Next button. 6. Complete your blog link settings and click the Submit button. Your link will appear in the content frame. 35

36 Adding a Chat link Adding a chat session can involve just creating the link to the page of collaboration sessions, creating a chat session while creating the link, or creating a link to an chat session. Only the instructor can create sessions. 1. To add a blog, choose Tools from the course menu. Choose Blogs from the list. 2. If there are no existing chat sessions, you can choose to create one by clicking the Create New Session button. 3. Enter the session name and availability. Click the Submit button when finished. 36

37 4. You will be redirected to complete the setup of the link to your chat tool. Select the chat session created in the previous step and click the Next button. 5. Complete your chat link settings and click the Submit button. Your link will appear in the content frame. 37

38 Setting up Blackboard Collaborate You can set up a course menu link to allow students to join any Blackboard Collaborate session that you ve created. Create a tool link for Blackboard Collaborate in the course menu. 1. To add a Tool Link for Blackboard Collaborate, mouse over the plus sign at the top left corner of the course menu and choose Tool Link. 2. Give the Tool Link a name in the Name field and choose Blackboard Collaborate Scheduling Manager from the Type drop-down list. Click the Submit button when finished. 3. If you have no existing sessions, click the Create Session button. 38

39 4. Set up the session information and schedule. 5. Next, set up the session attributes and grade center integration. Click the Submit button to finish. 6. Your session is now set up and ready to join at the time specified. 39

40 Creating Announcements You can easily use the Announcements tool located on the Tools page to create announcements for your course. Announcements can also be included in Assessment creations as well. 1. Click the Tools course menu link. Then click the Announcements tool in the list. 2. Click the Create Announcement button. 3. Enter your announcement information. You can also set date restrictions on the announcement. Note: mycourses allows the instructor to immediately the announcement to the students in the course. 40

41 4. If you would like to add a Course Link that will be part of the event announced, click the Browse button and locate the course link to add. Click the link and the link will appear in the Location box. Click the Submit button when finished. 5. Your Announcement will appear in the announcements tool as well as the home page announcements module. Course Messages Course Messages is an internal message system that does not use external as the source of delivery. 1. Click the Tools course menu link. Then click the Course Messages tool in the list. 41

42 2. To compose a course message, click the Create Message button in the contextual menu. 3. Select your recipients by click the To, CC, or BCC buttons. Type a subject and body. You can add attachments by clicking the Choose File button under Attachment. Click the Submit button when finished. Send Send is an external system that uses the instructor and student s MSU NetID@msstate.edu address as the sender and recipient. 1. Click the Tools course menu link. Then click the Send tool in the list. Note: No is kept in the course. 42

43 2. Select the group to receive the from the list or you can choose individual users by choosing Select Users. 3. Enter the Subject and Message. Add attachments by clicking the Choose File button. Click the Submit button when finished. 4. The recipients will receive the . The send field will reflect the sender s name and address. The subject line in the received will reflect the course name along with the subject. 43

44 Student View The Student View will allow the instructor to have a student perspective of the course. 1. To enter the Student View, click on the Go To Student View link at the top corner of the mycourses page. 2. You will notice that tools for building the course are no longer available. The file and folder chevrons are no longer available as well. 3. When you click on course content from the student view, the content will appear not in the edit mode, but in a view mode. 4. Click the Return to Teacher View to make edits to the course. 44

45 Course Calendar The Course Calendar allows the instructor to manually enter dates of events to share with students. The course calendar is not updated by any tool. 1. To access the course calendar, go to your tools link in the course menu. 2. Choose Calendar from the course tools. 3. Choose how you would like to view the calendar. 4. To add an event, click the Create Course Event button. 5. Enter the event information and click the Submit button. 6. The calendar event will be posted. 45

46 Course Reports Course Reports is ideal for tracking student activity in the course. The enable student tracking feature should be turned on for each item to be tracked. 1. To access course tracking, go to the Evaluation link under Course Management in the course menu. 2. Choose Course Reports from the menu. 3. Locate the report you wish to run and click the chevron to the left of the report title. Choose Run from the drop-down. 4. Enter the report specifications and click the Submit button to finish. 5. Your report will appear. Click the Download Report link to download the report or Run a New Report to start over 46

47 Retention Center The Retention Center provides an easy way for you to discover which students in your course are at risk. You can communicate with struggling students and help them take immediate action for improvement. 1. To access the Retention Center, click Evaluation from the course menu. Click the Retention Center link from the sub-menu. Students Currently at Risk Course Activity Students You are Monitoring The Retention Center displays areas that focus on course activity. This allows you to follow the following three areas: Students Currently at Risk is based on default rules and customized rules created in the Retention Center. You can click on the items in this section and take actions on them. Course Activity Students You are Monitoring Activity that is happening in the course. Allows you to monitor a student s activity, grade, and missed deadlines.. Note: The Retention Center is linked to the Alerts Module on your Home Page of your course. 47

48 Students Currently at Risk 1. To take notify a student about missed deadlines, click the bullet under Missed Deadlines for the student. 2. To gather details about the missed deadlines, click the View Late Submissions link. Click the X in the top right corner to close the window. 3. To notify the student who has missed deadlines, click the Notify drop-down list. Choose Students from the list. A default message is given which can be changed. Click the Submit button to finish. Monitoring a Student 1. To monitor a student, click the Monitor button on the popup for each student. Each student monitored will appear under the Students you are monitoring section. 48

49 Customize the Retention Center 1. To add, remove, or modify criteria in the Retention Center, click the Customize button in the header of the Retention Center. 2. To create a rule, click the Create Rule drop-down box. Select a rule from the list. 3. Enter a rule name. Choose to include the rule in the risk table. Set your rule criteria. Click the Submit button when finished. Your rule will appear in the list. 49

50 Grade Book The grade book consists of grade columns created when course tools are set up to create grade book entries. Grade book columns can also have columns created manually to reflect non-tool grade items. Also calculated columns can be created to reflect totals, averages, and weighted averages. Create Column 1. To access the Grade Center, choose Grade Center from your course menu. Choose the Full Grade Center, or from the list of filtered links for the Grade Center. 2. The grades for your students and columns will appear. To add a grade column, click the Create Column button. 3. Enter the information for your grade column. Click the Submit button when finished. 50

51 Create Calculated Column 1. To create a calculated column, click the contextual menu Create Calculated Column and choose your column type. 2. Enter the information for your calculated column. Click the Submit button when finished. 3. Your new grade book column will appear. Work Offline mycourses allows the instructor to manage the grade book out of the system. 1. To download or upload grade book columns, click the Work Offline button from the grade book menu. Choose Upload from the list to upload grade columns. Choose Download to download a tab or comma delimited file. Both are opened in MS Excel. 51

52 A publication of Information Technology Services, Mississippi State University Mississippi State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran status.