Syllabus for the Faculty Online Certification Course Module 1 Blackboard Basics General Course Information Facilitators: The Izone Training Team are the facilitators for this course and each trainer is assigned to a specific unit. Deborah Seepersaud Unit 1 Elizaveta Drakunova Unit 2 Shayna Cargill Dominguez Unit 3 Zahira Gonzalez Unit 4 Moisette Maltais Unit 5 Contact information for course-related matters: Email: nsucert@nova.edu Phone: 954-262-4961 or 954-262-0777 (press 4 for training) Course Description: The purpose of the Faculty Online Certification Course is to promote innovation in the classroom while expanding the knowledge and skills of faculty who are teaching online. Participants will gain a better understanding of how to enhance learning opportunities for all students enrolled in either blended or online courses. The course, Module 1 Blackboard Basics, is one of four modules in the Faculty Online Certification Course. This course is self-paced and focuses on the use of Blackboard as well as the pedagogical principles and best practices related to online learning and distance education. 1
Course Learning Outcomes: By the end of this course, you will be able to: 1. Explore the Blackboard Learn interface in the roles of student and instructor. 2. Identify various tools that promote asynchronous and synchronous modes of communication. 3. Select assessment tools to evaluate learners in a variety of meaningful ways beyond traditional objective tests. 4. Plan and deploy course tools to incorporate interactivity and engage students in online courses. 5. Locate tools for monitoring student performance and discover strategies for improving student success in the online environment. Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this course. Textbooks and Materials: There are no required textbooks for this course. Technology Requirements: Make sure you have the required technologies to access and view course files correctly: Word-processing software such as Microsoft Word. PDF reader such as Adobe Reader. Grading Procedures: All required competencies will be graded with feedback (if needed) on a weekly basis. Any questions or concerns can be emailed to the facilitators at nsucert@nova.edu with a subject line indicating the unit of concern. All Competency Required Activities MUST be completed together with the quizzes. A score of 70% demonstrates mastery for the quizzes. 2
Course Policies: Faculty who are required to complete Module One Training Completion Date for Module One Training Adjuncts teaching in Fall 2015 Complete within 90 days of the start of term Adjuncts teaching in upcoming semesters Complete within 90 days of the start of the assigned term Full time Faculty Complete by July 1st 2016 Ongoing new hires Must be completed within the first 90 days of employment ADA Disability Services: To request disability services and accommodations, please contact our Disability Services department as soon as possible: Disability Services Phone: (954) 262-7185 Email: disabilityservices@nova.edu Website: http://www.nova.edu/disabilityservices/index.html (Continued on next page) 3
Course Map IMPORTANT! READ THIS PAGE THOROUGHLY. New Blackboard Users: We highly recommend that you complete the items outlined in the course map in sequential order. Completing ALL activities will help to ensure that you gain all of the necessary skills to utilize Blackboard effectively in your courses. Experienced Blackboard Users: Since you are an experienced user, you may direct your focus on completing only the Competency items (in any order) to move quickly through the course and to satisfy the course requirements. All Users: Whether you are a new or experienced user, all items labeled Competency Required Activity must be completed for you to satisfy the course requirements. Only the Competency items will be graded. All other activities in this course are optional and will not count towards your grade. For easy identification of Competency items in this document and in the course, you will see this graphic: (Continued on next page) 4
The Course Map below includes a list of all course activities. Use this as a checklist to complete the course. Pay close attention to the items identified as competencies and be sure to complete those activities to successfully complete the course. Unit 1 - The Online Learning Experience In this unit, you will identify various types of online courses, navigate tools and content as a student, and add items such as a syllabus to your online course. Complete the Unit 1: Pre-Test Unit 1 Lesson 1 The Student Experience Review the Lesson 1 Objectives. Read the Lesson 1 Content. Complete the Lesson 1 Activities Unit 1: Lesson 1 (Part A): Log in to Faculty Online Certification Instructor Practice Course Unit 1: Lesson 1 (Part B): Hands-on Activity: Exploring the Interface Unit 1 Lesson 2 Blackboard Learn Tools Review the Lesson 2 Objectives. Read the Lesson 2 Content. Complete the Lesson 2 Activities Unit 1: Lesson 2: Using Blackboard Learn 5
Unit 1 Lesson 3 The Instructor Experience Review the Lesson 3 Objectives. Read the Lesson 3 Content. Complete the Lesson 3 Activities Unit 1: Lesson 3 Assignment: Planning Your Course Tools Unit 1: Lesson 3 Hands-on Activity: Creating Your Course Menu Unit 1: Lesson 3 Quiz: The Instructor Experience Unit 1 Lesson 4 Sharing Materials Review the Lesson 4 Objectives. Read the Lesson 4 Content. Complete the Lesson 4 Activities Unit 1: Lesson 4 Hands-on Activity: Sharing Materials in Content Areas Unit 1: Lesson 4: Ideas and Tips for Content Areas Unit 1 Lesson 5 Course Start-up Tasks Review the Lesson 5 Objectives. 6
Read the Lesson 5 Content. Complete the Lesson 5 Activities Unit 1: Lesson 5: Hands-on Activity: First Day Tasks Complete the Unit 1 Post-Test. Unit 2 Assessing the Learner In this unit, you will learn how to use assignment tools to assess students in a variety of meaningful ways beyond traditional objective tests. Complete the Unit 2 Pre-Test. Unit 2 Lesson 1 Creating Assignments Review the Lesson 1 Objectives. Read the Lesson 1 Content. Complete the Lesson 1 Activities Unit 2: Lesson 1 Hands-on Activity: Use Multiple Assignments to Evaluate Students Unit 2: Lesson 1 Hands-on Activity: Create a Safe Assignment Unit 2: Lesson 1 Discussion: Share an Assignment Idea 7
Unit 2 Lesson 2 Managing Assignments Review the Lesson 2 Objectives. Read the Lesson 2 Content. Complete the Lesson 2 Activities Unit 2: Lesson 2 Hands-on Activity: Grade Assignments Unit 2: Lesson 2 Hands-on Activity: Download Assignments to Review Offline Unit 2: Lesson 2 Hands-on Activity: Create a Calculated Column in Grade Center Unit 2 Lesson 3 Creating Tests Review the Lesson 3 Objectives. Read the Lesson 3 Content. Complete the Lesson 3 Activities Unit 2: Lesson 3 Practice Test Unit 2: Lesson 3 Hands-on Activity: Create a Test Unit 2 Lesson 4 Deploying Tests Review the Lesson 4 Objectives. 8
Read the Lesson 4 Content. Complete the Lesson 4 Activities Unit 2: Lesson 4 Hands-on Activity: Edit the Settings of Tests Unit 2: Lesson 4 Hands-on Activity: Deploy the Lesson 3 Test Unit 2: Lesson 4 Discussion: Test Security Unit 2: Lesson 4 Quiz: Creating, Adding, and Deploying Tests Unit 2 Lesson 5 Grading Tests Review the Lesson 5 Objectives. Read the Lesson 5 Content. Complete the Lesson 5 Activities Unit 2: Lesson 5 Hands-on Activity: Grade Center Tasks Unit 2: Lesson 5 Quiz: Grading Tests Unit 2 Lesson 6 Advanced Questions Review the Lesson 6 Objectives. Read the Lesson 6 Content. 9
Complete the Lesson 6 Activities Unit 2: Lesson 6 Quiz: Advanced Questions Unit 2: Lesson 6 Hands-on Activity: Create a Test With Advanced Question Types Unit 2: Lesson 6: Manually Graded vs. Automatically Graded Questions Unit 2 Lesson 7 Question Pools and Sets Review the Lesson 7 Objectives. Read the Lesson 7 Content. Complete the Lesson 7 Activities Unit 2: Lesson 7 Hands-on Activity: Question Pools and Random Blocks Unit 2: Lesson 7 Quiz: Question Pools Complete the Unit 2 Post-Test Unit 3 Enhancing Communication In this unit, you will explore various tools that promote asynchronous and synchronous modes of communication. Complete the Unit 3 Pre-Test. Unit 3 Lesson 1 Overview 10
Review the Lesson 1 Objectives. Read the Lesson 1 Content. Complete the Lesson 1 Activities Unit 3: Lesson 1: Importance of Interaction Unit 3: Lesson 1: Assignment: Course Communication Strategy Unit 3 Lesson 2 Creating Discussions Review the Lesson 2 Objectives. Read the Lesson 2 Content. Complete the Lesson 2 Activities Unit 3: Lesson 2: Hands-Activity: Creating Discussion Forums Unit 3: Lesson 2: Online Communication in Education Unit 3 Lesson 3 Working with Discussions Review the Lesson 3 Objectives. Read the Lesson 3 Content. Complete the Lesson 3 Activities 11
Unit 3: Lesson 3: Hands-on Activity: Moderating Discussions Unit 3: Lesson 3: Hands-on Activity: Grading Discussions Unit 3 Lesson 4 Encouraging Collaboration Review the Lesson 4 Objectives. Read the Lesson 4 Content. Complete the Lesson 4 Activities Unit 3: Lesson 4: Hands-on Activity: Creating Groups Unit 3: Lesson 4: Hands-on Activity: Creating a Group Assignment Unit 3 Lesson 5 Using Chat Review the Lesson 5 Objectives. Read the Lesson 5 Content. Complete the Lesson 5 Activities Unit 3: Lesson 5: Hands-on Activity: Creating Chat Sessions Unit 3: Lesson 5 Quiz: Online Communication Complete the Unit 3 Post-Test. 12
Unit 4 Designing Engaging Content In this unit, you will learn how to incorporate interactivity to engage students in ways that go beyond text-heavy lessons. Complete the Unit 4 Pre-Test. Unit 4 Lesson 1 Plans and Possibilities Review the Lesson 1 Objectives. Read the Lesson 1 Content. Complete the Lesson 1 Activities Unit 4: Lesson 1 PLAN: Your Course and Lesson: Assignment Unit 4: Lesson 1 CREATE: Your Course Framework: Assignment Unit 4: Lesson 1: And the Winner Is? Unit 4 Lesson 2 Prepare Your Content Review the Lesson 2 Objectives. Read the Lesson 2 Content. Complete the Lesson 2 Activities Unit 4: Lesson 2 CREATE: The Makeover: Assignment Unit 4: Lesson 2: Makeover Results 13
Unit 4 Lesson 3 Create Your Lesson Review the Lesson 3 Objectives. Read the Lesson 3 Content. Complete the Lesson 3 Activities Unit 4: Lesson 3 PLAN: Activities and Multimedia: Assignment Unit 4: Lesson 3 CREATE: Your Lesson: Assignment Unit 4 Lesson 4 Customize Content Delivery Review the Lesson 4 Objectives. Read the Lesson 4 Content. Complete the Lesson 4 Activities Unit 4: Lesson 4 CREATE: An Adaptive Release Rule: Assignment Unit 4: Lesson 4: Benefits to Students Complete the Unit 4 Post-Test. 14
Unit 5 Monitoring Student Performance In this unit, you will identify tools for monitoring student performance and discover strategies for improving student success in the online environment. Complete the Unit 5 Pre-Test. Unit 5 Lesson 1 Preparing for Success Review the Lesson 1 Objectives. Read the Lesson 1 Content. Complete the Lesson 1 Activities Unit 5: Lesson 1 Prescription for Success Unit 5: Lesson 1 Assignment: Spotlight on Your Course Unit 5 Lesson 2 Review Settings Review the Lesson 2 Objectives. Read the Lesson 2 Content. Complete the Lesson 2 Activities Unit 5: Lesson 2 Hands-on Activity: Experimenting With Settings and Surveys Unit 5 Lesson 3 Grade Center Basics Review the Lesson 3 Objectives. 15
Read the Lesson 3 Content. Complete the Lesson 3 Activities Unit 5: Lesson 3 Hands-on Activity: Customizing the Grade Center Unit 5:Lesson 3: Clearing Up the Muddiest Point Unit 5 Lesson 4 Grading Periods Review the Lesson 4 Objectives. Read the Lesson 4 Content. Complete the Lesson 4 Activities Unit 5: Lesson 4: Hands-on Activity: Add a Grading Period Unit 5 Lesson 5 Creating Columns Review the Lesson 5 Objectives. Read the Lesson 5 Content. Complete the Lesson 5 Activities Unit 5: Lesson 5: Hands-on Activity: Creating and Editing Columns Unit 5: Lesson 5: Grade Center Self-Test 16
Unit 5 Lesson 6 Retention Center Review the Lesson 6 Objectives. Read the Lesson 6 Content. Complete the Lesson 6 Activities Unit 5: Lesson 6 Hands-on Activity: Experimenting With the Retention Center Unit 5: Lesson 6: Helping Students Succeed Unit 5 Lesson 7 Working with Grades Review the Lesson 7 Objectives. Read the Lesson 7 Content. Complete the Lesson 7 Activities Unit 5: Lesson 7: Hands-on Activity: Needs Grading Unit 5: Lesson 7: Hands-on Activity: Inside the Grade Center Unit 5: Lesson 7: Anonymous Grading: For or Against? Unit 5 Lesson 8 Troubleshooting Student Performance Review the Lesson 8 Objectives. 17
Read the Lesson 8 Content. Complete the Lesson 8 Activities Unit 5: Lesson 8 Test: You Are the Doctor Unit 5: Lesson 8 Hands-on Activity: Run a Course Report Unit 5: Lesson 8: Compiling Course Statistics Complete the Unit 5 Post-Test. 18