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What tools can I use for communicating with my students?

The table below lists common components of a course Communication Center, available by clicking the Communication button. These tools can also be restricted from students accessing them. Scroll down to find this question.

Component Description
Send e-mail Lets you exchange e-mail with classmates, instructors, teaching assistants, or groups within a course.
Discussion Board Allows threaded discussions and "asynchronous" communication (not everyone has to be online at the same time). Conversations are logged and organized. An instructor must create a forum, but students can then add threads.
Collaboration Tool Allows the instructor and students to participate in real-time lessons and discussions. Chat sessions can be recorded and archived. This is "synchronous" communication, so everyone participating must be available at the same time. Unless someone else happens to be "listening" online (either coincidentally or by prearrangement) when you send your chat message, you will get no response. Macintosh users should see Using Virtual Classroom (chat) on a Macintosh.

Be aware that Collaboration tool (Chat) sometimes loads slowly.
Group Pages Allows groups of students within a class to share a homepage and many communication functions.

The above information is adapted from the "Blackboard Online Manual" (Copyright Blackboard, Inc., 1899 L. Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20035) and is used with permission.

Conversations using Blackboard chat sessions and discussion board sessions can be recorded and archived for the course as part of Blackboard's archiving process.

You can also broadcast current and important information for students to see when they log in by posting to Announcements area.

Online student communication is subject to the same rules as student communication in the classroom. The University has an Acceptable Use Policy, and harassment in a course chat room or on a discussion board is treated in accordance with that policy. You (or your students) can report any instances of harassment while using Blackboard courseware to abuse@utexas.edu for handling.

How do I restrict student access to communication tools?

If you want to restrict student access to these tools you can make these changes in the Control Panel of your course.

  1. Click on Control Panel
  2. Click on Manage Course Menu under Course Options
  3. Click on Modify to the right of Communication
  4. Uncheck any unwanted tools
  5. Click Submit

Instructors and TA’s will have access through the control panel.

Please contact the ITS Help Desk by calling 475 - 9400 or by submitting a help request at http://www.utexas.edu/its/help/blackboard/.

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The information below refers to Blackboard version 8.
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