Tools for development

blackboard > faqs > tools for creation

Blackboard has provided several tools to ease the process building an interactive course site.

Tool	Description
Assignment Manager	Allows exchange of files with the instructor and course users.
Course Calendar	Allows editing the course calendar.
Grade Center	Allows students to check their personal grades online. The instructor can give immediate feedback.
Announcements	Allows you to communicate important information to students quickly.
Faculty Information	Allows you to create a profile with your office hours, location, phone number, etc. for students to view.
Survey Tool	Allows you to create surveys and gather feedback from your students.
Podcast Tool	Allows you to create podcasts for students to subscribe to.
Sign-up List	Allows you to create a sign up list for students.

You can choose any of the following features to enhance your students' learning experience.

The Collaboration (virtual classroom) feature is built into all Blackboard courses and enables "synchronous communication," so that multiple students can converse with you and with each other in real time.
A discussion board would enable you and your students to communicate asynchronously; unlike the Collaboration tool, it isn't necessary for all participants to be online at once. You can set up different forums for group discussion.
Online office hours
Quizzes to be taken online
Electronic posting and checking of grades. Students can only access their own grades.
Electronic submission of assignments (using the instructor's "dropbox" or the assignment manager).

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