Blackboard Learn allows you to set your preferences to make sure that you never miss any communication from your courses, instructors or even your classmates.

Check out these sections for some quick tutorials on making the most of these functions:

Your instructors can add different types of content to your courses, such as files, text, assignments, images, multimedia, and links. They can organize content in folders, learning modules, and lesson plans.

You can access course content from the links on the course menu. Links that hold content are called content areas. For example, an instructor may add a content area that contains a week's worth of course material. So, week 1 could include content such as readings, assignments, a discussion, and a link to a website. You have to select each item individually to open it.

What if you don't see some content?

Remember that instructors can limit which content items you see based on date, time, individual users, course groups, and your performance on graded items. Ask your instructor about content that you think may not appear for you but should.

For the winter semester, the college will be transitioning to a new classroom streaming tool. So this means your online classes will be streamed through Blackboard Collaborate Ultra, Zoom, or even MS Teams. Don't worry, we'll provide you with some tips to help you navigate your online classes.

Instructors can create a virtual classroom to share presentation material and communicate with you and your classmates through audio, video and chat tools. These direct links will appear in your course shell and they will direct you to whichever platform your class is being held on, and this is where you'll have your online lectures, live discussions and presentations.

Webinar rooms in either of these platforms include a collaborative whiteboard tool that allows you to interact with your classmates and your instructor in real time. Desktop applications and web resources such as multimedia can be displayed directly within the web conference room.

An interactive recording can be created for each session allowing you the opportunity to review material following the live online webinar. Check with your instructor to see if they provide this option in your course.

How to use Virtual Classroom Tools

Each of these platforms require certain permissions to function as desired. For example, you need to grant permission to access your camera and microphone so you can use audio and video. Give Collaborate Ultra, Zoom, or Teams permission when asked, and/or set up permissions in your browser preferences.

There are a few browsers that support these tools, so make sure you are working within those browsers when you use this system:

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As you progress through your course, you'll complete different types of assignments: problems to solve, chapter questions to answer, research papers, presentations, creative writing, and so on.

In Blackboard Learn, you can easily upload your files and receive files back, along with your grade and feedback. Your instructor controls the date when assignments are ready for you to access and when they are due. Make sure you read your course outline throughly and make note of all important dates so you don't miss anything. Adding them to your calendar will help you stay on track.

Your instructors may also use tests to assess your mastery over course content and objectives. You can only access a test when it has been deployed by your instructor in a Content Area of the course. When the instructor lets you know that test is available, and where to find it, enter that area of the course and click on the test link to start it.

Quick tips for taking a test on Blackboard Learn

Start your test as soon as you can.

• If your instructor makes a test available for three days, plan to take the test early on the first day. This way, if you have an issue, you will have time to contact technical support and your instructor.

Read all of the instructions.

• If you have any trouble with your test or understanding test questions or requirements, contact your instructor immediately.

Check your internet connection.

• A wired connection is usually more reliable than a wireless connection.
• Check with your instructor and institution before you take a test with a cellular data connection.

Don't refresh the page, close the window, or use the browser's back button while you take a test.

• If you have problems during a test, contact your instructor immediately.

You may see your score immediately after you complete the test if all questions are auto-graded and your instructor releases this information. Your instructor may choose a date in the future to release test scores while your classmates take the test. To access feedback and grade information, select the test in the content area or My Grades and follow the instructions below.

Tools

When you go to your grades, you are able to see grades for all of your courses or one course at a time.

To view grades:

1. Select the arrow next to your name in the upper-right corner.
2. In the menu, select My Grades. You can sort your grades by All Courses or Last Graded.
3. If your work hasn't been graded, a grade status icons appears.
4. Select a graded item's title to review your submission.
5. For tests, after you select the title, the View Attempts page opens.
6. Select the grade to review your submission.

Select the View Feedback icon to view instructor feedback in a pop-up box. Official course grades are later posted and available through Stu-View.

Blackboard Learn is a fully accessible learning management system and includes many tools for you to make the most of your experience. You can test your device's compatibility on the GBC's Blackboard Learn login page.

Some of the customization includes adjusting text size and contrast, screen reader compatibility, and printing to braille to name a few.

We've included some links below to help you navigate the tools you may need to help you with your online studies and your individual needs.

Blackboard Learn EasySoft support can be accessed at anytime 24/7 right from your dashboard!

Hover over the blue circle with the question mark on the upper right of your screen to access the Support Centre and choose from a selection of support topics or type in what you have a question about.

Support topics will automatically generate depending on where you are in Blackboard Learn to help you get the answer you need.

If you can't find the answer you need, email directly from the EasySoft Support Centre and it will include what you were working on to help resolve your issue.

You can also call to speak to Technical Support at 416-415-5000 ext. 4357 (help)

For GBC password reset, use the self-serve password utility at https://service.georgebrown.ca, or call the Technical Support number above.

Think about what you have learned in this module and complete the self-assessment below.