LEARNING BLACKBOARD Start Here Clicking on the Start

LEARNING BLACKBOARD

Start Here Clicking on the “Start Here” link will show the students what pages they need to read before beginning the course. Those pages are: Announcements, Course Info, MVS Policies, Instructor Info, and Getting Help. When the students are finished reading these pages, they should start with Unit 0 to begin their course.

Announcements • It is very important that students read the Announcement page on a regular basis! • The instructors are required to post one announcement per week, but some instructors may post more, especially if there is a concept that several students are having trouble with.

Course Info • The Course Info section is where the students can find their pacing guide and syllabus. The students should print the pacing guide so they can cross off their completed assignments to make sure they are on pace to finish the course on time.

Instructor Info • The Instructor Info slide is important for students to read so they not only get to know their instructor better, but also their contact information. Some instructors want their students to contact them through Blackboard and others through their Michigan Virtual e-mail. The instructor will also post office hours when they are online and available to the students.

Getting Help • The “Getting Help” section is where students can call the Michigan Virtual Customer Care if they forget their password or if they are having issues loading something for their class on their computer.

MVS Policies • The “MVS Policies” section explains the Acceptable Use Policy, Anti-Bullying Policy, Privacy Policy, and the Plagiarism Policy. These are important for students to read.

Unit 0 is very important to complete! Students are more successful in their course when they complete Unit 0!

Unit 0 – Student Orientation Students will click on the Unit 0: Student Orientation link and they will read and watch videos on several topics. Then they will complete 5 lessons to show they know how to complete a discussion board post, a quiz about what they learned, Academic Integrity Quiz, Submitting an Assignment, and Sending a Message to their Instructor.

Discussion Board • Every class will have at least one discussion board post. Most courses will have an Introduction posting in Unit 0 and/or content specific discussion board items.

My Grades • The “My Grades” section is where the students will check their grades. There are four progress check dates to help students keep on pace to finish their course on time. • The next slide explains the gradebook in further detail.

The yellow exclamation point means that you submitted an assignment but it isn’t graded yet. This is the grade your received on an assignment. If there is no number here, then you didn’t submit one. The blue circle means you attempted an assignment but did not complete it. Open up the assignment and submit it for grading. These are comments that are left by your instructor.

Submitting an Assignment • When submitting an assignment in Blackboard, the students should click on, “Write Submission” and type in their assignment or they can upload a file. • Students should not write in the “Comments” section because it shows up very tiny in the instructor view.

Submission box • After clicking on the “Write Submission” box, another dialog box will show up and that is where the students can type their assignment.