Blackboard Guides and Videos
Navigate to the appropriate section below to find the guide or video you need, then click the + button to open it.
Written Instructions
- Ultra Base Navigation Quick Guide for Instructors (PDF)
- Faculty Guide (PDF)
- Adjunct Guide (PDF)
- Staff Guide (PDF)
- Beginner's Guide to Blackboard (PDF)
- Emergency Preparedness (PDF)
- PC/MAC Tips for Blackboard (PDF)
- Navigating Blackboard (help.blackboard.com)
- Making your Course Available to Students (PDF)
- My Students Can't See my Blackboard Course (PDF)
- Helping Students with Blackboard (PDF)
- Hardware and Software Specifications for Blackboard (PDF)
- Going Mobile with Blackboard (PDF)
Quick Videos
- Ultra Base Navigation - Instructor Overview
- Forgot Your Password?
- Making your Course Available to Students
- The Blackboard Course Environment
- Posting an Announcement in Blackboard
- Global Navigation and My Blackboard Homepage
- Student Preview Mode in Blackboard
- How to Restore the Course Navigation Sidebar in a Course on Blackboard (PC)
- How to Restore the Course Navigation Sidebar in a Course on Blackboard (Mac)
- Enrolling Users in your Blackboard Course
- How to Send Emails to All Users and Individual Users
- Blackboard: Sending Emails
- Blackboard: Sending Emails Part 2
As of November, 2020, the Content Editor toolbar in Blackboard has changed. Here are some helpful tips for you.
Quick Videos:
Written Instructions
Videos
- Getting Started with Kaltura (Webinar)
For more information, visit FCLD's Teaching with Technology page, which has even more Ensemble resources.
Written Instructions
- Instructor's Guide to Blackboard Collaborate (PDF)
- Participant's Guide to Blackboard Collaborate (PDF)
- Download and Delete Blackboard Collaborate Recordings (PDF)
- Blackboard Collaborate for Android Users
- Blackboard Collaborate for iOS Users
- How do I find my Collaborate Recordings? - Image
- Logging into Blackboard and Access Collaborate
- Blackboard Collaborate for Online Instruction
- Blackboard Collaborate for Students
- How do I share PowerPoint in Collaborate on Two Monitors?
- Share Audio in Collaborate (PC)
- Share Audio in Collaborate (MAC)
- Inviting Attendees with Guest Link
- Enable Automatic Captioning for Collaborate in Google Chrome
- Download and Delete Blackboard Collaborate Recordings
Blackboard Collaborate Best Practices (for Students and Instructors)
Below are some recommendations for making your experience with Blackboard Collaborate better.
- Google Chrome is the preferred browser for Blackboard Collaborate. Firefox can also be used. Never use Edge or Internet Explorer browsers.
- Be sure to disable any streaming, chat or social media applications (e.g. Skype, Netflix, YouTube, Facebook), etc.
- When entering the session for the first time, it will ask you to allow webcam and microphone. You need to permit both of these. A pop-up will appear for the first time. If you accidentally click no, you will need to click the lock icon at the top of the window in the address bar to change your settings. If you have further difficulty, contact ITS at helpdesk@hartford.edu.
- If you have audio/connection problems, first try refreshing the browser window. If that doesn’t work, try closing the Collaborate tab and re-enter. If you continue having issues, click the three bar icon in the upper left to connect via phone.
- You will need to allow third- party cookies and allow popups.
- Your instructor may have disabled microphones and webcams at the onset. Be prepared not to hear anything until the time your class starts.
- To chat, click the purple << tab in the lower right and click the chat bubble. Make sure you type your question to everyone.
Written Instructions
- Blackboard Ally Accessibility Checker (PDF)
- Ally Quickstart Guide (PDF)
- Alternative File Formats for Students (PDF)
Quick Videos
Written Instructions
- Making Your Course Available and Visible to Students (PDF)
- Full Course Copy (PDF)
- Copying Individual Files From one Course to Another (PDF)
- Course Copy Tips (PDF)
- Customizing Courses (PDF)
- Import/Export Your Course (PDF)
- New Term Checklist (PDF)
- Course Files Overview (PDF)
- Cloud Storage Integration (PDF)
Quick Videos
Written Instructions
- Getting Started Adding Materials (help.blackboard.com)
- Quick Intro to Course Files (PDF)
- Getting Started with Blackboard Learning Modules (PDF)
- Cloud Storage Integration (PDF)
Quick Videos
- Copyright for Online Course Materials
- Blackboard: Add Course Folders
- Uploading Files in Blackboard
- Using Course Files to Add Materials to Your Course
- Add Tool Links to the Course Menu
- Using the Content Editor in Blackboard
- Blackboard: Viewing Learning Modules
- Blackboard: Building Content and Adding Assignments
- Blackboard: Creating Lessons Online
- Posting an Announcement in Blackboard
Written Instructions
- Assignment Tool (PDF)
- All About the Assignment Tool (help.blackboard.com)
- SafeAssign: Blackboard's Plagiarism Checker (PDF)
- All About SafeAssign (help.blackboard.com)
- Creating Tests and Surveys (PDF)
- Converting Test Banks for Blackboard (This site has an excellent tool to convert your test questions into a format that can be imported as a pool in Blackboard)
- Pool Manager (PDF)
- All About Tests, Surveys, and Pools (help.blackboard.com)
- Self-Assessment and Peer Evaluations (PDF)
Quick Videos
- Blackboard: Assignments & SafeAssign
- Assignments and Grading
- Inline Grading Assignments
- How to Use SafeAssign in Assignments
- How to Use SafeAssign
- Creating a Rubric
- Blackboard: Creating Tests
- How to Create a Test
- How to Create a Test Question
- How to Set Test Options
- How to Build a Pool of Test Questions
- Blackboard: Building Pools from Tests
- How to Create a Random Block of Test Questions
- Blackboard: How to Edit the Name and Description of a Test
- Blackboard: Building Content and Adding Assignments
- Blackboard: Download Assignments
- Blackboard: Submit an Assignment Using the Assignment Tool (Students)
- Plagiarism
- Blackboard: Export/Import Tests
The University of Hartford is Piloting the Respondus Lockdown Browser and Monitor during the spring session of 2020. For more information on Respondus, visit the pages below:
- Instructor Quick Start Guide (PDF)
- Student Quick Start Guide (PDF) - share this link with your students
- Instructor Training: Lockdown Browser and Respondus Monitor
- University of Hartford Respondus Support & Group Page - you can click the button Become a Member of the Group to join this group to receive emails and current information on Respondus.
- Respondus with Laura Enzor (Video)
Faculty and students needing support on Respondus should reach out directly to the vendor or by emailing respondus@hartford.edu.
Written Instructions
- Discussion Board (PDF)
- Discussion Rubrics (PDF)
- Discussion Tips (PDF)
- Different Uses for Blogs, Wikis, and Discussion Boards (PDF)
- Discussion Board Examples (PDF)
- Blogs (PDF)
- Wikis (PDF)
- Creating Wiki Sign-up Sheets in Blackboard (Video)
- Journals (PDF)
Quick Videos
- How to Use Blackboard Discussions
- Blackboard: Discussion Board Basics and Best Practices
- Blackboard:Deleting Threads from Discussion Forums
- Blackboard: Discussion Board Feedback (Students)
- Blackboard: Sending Emails
- Sending E-mail
- How to Create an Announcement
- How to Create a Blog
- Creating and Editing Blog Entries
- Creating a Journal
- Creating and Editing Journal Entries
- Creating a Wiki
- Editing a Wiki Page
Written Instructions
- Getting Started with Kaltura to share Video and Audio files (PDF)
- Using Mashups to add Videos, Audio, and Slides (PDF)
- Adding Audio Files, Images and Videos to Your Course (help.blackboard.com)
Quick Videos
Written Instructions
- Getting Started with Grade Center (PDF)
- Weighting Grades in Blackboard with Categories (PDF)
- Troubleshooting Grade Center (PDF)
- In-Line Grading and Assignments with Annotations (PDF)
- All About Grade Center (help.blackboard.com)
- Grade Center GPA Scale (PDF)
Videos
- Blackboard Grade Center: Getting Started
- Blackboard Grade Center: Grading Assignments
- Blackboard: Annotate
- Using Rubrics Seminar
- Blackboard: Rubrics
- Anonymous and Delegated Grading
- What you Need to Know from the Grade Center
- How to Customize the Grade Center
- Download and Upload Grades from the Grade Center
- Use Grade Details to See Attempts and Assign Grades
- Blackboard Grade Center: Download Grades to Excel and Re-Upload them to Blackboard
- Blackboard Grade Center:Total Point Distribution
- Blackboard Grade Center: Weighted Total Distribution
- Blackboard Grade Center: Cleanup Student Submissions
- How to Take Attendance in Blackboard
Written Instructions
- Tracking Student Performance (PDF)
- Retention Center (PDF)
- Retention Center (help.blackboard.com)
- Alerts and Notifications (PDF)
- Grade Center (PDF)
FCLD is not responsible for the maintenance or support of third-party integrations. We recommend if Faculty need help with setting up an integration, or if they experience issues with integrations within their course, they contact the vendor directly. Below are vendor-supplied resources to assist you.
- University Bookstore - BryteWave (Redshelf)
- Pearson - Original Course View | Ultra Course View
- Cengage Training site
- McGraw-Hill - Original Course View | Ultra Course View
- Macmillan
- Sage
- Stukent
- SLL (Watermark)
- ActiveClass
- Labster
- Bartleby
- Tevera
- Wiley
Written Instructions
- Equation Editor (PDF)
- Glossary (PDF)
- Calendar and Tasks (PDF)