The Skill Builder track offers modular training in core components of Blackboard (Bb) and supporting technologies (Bb Collaborate, TechSmith Relay) to help full- or part-time faculty fully utilize the features available in Bb. The focus of the Skill Builder Track is to demonstrate the technical function of the tools and to provide practical guidance through short training group sessions. The topics addressed in the Skill Builder Track serve as prerequisites to prepare faculty for the Course Designer track.
Skill Builder Track Topics:
Building Course Content
Box; Blackboard Content Collection; Items, Pages & Folders; Mash-ups
Screencasting Fundamentals
Requesting access; starting & linking a recording; best practices
Delivering Bb Assignments & Tests
Assignment; tests; exceptions for accessibility; rubrics
Grading & the Grade Center
Grading with rubrics & embedded feedback; customizing the grade center
Communication Tools
Announcements; discussions; messages; Video Everywhere
Blackboard Collaborate
Accessing a room vs. scheduling a session; uploading PowerPoint; whiteboard tools; sharing desktop apps; polling; inviting external guests; engaging students; recording; Ultra experience
Course Management
Course copy vs. export/import; date management; course tools; course availability; reporting (A4L, item analysis, grade history, tracking)
OPTIONAL ELECTIVES
Universal Design for Learning & Student Success (accessibility)
Academic Honesty & Plagiarism in the Digital Age (SafeAssign, Respondus LockDown Browser)
Competency-based learning (Adaptive Release, upcoming competency-based learning tools)
Publisher integrations (Cengage, McGraw-Hill, Pearson, WileyPLUS, others)
Faculty can complete the Skill Builder track in three ways:
- Face-to-Face: One hour “lunch & learn” training sessions are offered every semester through DoIT’s Office of Instructional Technology
- Blackboard 101: An 8 week online self-paced program is offered to faculty in the spring, summer, and fall semesters
- Competency-Based: Faculty can submit a portfolio to demonstrate competency in the skill builder topics
There are currently no scheduled Instructional Technology Workshops and Skill Builder Training Dates.