Information Technology Services

When having to move online quickly, consider these points before moving forward. 

• Communicate with students using SIUE email addresses as soon as you know something – Give them the new game plan and how you plan to continue with readings, lectures, etc. even if everything is not fully fleshed out. 
• Survey your students - Ask what type of access they have to technology off-campus. Let them know how you plan to communicate. 
• Check with your department chair and others in your department – Find out how they are handling expectations and details before planning too much. 
• Think about your technology – Do you need to purchase a webcam or external microphone? Is your Internet connection stable? 
• Update your syllabus – Think about new policies and procedures that must be put into place. (i.e. attendance, communication, tech support, test-taking, etc.) 
• Identify the tools you will be using – Use Blackboard and the University supported tools. Remember materials must be in an accessible format. Review the strategies for moving to online below.  
• Communicate the new expectations and plan for continuing to students – Have them reach out as soon as possible with concerns about technology or other issues. 
• Provide Feedback – Feedback on assignments, discussions, or even a weekly update are critical in an online course. It must be timely and meaningful. 

Visit the Intro to Blackboard Course for a brief walk-through of Blackboard. See the following sections for more details. Additionally, there is virtual training for Zoom and YuJa.

ITS is available to provide support. Our Help Desk is here 24/7 for all your campus and technical needs, including Office 365 (OneDrive, Teams, email, etc.). The ITS Instructional Design & Learning Technologies group is here to support you in your learning technology's needs, including Blackboard and Zoom support.  

Call: 618-650-5500 
E-mail: help@siue.edu 
ITS Knowledge Base: https://kb.siue.edu 
Third-Party Tools: https://kb.siue.edu/63286

Blackboard Course Shells 

Each course and section has a Blackboard course shell already created based on what is built within the Banner/CougarNet system. If you are listed as the instructor of record within the Banner/CougarNet system, you will see the course shells when logging into Blackboard. 

Format 

Use the About This Course content area in the Blackboard course shell to post the revised syllabus and your contact information and communication plan. 

Use the Coursework content area to create a content folder for the week. Group content (readings, lectures, quizzes, etc.) according to date needed and recommend an order for interaction, if appropriate. (i.e. Do you recommend that they read first or listen to your lecture first?) Include explicit instructions on each piece of content as to what students should do with it or get out of it. 

Template

A Blackboard template has been created to assist with formatting and quickly moving to an online environment. Download the template below and import it into your course. Be aware that the download is a Zip file and should remain zipped. If you are not able to complete this process or would like a member of ITS to complete the import, please complete this request form. Be sure to include your course ID. Please note that the template will be imported in its entirety. You will need to delete the portions you are not using.

Blackboard Template for Quickly Moving Online

Best Practices/Resources: 

• Video 
  • Keep it short. It is better to have four 10-minute videos than one 45-minute video. This will make it easier to adjust if you have an additional point to add. Set a timer or put a slide into your presentations to “End part 1” at appropriate transition points. 
  • Review your videos before posting. While time-consuming, it will improve the quality of communication with students. You may not choose to record again if there’s an error, but you can publish a few notes with the recording to clarify questions in advance.  
  • Caption your videos. YuJa will auto-generate captions. This is a best practice for all students and all video content—consider your ESL students or the technical vocabulary within your content), but it is required if you have a student who needs this accommodation.  

• Files 
  • Keep all files phone-friendly by converting to PDF.  
  • Use the Blackboard Ally indicators to make your files accessible. Additionally, you can follow the guidance on the Course Accessibility Checklist provided by ACCESS.