UAB Information Technology Department
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Emergency Support for Teaching and Learning:
Quick Start Technology Toolkit

As we begin the fall semester, there is a possibility of a higher level of absenteeism because of the outbreak of human swine flu. We have created a Technology Toolkit to help you continue to communicate with and provide learning experiences for students who cannot attend class. This toolkit is designed as a quick start guide for faculty who do not have experience using the online course management system.  

All academic courses (except labs/seminars/independent studies - see NOTE, below) at UAB have an associated website automatically created through a system called Blackboard Vista. Faculty can place course materials on that website for student access 24/7 from anywhere they have internet access. The online component can be used as much or as little as necessary to fit your teaching needs. There are many advantages to using the online components including giving students the ability to participate in the course when they may be out due to personal illness or for other reasons that may prevent classes from meeting on campus. Here are some things you might consider:

  • Use the online site to house basic course information that is ordinarily handed out in class - syllabus or course schedule.
  • Use the online site for all course material - PDF versions of PowerPoint slides, vocabulary lists, instructor-produced written materials, photographs, illustrations, recorded lectures, etc.
  • Use the online grade book so student grades can be posted privately and accessed by the student as desired.
  • Link to other websites (internal and external) for additional materials or content.
  • Use discussion forums and chat to generate participation and collaboration.

Steps 1 and 2, below, provide basic information to get setup and logged on to Blackboard Vista and some quick start guides/steps on understanding the course interface and posting content into the site for your course.

Step 3 provides you with some options on communicating with your students when away from a physical class environment.

Step 4 goes into more detail about advanced tools that are available to expand and enhance the use of the online course if you choose to use them.

Steps 5 and 6 provide information on available training, tutorials and guides, and tips as well as individual resources that you can contact for assistance.

NOTE: If your course is a lab/seminar/independent study section that is not displaying for students in Blackboard Vista, please complete the Course Request form (https://www.uab.edu/it/instech/auth/acad_form.html) to have your course opened to students.

Step 1: How do I get started using Blackboard Vista?

  • Make sure you computer is properly setup. If you have questions or problems with any computer setup steps, please contact AskIT at 205-996-5555 or askit@uab.edu . (Note: please refer students having issues with computer setup or the Blackboard system in general to AskIT).

  • The UAB School of Nursing with support from the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences has developed an online training course for faculty and designers interested in teaching an online course in Blackboard Vista. This course will show faculty and designers how to effectively use tools within Blackboard Vista to develop and teach their courses online. To display content in the course, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader 9.0 or greater installed on your computer. Once Adobe Acrobat Reader is installed, click here to access the UAB - Blackboard Vista: Instructor and Designer course. Enter your BlazerID and Password to login to Blackboard Vista and then click on the UAB - Blackboard Vista: Instructor and Designer course in your course listing.

    If you do not see the UAB - Blackboard Vista: Instructor and Designer course in your course listing please contact Charles Tomberlin at (205) 975-6545 or tomberlin@uab.edu so he can assist.

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Step 2: How do I structure and upload content to my course?

Upon entering your online course, you'll notice the course interface is organized into three views/tabs: Build, Teach, and Student View. There are three major steps in course design: adding course tools, creating/uploading content, and organizing content. You can include many different types of content with your course - Word documents, PDF files, PowerPoint presentations, links to external web sites or videos, etc. For details, click on the links below. (Note, you will need to have Adobe Acrobat reader in order to view the detail -- you can download Acrobat reader if needed by clicking here).

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Step 3: How do I communicate with my students?

You can communicate with students in several ways, either within your Blackboard Vista course or externally using the Classroom Email Distribution System (CEDS) or through normal UAB email. Within Blackboard a coursemail feature lets you send and receive mail for each individual course. You can also communicate through the chat feature and draw on a white board that is visible to all students logged into the course. For more information on each option click on one of the links below.

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Step 4: What other tools are available?

  • How can I record my lecture and make it available to students? Use Wimba Voice Tools to create an audio recording (podcast) of your lecture or use Wimba Live Classroom to create an audio and video archive of both your voice and most items that are shown on your computer/projector. You can also use Wimba Live Classroom to broadcast your lecture live to all students in your course. Click on the links to each tool for more information.

  • How do I develop and deliver tests and quizzes in my online course? Several tools are available to assist with assessments and ensuring student integrity.
  • How do I manage student grades in Blackboard Vista? Blackboard Vista includes a gradebook feature to help you maintain accurate grades. Check out the following tutorials for more information and uses of the gradebook.

  • UAB offers several tools and services that you may find useful for use when most of the participants are off campus such as during an emergency.  Check them out at the link below.

    Remote Access Technology Toolkit

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Step 5: What additional support resources are available?

The Instructional Technology department has additional material and training for faculty to help you get started and to help with some advanced features. Check out the links below for more information.

In addition, the School of Nursing has put together some online course information that they have made available to all faculty that you may find useful.

 

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Step 6: Who can I contact for assistance or if I have problems?

For faculty looking for more individual guidance and support related to course content and usage (non-technical issues) Instructional Technology designers are available to assist. In addition many of the Schools and Departments have internal resources available to their faculty.

  • School of Business - Elizabeth Fisher
  • School of Dentistry - Michele Robinson/Candice Reese
  • School of Education - Feng Sun
  • School of Health Professions - Pam Paustian
  • School of Medicine - John Taylor/Kristina Panizzi Woodley
  • School of Nursing - Dan Murphy/Matthew Jennings
  • School of Public Health - Cheryl Johnson
  • For schools not listed contact one of the Instructional Technology Designers below:

For support related to technical issues with the system or help setting up your computer contact the UAB IT HelpDesk (AskIT) at 205-996-5555 or by email at AskIT@uab.edu.

All students should be referred to AskIT for assistance, not directly to Instructional Technology.

 

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This file was last updated on: Wednesday, 28-May-2008 09:30:36 CDT