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Our latest upgrade to Blackboard 7.3 Learning System includes a number of new tools and features. The most noticeable changes will be in the Discussion Board. Initially, you may feel overwhelmed by the change in design and functionality. However, once you spend some time familiarizing yourself with the new features, you will find many useful enhancements. This document is designed to assist you with this new interface and new features. In depth information is contained in the Instructor Manual and product documentation.
ON THIS PAGE:
- Forum View
- Tree View or List View
- Forum Settings - Tagging, Reply with Quote, Moderation
- Forum Settings - Subscribe
- Forum Settings - Peer Review, Allowing Members to Rate Posts
- Forum Settings - Grading
- Lockable Threads
| Forum View |
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When you view the Discussion Board in Forum view you get a link to the unread posts. Also, a forum title that is bolded indicates that there are unread posts. Note that you also have search options from this view.
| Tree View or List View |
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The Tree View gives the look-and-feel similar to our previous version of Blackboard. The Tree View expand all option allows easy navigation within threads and from one thread to another. The List View is the newer 2007 look that many instructors find cumbersome to use. Try both and see which one you like better.
Tree View
List View
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| Forum Settings - Tagging, Reply with Quote, Moderation |
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Allow Post Tagging
Forum managers can create and apply text labels of their own choosing to messages in a forum; other Discussion Board users can read, filter, and search messages using the tags, but cannot create new ones. Tags allow arbitrary message grouping independent of thread or thread status. For faster Discussion Board page loading, turn tagging off. Follow these steps to create and apply tag
Allow Users to Reply with Quote
Allow users to include the text of the original message in any replies to that message. This is enabled by default.
Force Moderation of Posts
Requires that all messages are reviewed
by a moderator before they are posted/displayed in the forum.
| Forum Settings - Subscribe |
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The option to Subscribe to a Forum/Thread is enabled by the instructor. There is also an option of including either the entire post or just a link to the post in the email sent to students. Students can then Subscribe to entire Forums or individual Threads. When a student subscribes to a Forum/Thread, they will get an email message each time a new post is made in the Forum/Thread. The email message will include the post or contain a link to the post depending on the option chosen by the instructor.
| Forum Settings - Peer Review, Allowing Members to Rate Posts |
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Enable forum members to rate individual posts.
Individuals users select a rating from 0 to 5. Each post has an overall rating field with five stars.
The stars show the average rating that the post has received from users. A user may not rate the same post more than once. "Previously rated" refers to the rating that the logged in user gave.
| Forum Settings - Grading |
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Instructors can grade students based on overall participation in a forum or individual threads. They can assign a point value in either case, and enter a grade for the student in the Discussion Board. The grade will be reflected in the Gradebook.
When adding a Thread to a Forum that has "Grade threads" enabled, you will be given the option to grade the thread and determine the point value. NOTE: Users cannot create new threads if Grade Threads is selected for the forum.
Grading a Forum
When in the Forum view, click the grade icon next to the forum to be graded.
Next, choose which student you would like to grade.
Next, enter the overall grade for the resulting list of postings that the student has made to the Forum.
Grading a Thread
When in the Forum view, click on the Forum that contains the Thread(s) to be graded.
Click on the Thread to be graded and then,
click on "Grade Thread."
Choose a student to grade.
All the student postings for that thread will be displayed. Enter a grade.
| Lockable Threads |
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Instructors can lock Threads to prevent new postings, but still allow users to review existing postings. NOTE: Threads can only be locked when in the List View. Checkmark the Threads to be locked and the choose the appropriate item fromt he "Change Status to:" dropdown.
| Additional Tutorials/Resources |
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Blackboard, Inc. Instructor's Manual for 7.3
Instructor Support for Blackboard at BSU
Blackboard
Assistance at Boise State
email:
blackboard@boisestate.edu
phone: (208) 426-2583 (8-5 Mon-Fri)
office: Education 420
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