Course Content FAQ

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1. Can I post files to my course(s)? Where do I post them?
2. I have a previous version of my Course Syllabus on another piece of software. Can I convert this to Bb@GW without having to retype the whole thing?
3. Does Bb@GW have an HTML editor? Can I use HTML tags/code in text boxes within Bb@GW?
4. Can I use Bb@GW Groups to create sub-sections within my course?
5. Can my students or I post files in the discussion area?
6. Can I post my Powerpoint slide shows to BB@GW ?
7. Are e-reserves available in Bb@GW ?
8. How can I help my students avoid losing their test answers if they somehow lose connection to the network while taking a quiz or test on Blackboard?
9. How does Gradebook calculate the Letter Grade display in Blackboard?

1. Can I post files to my course(s)? Where do I post them?

You can post a file or files to any content Area within Bb@GW. If you prefer to have all course-related files on one page, there is already a Files content area within Content Areas on the Control Panel. Within this page you can create a folder structure, or just post a list of files in the order of your choice to the page itself.

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2. I have a previous version of my Course Syllabus on another piece of software. Can I convert this to Bb@GW without having to retype the whole thing?

There are several options. You could open your syllabus document, say in Microsoft Word, and proceed to copy and paste it into the proper content areas of Bb@GW, like the Syllabus page or Outline page. You might wish to use the WYSIWYG content editor to do any formatting of the text:

1. Click on any content area from within Content Areas on the Control Panel.
2. Drop the drop box near the upper right corner of the content area page, choose WYSIWYG Editor.
3. Use the editing tools within the interface after pasting your text.
4. You may also add files, images, multimedia, tables, color, and font styles.

Also, you can post it as a file, again, to any content area.

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3. Does Bb@GW have an HTML editor? Can I use HTML tags/code in text boxes within Bb@GW?

Bb@GW does have an HTML editor, called AOI WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get). You can produce robust content without knowing the HTML language:

1. When adding content to any area in Blackboard while using Internet Explorer 5.5 or above on the PC, you will see WYSIWYG editing tools above the area to insert content.
2. Use the editing tools within the interface after pasting your text.
3. You may also add files, images, multimedia, tables, color, and font styles.

Note that the WYSIWYG editor only works with Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 or above on a PC. If you prefer to use HTML, you can. Within the Add Item page in any content area, beneath each text box you can choose to use “Smart Text”, “Plain Text”, or HTML. Simply select HTML, and enter HTML code into the text box above.

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4. Can I use Bb@GW Groups to create sub-sections within my course?

Yes. Once you create groups through Control Panel > Manage Groups, the students in each group have communications features unto themselves, yet have the same access to your course content. Groups can have private discussion to which you are privy but not non-group students, as well as private Chat sessions.

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5. Can my students or I post files in the discussion area?

Both you and your students may post files to discussion submissions.

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6. Can I post my Powerpoint slide shows to BB@GW ?

You may post any type of file to your course, to any content area of your course. Be sure all of your students are able to read the type of file that you post; for example, PowerPoint (PPT) files can only be read by students who have either PowerPoint or PowerPoint Reader. The reader is freely available through Microsoft at: http://office.microsoft.com. Due to the large size that some PowerPoint presentations are, we suggest the following alternatives. The staff of the ITL can assist in creating these formats and also assist in minimizing course size. Convert to PDF - You can use the Adobe Acrobat software to create PDF versions of your PowerPoint. Utilizing this approach may produce smaller files and has the added benefit of restricting the ability of students to modify the content. HTML presentation - you can save your PowerPoint show as a web page, then place all files in a ³.zip² file, then post the zip file to your Bb@GW course. When you post a file you have the option to ³unpackage² the zip file. This will unzip the HTML content of the slide show, and the students do not need additional software to see it.

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7. Are e-reserves available in Bb@GW ?

Electronic Reserves Requests: You will note that in the Course Tools area of the Control Panel there is now a "Request E-Reserves" option. This link allows faculty to initiate a request for electronic reserves for the given course. Additional URL links are included that allows direct access to the existing library reserves web site. E-Reserve requests will be managed by the libraries and the documents posted will be accessible from the Electronic Reserves link in the menu bar on the left side of the screen for this course.

Electronic Reserves in Other Content Areas: With the addition of the electronic reserves functionality, you may now use LinkMaker from any Content Area to reference reference resources from the Washington Regional Library Consortium (WRLC) sites. This functionality also enables students to quickly access e-reserves posted to your course by the Gelman and Himmelfarb librarians. .

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8. How can I help my students avoid losing their test answers if they somehow lose connection to the network while taking a quiz or test on Blackboard?

There are several strategies that one can implement while delivering a test through Blackboard to ensure that answers are not lost and that students can get back in if a problem occurs.In addition to the strategies noted below, we strongly recommend to any faculty contemplating Blackboard-based testing to contact the CIDD/ITL prior to posting the exam for further assistance and strategy discussions. Call 994-0485 for weekday assistance.

• While setting your Test Options, do NOT choose to "Force Completion". Forcing completion of the test presumes your intention and your students ability to finish the entire test in one sitting. Unfortunately, choosing "Force Completion" will prevent your students from re-accessing the test, if they lose their connection to Blackboard for any reason.
• There is a SAVE button next to SUBMIT at the bottom of the Test page for every student, or next to OK below each question if the test is delivered one question at a time. Encourage your students to continually click SAVE, such that if they lose access to Blackboard and reconnect, their answers are retained.

It is also important to note that when students report getting "kicked out" of the system at any time, the problem may reside with their internet service provider [ISP], like Earthlink or AOL, and may not be a problem within Blackboard.

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9. How does Gradebook calculate the Letter Grade display in Blackboard?

Faculty who wish to display their assessment item scores as Letter Grades in Blackboard need to be aware that by default Blackboard uses a pre-defined conversion table for the letter grade calculation.

Faculty should verify and/or modify the grade conversion table prior to displaying auto-generated Letter Grades.

To view or modify go to:
Course Control Panel>Gradebook>Gradebook Settings> Manage Display Options>Modify(Letter Grade)>[make modifications]> Submit.

For help, contact the Instructional Technology Lab (itl@gwu.edu, 202-994-0485).

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