Blackboard: The default course menu for new modules

Students appreciate and expect a consistent and coherent online learning experience. To ensure consistency in the way information and resources are presented in the Blackboard (Virtual Learning Environment) between different modules the University Blackboard Threshold Standards were developed.

The following suggested default menu structure for course areas in Blackboard provides a baseline set of headings and menu items to help you organise online learning and content.

All new Blackboard courses created in the annual rollover have this menu structure applied by default, except where a School or Department have designed their own default menu. Schools and Departments have the scope to customise their Blackboard courses to meet their needs, and staff can add items to the menu, as required. Please check with your School Director of Teaching and Learning for any local adaptations.

Some menu items are mandated by the University and should not be altered as this could prevent any updates needed; these are indicated as ‘Required item‘.

For help with editing your course menu see Customising a course menu

Suggested default menu structure for Blackboard courses

Menu item	Description
Place specific academic information about a module in the top section.
Announcements	Tool Link: Announcements Post time-sensitive news and information to students. Suggested post: A welcome announcement introducing the module that describes what the online space is going to contain and be used for.
About	Content Area To contain the following information: Link to module description located at: www.reading.ac.uk/modules Module/programme handbook Aims and learning outcomes Technology requirements
Staff Contacts	Tool Link: Contacts Add an entry for each member of staff teaching on the module/programme to include: Contact details: email and/or telephone Office location Office hours Link to UoR staff profile (optional) Photo (optional) You should also include contact details for your Support Centre programme administration team.
Module Evaluation	Content Area Required item to provide a Module Convenor’s response to feedback obtained through the student module evaluation survey. It is pre-populated with three content items: Information for Students Module Convenor’s Commentary on the module evaluation The commentary should be uploaded and attached to this content item at the appropriate time. Information for Staff This item is visible only to those enrolled on the course with a staff role. It explains the purpose of the area, and how to use it. More information: Module Evaluation
Create menu items in the second section to store learning materials (using content areas) or provide links to tools for online learning activities, e.g. Discussion board or Blogs (using tool links), that are organised with a structure that complements the delivery of the learning, e.g. by topic, week, or activity. Example menu items could include: Lecture notes Resources Skills You can also create menu items for centrally provided or general resources: e.g. past exam papers, glossary of terms, useful websites, etc.
Learning Materials	Content Area To contain course materials e.g. lecture notes, seminar materials, handouts, pre- or post-lecture activities Create folders within this area to aid navigation, and/or create additional content areas in this section of the menu.
Reading List	Tool Link: Reading List Required item to give students access to the relevant online reading list. It provides a link to the relevant Talis Aspire reading list for the module. This link needs to be configured by a course Instructor in order to work correctly for students – refer to Online reading lists: a guide for Academic staff.
YuJa	Replaced Microsoft Stream in courses from 2022/23 onwards. Content Area Contains a link to YuJa for students this will open the course Channel in YuJa for staff, this will open your My Media area in YuJa a link to the student YuJa help pages some text visible only to staff on the course, with a link to the staff YuJa help pages on this site. Content area as described above will appear on all Blackboard courses which represent one or more RISIS modules; on other courses the YuJa area will be blank. Required item for all courses making use of YuJa.
Place information about assessments in the third section, including links for students to submit electronically and/or take online tests. This could also include information about non-electronic assessment requirements.
Assessment	Content Area Required item to contain Turnitin and/or Blackboard Assignment submission points created for summative assessment. Include information about the submission requirements, assessment criteria and assignment briefs.
My Marks and Feedback	Tool link: My Grades Required item to give students access to marks and feedback recorded and released through the Grade Centre for summative and formative assignments or tests. More information: Adding the ‘My Marks’ tool to the course menu
Place general academic support details relevant to module in the final section.
Email	Tool Link: Email Staff and students can contact each other via the Blackboard course.
Help for students	Web Link This links to the University Student Blackboard Help site.

Page last updated on July 14, 2022 by andyturner