Welcome to the new academic year!
Please ensure your Blackboard course is ready for the new academic year, and is accessible to your students, by referring to the checklist below.
If you are a new member of staff, please view our New Staff Checklist in addition to the points below.
Once your course has been created and made available during the annual ‘rollover’ process in July you will need to update the content ready for a new cohort of students.
Ensure your courses materials are up-to-date, including:
- Module and programme handbooks
- Assignment briefs
- Lecture and seminar materials
Structure your course and title your materials to ensure students can easily navigate and find them.
Online Assessment
Summative Assessment
Summative Assessment submission points (e.g. Turnitin or Blackboard assignments) and the corresponding Grade Centre columns will be set up by your Programme Administrator.
Please liaise with them to ensure that they have the correct information to set up each assessment – including the submission deadline and assessment tool to be used.
Blackboard Tests
Academic staff are responsible for creating Blackboard Tests i.e. creating questions and answers. Please liaise with your Programme Administrator to ensure that they are made available with the desired settings. How to make tests available to students.
Formative Assessment
Academics are responsible for setting up and managing formative assessment points.
Helping Your Students
Introduce students to Blackboard and provide an overview of how and what you use Blackboard for. Remind students where and hen they can submit work for online assessments and access their marks and feedback. Remind students which type of assignment they can expect to be using in your course.
Here are 3 simple resources to help your students make the best use of Blackboard
- Blackboard student introduction video (3 mins).
- Blackboard help for students – Getting started articles.
- Downloading files in accessible alternative formats (using Ally).
What if you need further help?
If you have a Blackboard or Turnitin query, or need to contact the TEL team, please log a ticket on the IT Self Service Portal or email it@reading.ac.uk with full details. This will ensure your query is addressed by an appropriate person as promptly as possible.