{"id":6062,"date":"2020-07-01T13:49:20","date_gmt":"2020-07-01T13:49:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel\/?page_id=6062"},"modified":"2025-06-26T17:22:23","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T17:22:23","slug":"start-of-semester-communications","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel\/start-of-semester-communications\/","title":{"rendered":"Using Blackboard for start of semester communications"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXO164733544 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXO164733544 BCX0\">Blackboard plays a useful role in helping new and returning students orientate themselves with the module and your expectations for engagement.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<style>#sp-ea-6079 .spcollapsing { height: 0; overflow: hidden; transition-property: height;transition-duration: 500ms;}#sp-ea-6079.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single {margin-bottom: 10px; border: 1px solid #e2e2e2; }#sp-ea-6079.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single>.ea-header a {color: #444;}#sp-ea-6079.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single>.sp-collapse>.ea-body {background: #fff; color: #444;}#sp-ea-6079.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single {background: #eee;}#sp-ea-6079.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single>.ea-header a .ea-expand-icon { float: left; color: #444;font-size: 16px;}.sp-ea-one.sp-easy-accordion .sp-ea-single .ea-header a {\r\n    padding: 10px !important;\r\n    color: #434343 !important;\r\n    background-color: #EAEAEA !important;\r\n    font-weight: normal !important;\r\n    font-size:1px !important;\r\n \r\n}\r\n.ea-expand-icon.fa {\r\n    color: #434343 !important;\r\n  }<\/style><div id=\"sp_easy_accordion-1775293766\"><div id=\"sp-ea-6079\" class=\"sp-ea-one sp-easy-accordion\" data-ea-active=\"ea-click\" data-ea-mode=\"vertical\" data-preloader=\"\" data-scroll-active-item=\"\" data-offset-to-scroll=\"0\"><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-60790\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse60790\" aria-controls=\"collapse60790\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> Create a 'welcome' folder in Blackboard<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse spcollapse\" id=\"collapse60790\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-6079\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-60790\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><span class=\"TextRun SCXO243304550 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXO243304550 BCX0\">A 'welcome' folder provides students with a clear area to start engaging with<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXO243304550 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXO243304550 BCX0\"> the Blackboard module. <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXO243304550 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXO243304550 BCX0\">You should include\u00a0<\/span><\/span>information to support both <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/academic-transitions\/information-and-resources-for-supporting-student-social-transition\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Social Transitions<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/academic-transitions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Academic Transitions,<\/a> <\/strong>for example;<\/p><ul><li><span class=\"TextRun SCXO243304550 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXO243304550 BCX0\"><strong>Expectations for study\/engagement<\/strong>, for example, the role of <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/curriculum-framework\/module-road-maps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Module Roadmaps\/Weekly plans.<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/li><li><strong>Learning technologies you will be using<\/strong> (remind students to check the <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/dts-hub\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Student DTS Hub <\/a>\u00a0to get started with the basics, such as downloading O365 for assignment writing).<\/li><\/ul><p>It may be useful to signpost the following resources, to help orientate students into learning:<\/p><table border=\"1\" width=\"100%\" cellpadding=\"4\"><tbody><tr><th scope=\"col\">University Learning Technologies<\/th><th scope=\"col\">Social Transitions and Academic Transitions<\/th><th scope=\"col\">Library and Study Support resources<\/th><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel-support-for-students\/getting-started\/\">\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel-support-for-students\/ultra-base-navigation\/\">DTS Hub<\/a><\/td><td>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reading.ac.uk\/essentials\/Welcome\/Back-to-Uni\">UoR Back to Uni <\/a><\/td><td>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/libguides.reading.ac.uk\/reading-lists\/students\">Online reading lists: a guide for students<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel-support-for-students\/2018\/08\/29\/blackboard-collaborate-ultra-getting-started\/\">\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel-support-for-students\/2021\/04\/09\/teams-meetings\/\">Blackboard and Ultra Base Navigation<\/a><\/td><td>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reading.ac.uk\/essentials\/Support-And-Wellbeing\/Life-Tools\">UoR Life Tools<\/a><\/td><td>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/web.microsoftstream.com\/video\/ad583c61-e757-477a-b538-7c563ebd90f3\">Taking notes from videos <\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel-support-for-students\/yuja\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">YuJa<\/a><\/td><td>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bb.reading.ac.uk\/bbcswebdav\/xid-24898280_4\">Looking after yourself<\/a><\/td><td>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/libguides.reading.ac.uk\/studying-at-home\/\">Studying at home<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel-support-for-students\/2018\/08\/29\/blackboard-collaborate-ultra-getting-started\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Blackboard Collaborate<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel-support-for-students\/2021\/04\/09\/teams-meetings\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Team meetings<\/a><\/td><td>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reading.ac.uk\/digital-technology-services\/in-learning\">LinkedIn Learning<\/a> (login with UoR email)<\/td><td>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/web.microsoftstream.com\/video\/d1480771-03a3-4b7c-a7e7-f72dc9f339b3Study\">Organising studies for blended learning<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-60791\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse60791\" aria-controls=\"collapse60791\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> Post a 'welcome' screencast<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse spcollapse\" id=\"collapse60791\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-6079\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-60791\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Students are interested in you and the persona you convey, so consider recording a <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel\/online-teaching-toolkits\/making-screencasts-for-tl\/\">'talking head'<\/a> screencast to welcome them and discuss useful 'start of term' information:<\/span><\/p><ul><li>Give students a\u00a0<b>short description of the module content<\/b>, including the <b>kinds of online activities<\/b> the students can expect and <b>how this will contribute to their wider learning<\/b>.<\/li><li>Briefly mention <strong>significant areas of your Blackboard module<\/strong> they should visit at the start of term.<\/li><\/ul><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Not only is this screencast a useful reminder for students, it provides an orientation for those unable to join a live welcome meeting.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-60792\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse60792\" aria-controls=\"collapse60792\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> Share your approach to Blackboard communications<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse spcollapse\" id=\"collapse60792\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-6079\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-60792\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p>There are a variety of <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel\/blackboard-communication-channels\/\">Blackboard communication channels<\/a> that can provide information to your student cohort. Discuss your approach to using these; to ensure students know when and where to check for module updates and key messaging. This information could be included in a 'welcome' folder or screencast, for students to refer to.<\/p><p><strong>Note<\/strong>;<\/p><ul><li>It is advisable to highlight that<span style=\"letter-spacing: 0px\">\u00a0students are <strong>required<\/strong> to check university email, RISIS, Blackboard modules and organisations for important notifications and communications,<\/span><\/li><li>Students can <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel-support-for-students\/2021\/08\/09\/blackboard-learn-edit-notification-settings\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">edit their Blackboard notification preferences<\/a> but <strong>it is not possible for students to disable notifications arising from Blackboard Announcements.<\/strong><\/li><li><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0px\">Blackboard\u00a0<\/span><strong>Activity Stream<\/strong> notifications simply provide quick access to recently active Blackboard areas, they do not replace existing university email or Blackboard module and organisation\u00a0 notifications (for example, students must check Blackboard modules for assessment deadline information).<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-60793\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse60793\" aria-controls=\"collapse60793\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> Prepare students for their first live online session<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse spcollapse\" id=\"collapse60793\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-6079\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-60793\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Students will have varying experiences of interacting<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> online and may not be familiar with the technologies or etiquette you are using for live online sessions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><ul><li><strong>Post a link to information about the platform (<a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel-support-for-students\/2018\/08\/29\/blackboard-collaborate-ultra-getting-started\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Blackboard Collaborate<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel-support-for-students\/2021\/04\/09\/teams-meetings\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Team meetings<\/a>)<\/strong>\u00a0so that students can orientate themselves.<\/li><li><strong>Upload<span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel-support\/2019\/08\/19\/blackboard-collaborate-template-email-joining-instructions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">joining instructions<\/span><\/a> to Blackboard and circulate via an <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel-support\/2018\/07\/17\/blackboard-creating-an-announcement\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Announcement <\/a><\/strong>to remind students to make simple technical checks, such as updating their browser.<\/li><li data-aria-posinset=\"9\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong>Create a holding slide to display when meeting student groups online<\/strong>, to communicate your preferred virtual etiquette. Templates are available for <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel-support\/2020\/03\/17\/blackboard-collaborate-welcome-slide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Collaborate intro slides<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel-support\/2021\/04\/09\/ms-teams-welcome-slide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Teams meeting intro slides<\/a> (these contain ideas for quick ice-breaker activities and labelled interface screenshots). You might include information about how you want students to use the webinar room; for example, mics off unless speaking (to avoid mic interference), questions posted in the chat panel or raise hands? <\/span><strong style=\"letter-spacing: 0px\">Note,<\/strong><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0px\"> Be aware if issuing a preference for 'cameras on'; not all students can learn when their device camera is switched on, for example, there may be accessibility reasons for keeping a camera switched off, students may have better connectivity when switching to audio only, and\u00a0 some may just find their own camera image too distracting to focus on learning! See more <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel\/online-live-sessions-guidance-on-camera-use-with-students\/\">guidance on camera use with students<\/a>.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-60794\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse60794\" aria-controls=\"collapse60794\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> Establish your module 'office hours'<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse spcollapse\" id=\"collapse60794\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-6079\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-60794\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Set <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">student expectations for email replies at the start of term by sharing your virtual 'office hours'. This will communicate boundaries for your own time, and preferences for interaction, so that students know when and how to contact you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Tips for managing your communications load at the start of term:<\/span><\/p><ul style=\"font-weight: 400\"><li data-aria-posinset=\"11\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Ask students to <strong>post topic questions in a module <a href=\"http:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel\/learning-activities\/discussion-forums\/\">discussion board<\/a><\/strong>, to avoid multiple email replies to the same query.<\/span><\/li><li data-aria-posinset=\"12\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If receiving lots of email queries about a particular topic, <strong>consider recording a short informal screencast<\/strong> and including a link to it in a weekly <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel-support\/2018\/07\/17\/blackboard-creating-an-announcement\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Blackboard Announcement.<\/a><\/span><\/li><li data-aria-posinset=\"10\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-us\/office\/manage-email-messages-by-using-rules-c24f5dea-9465-4df4-ad17-a50704d66c59\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Set up a filter in Outlook<\/a> to gather module queries, <strong>set aside a regular time slot<\/strong> to deal with them. Ask students to indicate urgent queries in the subject line.<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong>Your 'office hours' could include an open webinar room<\/strong> for informal 'drop-ins' and FAQs, to help reduce email traffic. You could use the <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel-support\/2019\/08\/19\/blackboard-collaborate-the-course-room-and-scheduled-sessions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">open room in Collaborate<\/a> to facilitate this.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-60795\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse60795\" aria-controls=\"collapse60795\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> Send a welcome email via a Blackboard Announcement<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse spcollapse\" id=\"collapse60795\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-6079\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-60795\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><span class=\"TextRun SCXO21365773 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXO21365773 BCX0\">Use the <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel-support\/2018\/07\/17\/blackboard-creating-an-announcement\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Blackboard Announcement<\/a> tool to email a short welcome greeting and perhaps link students directly to a 'welcome' folder in your Blackboard module.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXO21365773 BCX0\"> A record of the Announcement can be posted within the Blackboard module for future reference.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXO164733544 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXO164733544 BCX0\"> For more information about supporting students at the start of the semester and helping their transitions<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXO164733544 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXO164733544 BCX0\">, see the <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/academic-transitions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Student Academic Transitions Toolkit.<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Blackboard plays a useful role in helping new and returning students orientate themselves with the module and your expectations for engagement.\u00a0 &nbsp; For more information about supporting students at the start of the semester and helping their transitions, see the Student Academic Transitions Toolkit.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":75,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[7,186,83],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.8.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Using Blackboard for start of semester communications - Technology Enhanced Learning<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel\/start-of-semester-communications\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Using Blackboard for start of semester communications - Technology Enhanced Learning\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Blackboard plays a useful role in helping new and returning students orientate themselves with the module and your expectations for engagement.\u00a0 &nbsp; 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