{"id":8953,"date":"2021-07-12T08:08:04","date_gmt":"2021-07-12T08:08:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel\/?page_id=8953"},"modified":"2021-09-20T11:03:59","modified_gmt":"2021-09-20T11:03:59","slug":"blackboard-communication-channels","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel\/blackboard-communication-channels\/","title":{"rendered":"Blackboard communication channels"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>There are a variety of channels available within Blackboard for providing student communications. .<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Aim for consistency, to ensure students know when and where to check for module updates and key messaging.<\/li>\n<li>Before meeting your student cohort, <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel\/online-teaching-toolkits\/maintaining-contact-engagement\/start-of-term-communications\/\">use Blackboard for start of term communications<\/a> to help new and returning students orientate themselves with the module and your expectations for engagement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The following recommendations can be used to inform module, Programme or School approaches to student communications<\/p>\n<style>#sp-ea-8958 .spcollapsing { height: 0; overflow: hidden; transition-property: height;transition-duration: 500ms;}#sp-ea-8958.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single {margin-bottom: 10px; border: 1px solid #e2e2e2; }#sp-ea-8958.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single>.ea-header a {color: #444;}#sp-ea-8958.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single>.sp-collapse>.ea-body {background: #fff; color: #444;}#sp-ea-8958.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single {background: #eee;}#sp-ea-8958.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-1776386865\"><div id=\"sp-ea-8958\" 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 ea-expand sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-89580\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse89580\" aria-controls=\"collapse89580\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"true\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-minus\"><\/i> Activity Stream<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse collapsed show\" id=\"collapse89580\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-8958\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-89580\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><table style=\"width: 100%\" border=\"1\" width=\"100%\" cellpadding=\"4\"><tbody><tr><td style=\"width: 17.970401691331926%\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><strong>\u00a0How is it controlled?<\/strong><\/span><\/td><td style=\"width: 43.34038054968288%\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><strong>\u00a0What does it do?<\/strong><\/span><\/td><td style=\"width: 38.58350951374207%\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><strong>\u00a0Recommended uses<\/strong><\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"width: 17.970401691331926%;text-align: left\">The Activity Stream is controlled by system automated triggers, such as an announcement post or new content added. Users can set preferences to hide some types of notifications in their Activity Stream.<\/p><p>It is not possible for staff to customise notification triggers on behalf of students.<\/td><td style=\"width: 43.34038054968288%;text-align: left\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/help.blackboard.com\/Learn\/Instructor\/Ultra\/Getting_Started\/Navigate_Outside_a_Course\/Activity_Stream\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Activity Stream<\/a> feed provides students with quick, timely access to the recently active areas of their Blackboard modules and Organisations.<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel-support\/2021\/07\/20\/blackboard-notifications\/\">Notifications<\/a> are grouped into categories; the Blackboard Help website provides a full list of <a href=\"https:\/\/help.blackboard.com\/Learn\/Student\/Ultra\/Stay_in_the_Loop\/Notifications\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Activity Stream notification categories and triggers.<\/a><\/p><p><strong>*Note: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel-support\/2021\/09\/16\/blackboard-adaptive-release-assessment-and-notifications\/\">Assessment notifications<\/a> do not appear in Activity Stream by default, as it is not possible to display Turnitin notifications. However, students can enable display of Blackboard assessment notifications if they <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel-support-for-students\/2021\/08\/09\/blackboard-learn-edit-notification-settings\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">edit notification settings<\/a>.<\/td><td style=\"width: 38.58350951374207%;text-align: left\">For important notifications and communications, students are required to check university email, RISIS, Blackboard modules and organisations.<\/p><p>Activity Stream notifications simply provide quick access to recently active Blackboard areas, they do not replace existing university or Blackboard communication channels.<\/p><p>Students should be encouraged to <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel-support-for-students\/2021\/08\/09\/blackboard-learn-edit-notification-settings\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">edit notification settings<\/a> at the start of term to control the types of notifications in their Activity Stream feed.<strong> It is not possible for students to disable Announcement notifications.<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-89581\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse89581\" aria-controls=\"collapse89581\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> Announcements<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse \" id=\"collapse89581\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-8958\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-89581\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><table style=\"width: 100%\" border=\"1\" width=\"100%\" cellpadding=\"4\"><tbody><tr><td style=\"width: 17.970401691331926%\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><strong>\u00a0How is it controlled?<\/strong><\/span><\/td><td style=\"width: 43.34038054968288%\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><strong>\u00a0What does it do?<\/strong><\/span><\/td><td style=\"width: 38.58350951374207%\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><strong>\u00a0Recommended uses<\/strong><\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"width: 17.970401691331926%;text-align: left\">Blackboard module instructors and Organisation leaders can post messages.<\/p><p>Students have read-only access.<\/p><p>New posts trigger a notification in the Activity Stream feed. <strong>It is not possible for students to disable Announcement notifications.<\/strong><\/td><td style=\"width: 43.34038054968288%;text-align: left\">This is a simple tool designed for:<\/p><ul><li>making short text-based posts that may include images or embedded media<\/li><li>providing direct links to areas within a Blackboard module or Organisation, to direct students to specific files, folders or activities<\/li><\/ul><p>If highly important, it is possible to send an email copy to student university Outlook accounts.<\/p><p>A record of posts are displayed, they\u00a0can be edited and updated.<\/td><td style=\"width: 38.58350951374207%;text-align: left\">An active Announcements page helps to foster instructor presence online, provides narrative as the module unfolds and demonstrates common or shared goals and\u00a0interests. All these help to engage students with asynchronous learning.<\/p><p>Avoid sending email copies unless \u2018very important\u2019.<\/p><p>At the start of term, speak to students about your intended frequency and purpose of Announcements.<\/p><p>Do not \u2018attach\u2019 items, instead link to document locations within Blackboard. See TEL toolkit for more <a href=\"http:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel\/using-the-blackboard-announcements-page\/\">Announcement good practice guidance<\/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-89582\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse89582\" aria-controls=\"collapse89582\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> Discussion boards<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse \" id=\"collapse89582\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-8958\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-89582\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><table style=\"width: 100%\" border=\"1\" width=\"100%\" cellpadding=\"4\"><tbody><tr><td style=\"width: 17.970401691331926%\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><strong>\u00a0How is it controlled?<\/strong><\/span><\/td><td style=\"width: 43.34038054968288%\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><strong>\u00a0What does it do?<\/strong><\/span><\/td><td style=\"width: 38.58350951374207%\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><strong>\u00a0Recommended uses<\/strong><\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"width: 17.970401691331926%;text-align: left\">Module instructors or Organisation leaders can start new forums, make posts and reply to existing posts.<\/p><p>Students can be given authoring permissions.<\/p><p>New posts trigger a notification in the Activity Stream feed.<\/td><td style=\"width: 43.34038054968288%;text-align: left\">This is a simple tool designed for staff and\/or students to start conversations about a specific topic in a Blackboard module or Organisation.<\/p><p>It is not possible to send an email copy to student university Outlook accounts.<\/p><p>A record of posts can be found in one place on the Blackboard module or Organisation.<\/p><p>Images and embedded media can be included.<\/p><p>Post can be edited and updated.<\/td><td style=\"width: 38.58350951374207%;text-align: left\">Use discussion boards for topic specific conversations that require students to contribute, for example, FAQs or where a chain of replies is needed.<\/p><p>Discussion boards can be used for group work and relevant assessment activities (they can be marked), as well as module and Organisation conversation pieces.<\/p><p>See TEL toolkit contains more <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel\/sample-page\/learning-activities\/discussion-forums\/\">Discussion Forum good practice guidance. <\/a><\/p><p><strong>Note: Third-party tools may not be accessible to all students; for example\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel-support\/2021\/01\/22\/tools-for-learning-activities-pinboard-apps\/\">Padlet<\/a>\u00a0discussion boards are not compatible with screen-readers. Check with your School DTS\u00a0business partner if considering using a new\u00a0technology. <\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-89583\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse89583\" aria-controls=\"collapse89583\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> Blackboard Calendar<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse \" id=\"collapse89583\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-8958\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-89583\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><table style=\"width: 100%\" border=\"1\" width=\"100%\" cellpadding=\"4\"><tbody><tr><td style=\"width: 17.970401691331926%\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><strong>\u00a0How is it controlled?<\/strong><\/span><\/td><td style=\"width: 43.34038054968288%\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><strong>\u00a0What does it do?<\/strong><\/span><\/td><td style=\"width: 38.58350951374207%\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><strong>\u00a0Recommended uses<\/strong><\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"width: 17.970401691331926%;text-align: left\">System adds Blackboard \/ Tii assignment deadlines automatically to Blackboard homepage Calendar.<\/p><p>Staff can add events to their module and Organisation Calendars, the Blackboard homepage Calendar will aggregate events from all courses and Organisations in which a student is enrolled.<\/td><td style=\"width: 43.34038054968288%;text-align: left\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel-support\/2021\/07\/20\/blackboard-learn-the-calendar\/\">Blackboard Calenda<\/a>r is always available to students via the Blackboard homepage, it cannot be hidden.<\/p><p>Credit and non-credit bearing submission points auto-populate here (if there is a Blackboard or Turnitin \u2018due\u2019 date set).<\/p><p>Blackboard Calendars do not automatically update Outlook or Teams calendars. Events can be exported as an iCal file.<\/p><p>It is possible to set up recurring events. For example, virtual office hours relating to your module. Calendar events can contain hyperlinks. For example, you might consider linking to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel-support\/2020\/10\/28\/microsoft-bookings\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Microsoft Bookings<\/a>\u00a0to allow students to book appointments during virtual office hours.<\/td><td style=\"width: 38.58350951374207%;text-align: left\">Students should be advised not to rely on their Blackboard Calendar as there may be inaccuracies. For example, all assessment deadlines pertaining to their modules will display, even if some deadlines are not relevant to all individuals.<\/p><ul><li><strong>Students should continue to check usual places for assessment information. <\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Links to join live interactive sessions online should always be displayed in Blackboard modules.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>Staff should avoid displaying the Calendar tool link within modules and Organisations. Blackboard homepage Calendar will aggregate events across modules and Organisation Calendars for students to see in <strong>one place.<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-89584\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse89584\" aria-controls=\"collapse89584\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> Messages<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse \" id=\"collapse89584\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-8958\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-89584\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><table style=\"width: 100%\" border=\"1\" width=\"100%\" cellpadding=\"4\"><tbody><tr><td style=\"width: 17.970401691331926%\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><strong>\u00a0How is it controlled?<\/strong><\/span><\/td><td style=\"width: 43.34038054968288%\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><strong>\u00a0What does it do?<\/strong><\/span><\/td><td style=\"width: 38.58350951374207%\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><strong>\u00a0Recommended uses<\/strong><\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"width: 17.970401691331926%;text-align: left\">Do not use.<\/td><td style=\"width: 43.34038054968288%;text-align: left\">Do not use.<\/td><td style=\"width: 38.58350951374207%;text-align: left\">Continue using Outlook (central university emailing service) for full email features and support, for example, archiving, message retrieval etc.\u00a0Students cannot send communications via \u2018Messages\u2019.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-89585\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse89585\" aria-controls=\"collapse89585\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> Microsoft Teams for asynchronous student collaboration<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse \" id=\"collapse89585\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-8958\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-89585\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><table style=\"width: 100%\" border=\"1\" width=\"100%\" cellpadding=\"4\"><tbody><tr><td style=\"width: 17.970401691331926%\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><strong>\u00a0How is it controlled?<\/strong><\/span><\/td><td style=\"width: 43.34038054968288%\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><strong>\u00a0What does it do?<\/strong><\/span><\/td><td style=\"width: 38.58350951374207%\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><strong>\u00a0Recommended uses<\/strong><\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"width: 17.970401691331926%;text-align: left\">Staff can request a Microsoft Team for student collaboration or project work. Staff need to manually set permissions for student Microsoft Team members.<\/p><p>Students will not receive Activity Stream notifications about\u00a0Microsoft Teams activity.<\/td><td style=\"width: 43.34038054968288%;text-align: left\"><span class=\"TrackChangeTextInsertion TrackedChange SCXW94662090 BCX0\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW94662090 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW94662090 BCX0\">Teams is an <strong>online collaboration tool<\/strong> from Microsoft; staff and students are permitted to use Teams in conjunction with Blackboard, for projects or group work that require:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><ul><li><span class=\"TrackChangeTextInsertion TrackedChange SCXW94662090 BCX0\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW94662090 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW94662090 BCX0\">Storing and sharing of links, images and files,<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li><li>Interacting via meetings and chat<\/li><\/ul><p>Before using a Microsoft Team for student collaboration, please check guidance about:<\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel-support\/2020\/04\/03\/using-microsoft-teams-in-teaching-and-learning\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel-support\/2020\/11\/13\/how-to-request-a-team-for-teaching-and-learning\/\">How to request a Team for teaching and learning<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/td><td style=\"width: 38.58350951374207%;text-align: left\"><strong>Core teaching and learning content, including essential communications, must be provided via university email or Blackboard (such as an Announcement or within a content area).<\/strong><\/p><p>Before using Microsoft Teams with your students, please check guidance:<\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel-support\/2020\/04\/03\/using-microsoft-teams-in-teaching-and-learning\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Using Teams for Teaching and Learning at UoR<\/a><\/li><\/ul><p>Note; remember to <a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-us\/office\/create-a-link-or-a-code-for-joining-a-team-11b0de3b-9288-4cb4-bc49-795e7028296f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">create a link to the Team<\/a> and display in Blackboard, so that all students can access. Upon clicking, they will be prompted to view on the web or download the Teams app.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-89586\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse89586\" aria-controls=\"collapse89586\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> Blogs, Wikis and Journals<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse \" id=\"collapse89586\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-8958\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-89586\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><table style=\"width: 100%\" border=\"1\" width=\"100%\" cellpadding=\"4\"><tbody><tr><td style=\"width: 17.970401691331926%\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><strong>\u00a0How is it controlled?<\/strong><\/span><\/td><td style=\"width: 43.34038054968288%\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><strong>\u00a0What does it do?<\/strong><\/span><\/td><td style=\"width: 38.58350951374207%\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><strong>\u00a0Recommended uses<\/strong><\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"width: 17.970401691331926%;text-align: left\">Staff moderate and set permission preferences for students to interact.<\/p><p>Students can make new posts or reply to \u00a0existing posts.<\/p><p>New posts trigger a notification in the Activity Stream feed.<\/td><td style=\"width: 43.34038054968288%;text-align: left\">These are simple tools designed for staff and students to write articles within the Blackboard module or Organisation. Articles can be co-authored by students.<\/p><p>It is not possible to send an email copy to student university Outlook accounts.<\/p><p>A record of posts can be found in one place on the Blackboard module or Organisation.<\/p><p>Images and embedded media can be included.<\/p><p>Posts can be edited and updated.<\/td><td style=\"width: 38.58350951374207%;text-align: left\">Not recommended for general communications to students.<\/p><p>Blogs, Wikis and Journals can be used for group work and assessment activities.<\/p><p>See TEL toolkit for <a href=\"http:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel\/learning-activities\/blogs\/\">Blogs,\u00a0 <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel\/learning-activities\/wikis\/\">Wikis<\/a>\u00a0and <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/tel\/sample-page\/learning-activities\/journals\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Journals<\/a> good practice guidance.<\/p><p><strong>Note: third-party tools may not be accessible to all students, Check with your School DTS\u00a0business partner if considering using a new\u00a0technology.<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-89587\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse89587\" aria-controls=\"collapse89587\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> Social media feeds<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse \" id=\"collapse89587\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-8958\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-89587\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><table style=\"width: 100%\" border=\"1\" width=\"100%\" cellpadding=\"4\"><tbody><tr><td style=\"width: 17.970401691331926%\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><strong>\u00a0How is it controlled?<\/strong><\/span><\/td><td style=\"width: 43.34038054968288%\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><strong>\u00a0What does it do?<\/strong><\/span><\/td><td style=\"width: 38.58350951374207%\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><strong>\u00a0Recommended uses<\/strong><\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"width: 17.970401691331926%;text-align: left\">If needing to post social media messages, staff must create a social media account.<\/p><p>Speak to your DTS business partner for information about DAG approved platforms and setting up an account.<\/td><td style=\"width: 43.34038054968288%;text-align: left\">Some social media platforms may require users to have an account in order to view posts.<\/p><p>Most <a href=\"https:\/\/help.blackboard.com\/Web_Community_Manager\/Administrator\/Create_Content\/Sites\/Social_Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">social media feeds can be embedded into Blackboard module or Organisation pages<\/a>.<\/p><p>Students are not required to engage with social media platforms, however, students are required to make use of Blackboard in their studies.<\/p><p>Students are <strong>not <\/strong>notified of social media activity via the Blackboard homepage \u2018Activity Stream\u2019.<\/td><td style=\"width: 38.58350951374207%;text-align: left\">Use to enhance student engagement; <strong>note, core teaching and learning content, including essential communications, must be provided via university email or in Blackboard, for example via an Announcement or menu content area.<\/strong><\/p><p>Be mindful students are not required to engage with social media platforms and there are a variety of reasons why they may not be able (or willing) to use social media.<\/p><p><a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/socialalttext\">Check the accessibility of your social media posts<\/a> and provide alternative formats for students who cannot use the embedded platform (for example, sight impaired students will not be able to access image-based feeds from Instagram).<\/p><p>The university <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reading.ac.uk\/do\/disability-information-landing.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Disability Advisory Service<\/a> provides information about registered access needs.<\/p><p>Please direct social media accessibility questions to: <a href=\"mailto:webaccessibilityteam@reading.ac.uk\">webaccessibilityteam@reading.ac.uk<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There are a variety of channels available within Blackboard for providing student communications. . Aim for consistency, to ensure students know when and where to check for module updates and key messaging. 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