Faculty Resources for Blackboard Learn
New Blackboard 9.1
Blackboard has a new release and we will begin using it this fall. To learn more about the new release, click here.
What is Blackboard?
Blackboard is a web-based course management system that allows faculty to post course material on the web, provide feedback to students, as well as facilitate interaction with and between students. Kellogg Community College faculty utilize Blackboard to either enhance their traditional classroom-based instruction or deliver a course completely online.
Blackboard is an example of course technology used to provide students with course information, assignments, activities and/or grade information. Students access Blackboard through the web to access their courses from anywhere using an Internet connection.
Blackboard is located on a web server that is supported by Information Services (I.S.) Department. Blackboard courses are password protected and only students enrolled in the courses have full access to all course material and build-in tools. All users (faculty and students) have username and password accounts in order to access Blackboard courses.
If you are registered for a course that uses Blackboard, your course will become available to you on the first day of classes.
Login Information
All students should log into the Blackboard system using their k-ID and Universal password (the same as they use for the web portal to KRIS and e-mail) from http://bb.kellogg.edu -- OR -- access Blackboard through the web portal itself.
New users: The Portal assigns a temporary password to new users. This temporary password MUST be reset to your confidential universal password when you are prompted by either a computer or a staff member (i.e. Help Desk, Customer Service Center).
System downtime.The KCC Blackboard site is regularly removed from service for routine backup and maintenance on Monday through Friday from 7:00-7:30 AM. During that time you will not be able to access Blackboard. Please plan your Blackboard activities accordingly.
Hot Topics for Faculty
What are Hot Topics?
Hot Topics are topics that address current issues or problems. For more information about Hot Topics, click here.
Blackboard is used for Online, Hybrid and Web-enhanced courses at KCC:
- Online courses - delivered entirely online.
- Web-enhanced courses - use Blackboard to provide additional materials and activities for traditional classroom courses.
- Hybrid Courses - use a combination of live classroom and Blackboard activities. Hybrid courses reduce the classroom time by substituting Blackboard activities.
Different parts of Blackboard allow instructors to post syllabi, assignments, grades and more. Interactive tools such as discussion boards may also be used for classroom communication.
Course shells in Blackboard provide space for faculty to upload course-specific content, as well as utilize built-in communication, collaboration, and assessment tools. Faculty and students need to have computers with internet connection and a popular browser (e.g. Internet Explorer) to access the Blackboard course.
Additionally, text book publishers support the use of Blackboard by providing what are know as Course Cartridges. The cartridges are used to create courses that have quite a bit of the text book content automatically uploaded into a Blackboard course. Visit Blackboard's web site to learn more about Course Cartridges.
Faculty who are interested in developing a web-based course can request a Blackboard Course. These courses can be created in a different manners: a new empty course shell or a course created by copying from an already existing Blackboard Course. To request to have a Blackboard Learn course, fill out the online form from this link: Request A Blackboard Course .
Faculty responsibilities when using Blackboard
When using a web-based course management system such as Blackboard, faculty (and their students) should be knowledgeable of and adhere to the policies relating to privacy, and appropriate use, courseware use, and archiving of student records. See faculty responsibilities when using blackboard.
Please share your observations, points of confusion or suggestions about Blackboard Learn to learntec@kellogg.edu.
Faculty Links
Blackboard Course Content Transition
Faculty Blackboard Responsibilities
Home Page - Notification Dashboard
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I log into Blackboard using Web Portal?
How can I log into Blackboard using the Web Address?
How can I create a Discussion Board Thread?
How can I attach a file in a Discussion Board Thread?
How can I send e-mail attachments using Blackboard?
How can I send messages using Blackboard?
What is the recommended format for saving documents in Blackboard?
Video Screencasts
Logging into Blackboard (3:25)
Course Menu Buttons Overview (3:02)
Bb9 Control Panel (6:27)
How to Make Courses Available (1:12)
Blackboard Training Course Screencasts
Discussions Overview (2:52)
Tools Overview (3:30)
Blackboard Support Overview (3:13)
How to add Contact information (1:42)
How to Create a Test (9:48)
How to Delete a Test (2:25)
How to Import a Test (1:43)
How to Deploy a Test (4:26)
How to create Discussion Board Forums and Threads (4:35)
How to add External Link (1:28)
How to add Course Link (1:34)
How to Create a Folder (1:27)
How to Create an Item (1:50)
Need help?
- Contact the I.S. Help Desk: Assistance is available for questions and problems with Blackboard. We are located in the center of the library.
- E-mail: helpdesk@kellogg.edu. Telephone: (269) 965-4148 off campus and extension 4148 on campus.
- Detailed Blackboard User manual: note this is a detailed manual about using Blackboard and focuses on the instructor needs.
- Components of a Blackboard Course - these web pages review each of the main components and common buttons used in Blackboard.
- Components of the Course Tools - learn more about the course tools and their functions.