"Blackboard.com" is a free online service for creating class websites. It is quick to create, easy to use and versatile. It allows students to see their assignments, due dates, weblinks to information, take tests online, participate in class discussion topics, and much more.

1. On your web browser go to http://www.blackboard.com/
2. At "Create a Course" type in the name of your course, then click GO.
3. Fill in course name, ID, etc..
4. Choose button style, click 'Free Course', Click the 'Agree to Terms' box, and click 'Continue'.
5. Choose your Target Audience and Subject Area.
6. Click the Self Enrollment button. (Ignore the starting and ending dates -you can set these later if desired)
7. For Duration choose 'continuous'.
8. Click 'guests are allowed to visit this course', then click Continue.
9. Click the 'Instructor is new to Blackboard' radio button and fill out the information it asks. (Be sure to not put spaces in User Name), then click Continue.
10. Print or write out the course information generated for you. (Be sure to write down the URL address)
11. Click View New Course.
    

1. You are now looking at your new course website. Your students will see the same thing except for the control button.
2. Click the "Control" button on the lower left of your screen.
3. Click "Page Editors"

1. Now click "Announcements Editor"
2. On #2 where it says "Modify Announcements" click 'Remove'. (This gets rid of the generic announcement.
3. Now at #1 where it says "New Announcement" type in a welcome announcement, then click Submit Announcement.
4. Click "Return to Course" and see your announcement.

1. Click the 'Control Panel' then 'Page Editors' buttons, then 'Course Information'.
2. Click "Add Document".
3. Here you can type in your Syllabus, for example, from scratch or go down to #2 and click 'Browse' to upload a file you may already have. (Note-It's easier on your students if you saved your Syllabus as an HTML file).
4. Type in the type of file it is. Ie: Word
5. Then click Submit
6. Click 'Return to Course' then click 'Course Information'.
7. Click on your Syllabus to try it out.

1. Click the 'Control Panel' then 'Page Editors' buttons, then 'Staff Information Editor'.
2. Click Add Staff Member
3. Fill in information for #1
4. For #2, download a picture of yourself if you have one.
5. Click Submit, Return to Course, and Staff Information

1. Follow the same type of procedures for these three topics. You can type them in from scratch or download from existing files.

1. In the Control Panel, click User Management
2. Click on whatever button you desire. You can add or remove students and create work groups. (Note- you may rather let students enroll themselves when they log into your website for the first time)

1. In the Control Panel, click Communication Center.
2. You can choose to set up email groups or send email to all students at once.
3. You can also set up a Calendar of events by clicking on Course Calendar and clicking on a date. Just fill in the information and click Return to Month to add more on another date.
4. (Note- your students will then be able to see what is due when and they can also add their own personal information.)
5. The Discussion Board is a great tool to post messages and comments, read student answers, and facilitate collaborative learning activities. Just click on Discussion Board, then Start New Thread.
6. Type in a subject and body and click Post Message.
7. Return to course and try it out. Students can reply to all threads and if you allow it, they can create discussion threads of their own.

1. In the Control Panel, click Assessment
   Quiz Generator
2. To make your own quiz, click Quiz Generator and click Submit.
3. In the Assessment boxes, type in the name of the test and any instructions you want to include, then click Submit
4. Choose the type of question you want. Ie: Fill in the Blank
5. Type in any Assessment instructions
6. At Select Options, you can choose whatever fits you. For this workshop click "Yes" for Show Detailed Result and Show Feedback and Allow Multiple Times.
7. Click "Save and Finish Assessment"
8. Click "yes" where it says 'Would you like to make this available to your students?' Then click "Go".
9. Choose where you would like to place the link to the test and if you want an announcement made about it. Then click "Make Available"
10. Click 'Back to Course' and try it out.

1. To better try this out you need to enroll at least one student. To do this click the Logout button on the homepage and return to blackboard.com.
2. On the Student portion, at Search for a CourseSite, type in the name of the course and click Go.
3. Then click Enroll and fill out the necessary information.
4. Now you are enrolled as a student. Take the quiz then logout.
5. Return to blackboard.com and log in as the instructor.
6. Click Control Panel, then Assessment, then Online Gradebook.
7. Follow instructions with each gradebook button.