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Course Syllabus: Use item, attach syllabus as a document. If changes are made to the syllabus you replace the file. Never use the Blackboard Syllabus Tool.
Organize Material: Folders or modules, put like items together and be consistent. Use Weeks, Modules, or Units depending on how the course is organized already.
Make Available / Unavailable: If learners should not see content or folder yet, make it unavailable. Instructors may wish to set a calendar alert for themselves to be sure to return to the item and make it available when learners should see it. Instructors may also choose to use the adaptive release feature in Blackboard so that learners who complete certain tasks and/or submit certain assignments are allowed to see and to engage with the next material.
Adding Items / Files / Modules: The best practice for instructors and learners is to add materials into folders, to follow a consistent relevant naming convention, and to provide a set of clear directions for how learners will engage with the material and the tasks that they should complete. For each item, instructors should clearly communicate Purpose, Task, and Criteria for Success to learners.
Due Dates: Online learning works best when instructors use Due Dates and maintain a consistent format. For example, “this assignment is due at 11:50:59 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1, 2020.”
Date Restriction: A powerful tool to determine what materials are available in an online course. Instructors may reveal all materials in advance, but this practice may increase learner anxiety and cause frustration. Date restrictions allow instructors to keep folders closed until learners need the material. For advanced users, it is possible to link assessments and assignments so that learners must complete an assessment or assignment before they can move ahead to the next section. In addition to date restrictions, the Test Options allow instructors to give extra time on these assessments for certain students or groups.
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