In this issue of our newsletter, discover tips on managing your Gradebook effectively, learn what your students say about Blackboard Ultra, and explore a new function that allows you to handle student incompletes and past Blackboard access seamlessly. Additionally, find out how to enrich your Blackboard course by adding library content directly, explore the power of Padlet as a collaborative tool, and stay informed about upcoming professional development opportunities. We also invite you to learn more about generative artificial intelligence on the new season of our T-Squared podcast. Let's empower your teaching journey together!
In this email newsletter:
| |
|
How's Your Gradebook Look?
Before the semester is too far underway, do you need help organizing your Gradebook? Are your assignments all accounted for? Are you using a weighted grading system? Do your points match what you have in your syllabus? If the last semester left you with a lingering sense that your Gradebook wasn't quite right, fear not—we're here to assist you in getting it sorted out. A well-maintained Gradebook with timely feedback contributes to a positive learning environment, fostering engagement and motivation among our students. We've got several resources to help you with the Gradebook.
Gradebook Set Up
Do you use point totals of 100 or 1000? Or do you use weighted grading? If weighting your grades, ensure that your overall grading schema and weights are set up at the beginning of the semester so that students see accurate grades and know where they stand in your course. As each course and instructor are different, this helps students modify their time management throughout the semester to achieve the grade they want to the best of their ability.
Here are a few things to check in your course:
- Are all assignment points accurate?
- Are your grading schema setup? (i.e. what percentage earns an A, B, etc.)
- Is your "Overall Grade" column setup the way you want it?
Grading Tip
Not a fan of the time commitment that goes into grading? Try these time-saving tips.
More on Grading
For more how-to Knowledge Base articles from the IT Service Portal on Gradebook-related topics, choose an option below.
Get Help
Do you want some assistance from an eLearning staff member to get your Gradebook setup? Attend an open, virtual webinar to assist you.
- February 13, 2024, 9:00am – 11:00am • Zoom Link
- February 13, 2024, 1:00pm – 3:00pm • Zoom Link
- April 16, 2024, 9:00am – 11:00am • Zoom Link
- April 16, 2024, 1:00pm – 3:00pm • Zoom Link
| |
What Your Students Say About Blackboard Ultra
Anthology and Information Technology teamed up to host a Donut and Hot Chocolate Exam Cram event on December 5 and 6, 2023. Over 2,000 donuts and cups of hot chocolate were distributed to mark the transition to Blackboard Ultra across the Health, DeVos, and Allendale campuses. Overall, students expressed satisfaction with Ultra, highlighting its user-friendly navigation, the ability to view content without downloading, simplified assignment submissions, and mobile-friendly modern design.
| |
Here's some additional student feedback about Blackboard Learn Ultra. Throughout you'll find links to associated resources to help you make the most of Blackboard Ultra.
Consistency throughout Courses
- Students appreciate seeing due dates so that those assignments appear in their Blackboard calendar and activity stream.
- Students also like progress tracking. They need to see what content they've reviewed and what's coming up. By default, progress tracking has been enabled in your courses but can be turned off.
- At the beginning of the semester, they also referenced how they appreciated having a course navigation orientation (Panopto video course tour) for any nuances or items you want to draw to their attention.
Course Site Organization
- Bottoms up! Put your weekly folders or learning modules at the top. Students would prefer not to have to scroll for the most current information. Move the current weekly folder or module to the top and let the rest move down.
- Students also suggested putting frequently accessed documents in a folder at the very top or grouped with similar items in a folder. Examples might include a syllabus, schedule, course/department handbook, clinical information, common terminology, etc. You can still link to each item within a module so it stays in context, but offers your students quick access to commonly used items at the top.
Look for more student video testimonials and associated resources in future newsletters.
| |
Student Incompletes and Past Blackboard Access - New Feature
As we enter the fifth week of the semester, students' access to Fall 2023 courses has been removed. However, suppose you find yourself in a situation where a student needs access, such as to finish an incomplete or temporary entry to your Blackboard site to retrieve coursework? Instructors can now submit this service ticket so that it can be made available for a specified date, limited exclusively to the specific student in question. Be sure to include the date access should end of the student in the description.
| |
Add Library Content Directly to your Blackboard Course
Did you know you can integrate library content seamlessly into your Blackboard course? Whether you aim to revitalize existing resources or curate new materials for upcoming semesters, the "library search tool" is in the Content Market within your Blackboard course and enables you to search for and add valuable library resources to enhance your teaching materials. See this Knowledge Base article for more information on getting started with the library search tool. You're also encouraged to contact your liaison librarian for curriculum assistance.
| |
The Power of Padlet
We constantly seek ways to engage students, regardless of teaching modality. One engaging tool that is supported at GVSU is Padlet. It is a user-friendly virtual board that allows students to interact with content and with one another. It's customizable, and users can add colors, GIFs, web links, documents, videos, and comments—all with a button click. Multiple built-in format options exist to help you choose the best option for its purpose. Faculty can select anonymous posts or keep user names, and it's even possible to copy boards for use each semester.
| |
Uses
- Brainstorming
- Workflow for project progress
- Group Projects
- Resource sharing for a topic or assignment
- Office Hours sign-up
- Ice Breaker
- Learning Objectives
Get Started
Padlet and Blackboard Ultra
| |
| 
Watch this video to learn more about how Padlet is being used for portfolio/final presentations in this testimonial from Liz Storey and her education students.
| |
| | |
Podcast on Education and Artificial Intelligence
ChatGPT, Bard, DALL-E, Claude, LLaMA—the world of generative artificial intelligence is growing and evolving almost faster than anyone can keep up with. If you're curious about the impact of AI on higher education, we invite you to join the eLearning Technologies and Innovation and Research teams for a special season of their podcast "T-Squared: a Teaching and Technology Podcast."
Each episode takes a closer look at an aspect of artificial intelligence and education. In the second and third episodes of the season, Matt Roberts and Jacob Fortman talk to Dr. Eric Covey from Grand Valley's Department of History about the ethical issues raised by the use of artificial intelligence.
| |
Join Us on an Office Road-Trip!
Want to sharpen your Microsoft Office 365 skills? Join eLearning for an ongoing "Road-Trip" series through the Office suite. February's sessions focus on learning more about Outlook for Windows.
February 20, 2024, 11:00am – 12:00pm
February 27, 2024, 11:00am – 12:00pm
| |
Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities
The eLearning team offers a variety of webinars covering a wide array of teaching and technology topics. Sessions are facilitated in a live webinar format using Zoom to make them highly convenient. Review our Webinar page for a complete list of offerings. Upcoming opportunities are linked below for easy registration. Departments can also request webinar topics be customized and scheduled for convenience. Sprout registration links are included in the title of the webinar to make it easy to register.
February 6, 2024, 11:00am – 12:00pm
February 6, 2024, 1:00pm – 2:00pm
February 8, 2024, 11:00am – 12:00pm
February 8, 2024, 12:00pm – 1:00pm
February 15, 2024, 12:00pm – 1:00pm
February 15, 2024, 1:00pm – 2:00pm
February 15, 2024, 1:30pm – 3:00pm
February 16, 2024, 11:00am – 12:00pm
February 20, 2024, 11:00am – 12:00pm
February 22, 2024, 11:00am – 12:00pm
February 27, 2024, 1:00pm – 2:00pm
February 29, 2024, 1:30pm – 3:00pm
| |
Schedule Time with Your eLearning Technologies Team Members
Feel free to connect with our eLearning Technologies team throughout the semester to schedule a consultation. Our team comprises instructional designers, instructional technology project specialists, digital media developers, system analysts, and dedicated graduate assistants focused on digital learning. Locate your assigned eLearning Technologies team members on our eLearning Technologies Support by Colleges website. Reach out through email or phone, or conveniently submit a consultation request via our Service Portal.
Let us know how we can assist you!
| |
Sincerely,
Kim Kenward, Director of eLearning Technologies
kenwardk@gvsu.edu
GVSU Information Technology
| |
|
| podcast by Jamison Wieser from Noun Project / Question by Adrien Coquet from Noun Project / feedback by Vectorstall from Noun Project / moving by Adrien Coquet from Noun Project / door open by shashank singh from Noun Project / wellness by Adrien Coquet from Noun Project / reminder by conchan from Noun Project / explain by Iconographer from Noun Project / Six by Adrien Coquet from Noun Project / Tour by Colourcreatype from Noun Project / key by Aaron K. Kim from Noun Project / closed by Gregor Cresnar from Noun Project / cleaning by Nubaia Karim Barsha from Noun Project / new by jiskan427 from Noun Project / leaf by Deepz from Noun Project / foundation by M. Oki Orlando from Noun Project / working together by Khoirin from Noun Project / Accessibility by mikicon from Noun Project / Toolbox by Danil Polshin from Noun Project / startup by Gregor Cresnar from Noun Project / Training by Adrien Coquet by Noun Project / origami paper bird by farra nugraha from Noun Project / Suitcase by Asiah from Noun Project
| |
|
|
