Semester Checklist

Checklist of Blackboard for pre and post semester:

This semester checklist is easy to use and very important!

Double check the following Blackboard course elements after each semester and before teaching the same course another semester:

1. Course Back-up

Even though your Blackboard administrator or other campus IT professional will create a back-up of your course, you should create your own copy and download it to your computer for safe keeping and for future use. You can also put the back-up on a disk.

Important note: The back up file is only for Blackboard administrator to use; DO NOT try to open the backup file. This will corrupt the file.

2. Update Course Tools

This is a good time to update the tools that are date or time linked such as the Syllabus, Calendar, Assignments and Quizzes. If you do this updating now, it will save you time and frustration just before the semester begins.

3. Think about adding new tools

Go over the feedback you received from your students, talk with other instructors, talk with your Blackboard support team and our instructional designer. Now is the perfect time to add new tools to your course if you have a need for them or if they will enhance your course.

You will want to make sure your students have given you feedback that allows you to improve your course. There are two reasons you should make sure the students' work will be preserved intact:

• You may wish to review it in the future
• Students may wish to use part of their work in your class for their portfolio.

Recheck this list each semester until you have an automatic routine. Times in Syllabus, Calendar and Conditional Release will all probably need updating. On the other hand, some people prefer having checklists always available just to make sure they do not overlook something in their haste.

4. Student Grade

Under Tool Tab > Under Instructor Tools > Grade Book > Manage Students make sure the final grade, if delivered through Blackboard, is released to students. If the final grade is a calculated column, make sure it is working properly before releasing it.

Download student Marks in excel format: Follow this link for instructions

5. Cross Listed

LIAD accepts cross-listing request right up to 2 weeks before every semester start.

Cross-listed courses are created for instructors that wish to "merge" two courses inside Blackboard into one course environment. Generally, a cross-listed course is associated with another course (or other courses) and is taught at the same time, by the same instructor, and in the same location. Click here for more info