course checklist
syllabus
Utilize the common syllabus template to ensure consistency and clarity for students. Place it in an easily accessible section of your course.
Schedule
Publish a detailed course schedule outlining topics, assignments, exams, and due dates to keep students informed and organized.
Content Visibility
Ensure all course materials and assignments are visible to students, or set with the correct release conditions, according to the intended schedule.
Content Clean Up
If copying content from another course, meticulously review individual items and settings, removing any unnecessary or outdated content.
Update Course Dates
Review and update due dates for all assignments, tests, and modules to reflect the current term’s schedule.
Gradebook
Verify that your gradebook is configured with the correct grading schema, categories, weighting, and calculations to accurately reflect student performance.
Accessibility
Utilize the Ally indicators to assess and improve the accessibility of course materials, ensuring compliance with accessibility standards.
Welcome Message
Craft a welcoming announcement to introduce yourself, set the tone for the course, and provide an overview of what students can expect.
Student Preview Mode
Conduct a thorough review of your course in student preview mode to ensure accessibility, clarity of instructions, and ease of navigation.
frequently asked questions
When will my courses appear on Blackboard?
All courses are loaded into Blackboard 8 weeks before the first day of the term. If the term has not started yet, you can filter your course list to show upcoming courses to locate the course.
I am assigned to teach a course but it is not appearing on Blackboard. How do I get it added?
Blackboard courses are created on the basis of who is assigned as the instructor in Banner. Verify that you are assigned as the instructor in Banner. If you are not, you will need to reach out to your department to add you as the instructor in Banner.
I am assigned as the instructor in Banner but my course is not appearing on Blackboard. How do I get it added?
You will need to work with your department to make sure the box is checked for Primary Instructor in Banner. If this box is not checked, the Blackboard course will not be created even though you are listed as the instructor. Keep in mind that it can take up to 24 hours for Blackboard to reflect any changes in Banner.
When will my students appear in my Blackboard course?
Students are loaded into all Blackboard courses two weeks before the term. Even though students are loaded into the course two weeks before the term, they will not have access until the first day of the term.
My course is in Blackboard but it is blank. How do I get content from a previous term into my current course?
Email iddc@ysu.edu to request content from a previous course be copied into a current course. It is strongly recommended to do this early due to the high demand for incoming requests at the start of the semester. All course items will be copied from the previous course except for the roster and corresponding grades. Content can be copied from an Ultra or Original course into an Ultra course. Utilize the copy content training document to complete these steps yourself.
I teach multiple sections of the same course. Can I have all students added into one course?
Yes, it is possible to combine multiple sections into one course as long as all the sections are identical. Combining sections can streamline course material and communications. Contact iddc@ysu.edu with all section CRNs you would like to merge.
Will my due dates and availability conditions be automatically updated?
No, due dates and availability conditions will have to be updated before every term. Please note that in an Ultra course, availability conditions for discussions located in a folder/module have to be updated for the folder/module as well as in the discussion boards tab.