iDevelop – NSCC’s Faculty Professional Development eNewsletter (3/13/2017)

Welcome to iDevelop, a weekly eNewsletter providing faculty with information about professional development opportunities at NSCC. The intent of this eNewsletter is to spotlight the various professional development events for faculty in one convenient location as well as share best practices, resources and tips related to the teaching practice. iDevelop is being brought to you by the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Innovation (CTLI).
  

20 Minute Online Professional Development
The Monday Morning Mentor series will be available over the spring semester to bring you professional development in twenty minute snippets. The topic for the week of March 13th is How Can I Create an Online Service Learning Project? The presentation is available Monday at 10:00am and is accessible through Sunday of that week. For information on accessing the presentation and supplemental materials, please view the Bulletin or the email version of iDevelop. 

More information about this session (including description, topics, and learning goals) is available at http://www.magnapubs.com/online/mentor/how-can-i-create-an-online-service-learning-project-13726-1.html. The complete spring schedule of Monday Morning Mentor sessions is available at http://nscclets.blogspot.com/2016/12/20-minute-mentor-online-faculty.html.

Looking for transcripts of past Monday Morning Mentor sessions? Please email ctli@northshore.edu with the session title and we can provide you with the transcript and supplementary materials.   

Upcoming Webinars of Interest
 
WEBINAR: How to create a mobile friendly course (Blackboard Innovative Teaching Series Lunch N’ Learn)

Watch the recording at http://event.on24.com/wcc/r/1348254/5DFF77C9ECC06AAF667EFC403CD9A264 
 
Share Teaching Resources or Professional Development Opportunities

If you have any teaching resources that you would like to share with other NSCC faculty or know of any other professional development opportunities that NSCC faculty might be interested in, please feel free to send them to ctli@northshore.edu and we will share them in the upcomimg issues of iDevelop.

We hope you have enjoyed this weekly eNewsletter and would love your input. Please let us know if you have any feedback on the format, content, and resources or if there is anything else you would like to see in the eNewsletter.

Thank you,
Center for Teaching, Learning, and Innovation
 

iDevelop – NSCC’s Faculty Professional Development eNewsletter (3/6/2017)

Welcome to iDevelop, a weekly eNewsletter providing faculty with information about professional development opportunities at NSCC. The intent of this eNewsletter is to spotlight the various professional development events for faculty in one convenient location as well as share best practices, resources and tips related to the teaching practice. iDevelop is being brought to you by the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Innovation (CTLI).
  

20 Minute Online Professional Development
The Monday Morning Mentor series will be available over the spring semester to bring you professional development in twenty minute snippets. The topic for the week of March 6th is How Can I Assess Critical Thinking with Student-Created Work? The presentation is available Monday at 10:00am and is accessible through Sunday of that week. For information on accessing the presentation and supplemental materials, please view the Bulletin or the email version of iDevelop. 

More information about this session (including description, topics, and learning goals) is available at http://www.magnapubs.com/online/mentor/how-can-i-assess-my-students-critical-thinking-skills-with-student-work-13688-1.html. The complete spring schedule of Monday Morning Mentor sessions is available at http://nscclets.blogspot.com/2016/12/20-minute-mentor-online-faculty.html.

Looking for transcripts of past Monday Morning Mentor sessions? Please email ctli@northshore.edu with the session title and we can provide you with the transcript and supplementary materials.   

Upcoming Webinars of Interest
 
WEBINAR: How to create a mobile friendly course (Blackboard Innovative Teaching Series Lunch N’ Learn)

Thursday, March 9, 2017 at 1:00pm EST
Register at http://bbbb.blackboard.com/bits-create-mobile-friendly-course  

Resources

• Critical thinking: What it is and why it counts.
  http://www.insightassessment.com/pdf_files/what&why2006.pdf
• Critical Thinking VALUE Rubric (AACU)
  https://www.aacu.org/value/rubrics/critical-thinking
• The Critical Thinking Community
  http://www.criticalthinking.org/
• Unlocking the Mystery of Critical Thinking
  http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/instructional-design/unlocking-mystery-critical-thinking/
• Teaching Critical Thinking: Some Practical Points
  http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/effective-teaching-strategies/teaching-critical-thinking-practical-points/
     

Composition 2 Changes
Changes are coming to the college's Composition 2 classes, and the English Department (under the chair's guidance) has created a very succinct "heads up" to and explanation of the BHE-mandated changes that are occurring. Please see the document attached to the iDevelop email for more information.

Share Teaching Resources or Professional Development Opportunities
If you have any teaching resources that you would like to share with other NSCC faculty or know of any other professional development opportunities that NSCC faculty might be interested in, please feel free to send them to ctli@northshore.edu and we will share them in the upcomimg issues of iDevelop.

We hope you have enjoyed this weekly eNewsletter and would love your input. Please let us know if you have any feedback on the format, content, and resources or if there is anything else you would like to see in the eNewsletter.

Thank you,
Center for Teaching, Learning, and Innovation
 

iDevelop – NSCC’s Faculty Professional Development eNewsletter (2/27/2017)

Welcome to iDevelop, a weekly eNewsletter providing faculty with information about professional development opportunities at NSCC. The intent of this eNewsletter is to spotlight the various professional development events for faculty in one convenient location as well as share best practices, resources and tips related to the teaching practice. iDevelop is being brought to you by the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Innovation (CTLI).
  

20 Minute Online Professional Development
The Monday Morning Mentor series will be available over the spring semester to bring you professional development in twenty minute snippets. The topic for the week of February 27th is How Can I Align Technology with My Pedagogical Goals? The presentation is available Monday at 10:00am and is accessible through Sunday of that week. For information on accessing the presentation and supplemental materials, please view the Bulletin or the email version of iDevelop. 

More information about this session (including description, topics, and learning goals) is available at http://www.magnapubs.com/online/mentor/how-can-i-align-technology-with-my-pedagogical-goals-13985-1.html. The complete spring schedule of Monday Morning Mentor sessions is available at http://nscclets.blogspot.com/2016/12/20-minute-mentor-online-faculty.html.

Looking for transcripts of past Monday Morning Mentor sessions? Please email ctli@northshore.edu with the session title and we can provide you with the transcript and supplementary materials.   

Upcoming Webinars of Interest
 
WEBINAR: Creating Contemplative Culture in Community Colleges: Leadership and Classroom Practices (Association for Contemplative Mind in Higher Education free webinar)Thursday, March 2nd, 2017 from 1:00-2:00pm EST
Register at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7000689870835137282
 
Resources

• Expanding Learning Experiences with Virtual Guest Experts
  http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-with-technology-articles/expanding-learning-experiences-virtual-guest-experts/
• How Technology Can Improve Learner-Centered Teaching
  http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/instructional-design/how-technology-can-improve-learner-centered-teaching/
• Applying the Seven Principles for Good Practice to the Online Classroom
  http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/online-education/applying-the-seven-principles-for-good-practice-to-the-online-classroom/
   

Composition 2 Changes
Changes are coming to the college's Composition 2 classes, and the English Department (under the chair's guidance) has created a very succinct "heads up" to and explanation of the BHE-mandated changes that are occurring. Please see the document attached to the iDevelop email for more information.

Share Teaching Resources or Professional Development Opportunities
If you have any teaching resources that you would like to share with other NSCC faculty or know of any other professional development opportunities that NSCC faculty might be interested in, please feel free to send them to ctli@northshore.edu and we will share them in the upcomimg issues of iDevelop.

We hope you have enjoyed this weekly eNewsletter and would love your input. Please let us know if you have any feedback on the format, content, and resources or if there is anything else you would like to see in the eNewsletter.

Thank you,
Center for Teaching, Learning, and Innovation
 

iDevelop – NSCC’s Faculty Professional Development eNewsletter (2/20/2017)

Welcome to iDevelop, a weekly eNewsletter providing faculty with information about professional development opportunities at NSCC. The intent of this eNewsletter is to spotlight the various professional development events for faculty in one convenient location as well as share best practices, resources and tips related to the teaching practice. iDevelop is being brought to you by the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Innovation (CTLI).
  

20 Minute Online Professional Development
The Monday Morning Mentor series will be available over the spring semester to bring you professional development in twenty minute snippets. The topic for the week of February 20th is How Do I Create and Implement Microlectures? The presentation is available Monday at 10:00am and is accessible through Sunday of that week. For information on accessing the presentation and supplemental materials, please view the Bulletin or the email version of iDevelop. 

More information about this session (including description, topics, and learning goals) is available at http://www.magnapubs.com/online/mentor/how-do-i-create-and-implement-microlectures-13984-1.html. The complete spring schedule of Monday Morning Mentor sessions is available at http://nscclets.blogspot.com/2016/12/20-minute-mentor-online-faculty.html.

Looking for transcripts of past Monday Morning Mentor sessions? Please email ctli@northshore.edu with the session title and we can provide you with the transcript and supplementary materials.   

Upcoming Webinars of Interest
 
WEBINAR: Best Practices for Accessible Instructional Videos Thursday, February 23rd at 2:00pm EST
Presented by Texas Tech, this webinar will outline a step-by-step process which will help ensure both effective recording techniques and accessibility for students. Main themes of the presentation will surround planning and technical basics like longevity, lighting, audio, and the need for practice. 
Register at http://go.onlinelearning-c.org/VCST000LTd0M300CF4oRJq0.

Resources

• 7 Things You Should Know About…Microlectures
  https://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7090.pdf 
• Microlectures
  https://facultyinnovate.utexas.edu/sites/default/files/microlectures_2016_0.pdf
• Getting Started with Blended Learning Videos
  http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/blended-flipped-learning/getting-started-blended-learning-videos/ 
• Microlectures in a Flipped Classroom: Application, Creation and Resources
  http://www.mwera.org/MWER/volumes/v26/issue1/v26n1-Street-BOOK-MEDIA-REVIEWS.pdf 
• Introduction to Key Concepts in Five Minutes or Less: The ‘Did You Know?’ Microlecture Series
  http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/online-education/introduction-key-concepts-five-minutes-less-introducing-know-microlecture-series/
• 10 Tools for More Interactive Videos
  https://campustechnology.com/articles/2016/05/04/10-tools-for-more-interactive-videos.aspx

Tech Tool Spotlight: Screencast-o-matic
An easy to use screen capture software program that allows you to record anything on your computer screen (web cam, PowerPoint presentation, software program, etc) along with your voice. Screencast-o-matic can be used to create pre-recorded mini-lectures. Video files can be stored on YouTube or in Google Drive and then linked into Blackboard Learn. NSCC has a ProPage subscription so please contact the CTLI for information about pro access, using Screencast-o-matic, or recording mini-lectures.
http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/ (free version)

Share Teaching Resources or Professional Development OpportunitiesIf you have any teaching resources that you would like to share with other NSCC faculty or know of any other professional development opportunities that NSCC faculty might be interested in, please feel free to send them to ctli@northshore.edu and we will share them in the upcomimg issues of iDevelop.

We hope you have enjoyed this weekly eNewsletter and would love your input. Please let us know if you have any feedback on the format, content, and resources or if there is anything else you would like to see in the eNewsletter.

Thank you,
Center for Teaching, Learning, and Innovation
 

iDevelop – NSCC’s Faculty Professional Development eNewsletter (2/13/2017)

Welcome to iDevelop, a weekly eNewsletter providing faculty with information about professional development opportunities at NSCC. The intent of this eNewsletter is to spotlight the various professional development events for faculty in one convenient location as well as share best practices, resources and tips related to the teaching practice. iDevelop is being brought to you by the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Innovation (CTLI).
  

20 Minute Online Professional Development
The Monday Morning Mentor series will be available over the spring semester to bring you professional development in twenty minute snippets. The topic for the week of February 13th is What Do Adjunct Faculty Need to Be Successful in the Online Classroom? The presentation is available Monday at 10:00am and is accessible through Sunday of that week. For information on accessing the presentation and supplemental materials, please view the Bulletin or the email version of iDevelop. 

More information about this session (including description, topics, and learning goals) is available at http://www.magnapubs.com/online/mentor/what-do-adjunct-faculty-need-to-be-successful-in-the-online-classroom-13947-1.html. The complete spring schedule of Monday Morning Mentor sessions is available at http://nscclets.blogspot.com/2016/12/20-minute-mentor-online-faculty.html.

Looking for transcripts of past Monday Morning Mentor sessions? Please email ctli@northshore.edu with the session title and we can provide you with the transcript and supplementary materials.   

Upcoming Webinars of Interest
 
WEBINAR: Accessibility at Blackboard
Thursday, February 16th at 2:00pm
In this webinar, you’ll learn more about Blackboard’s accessibility initiatives and core beliefs. Understanding that a digital accessibility program encompasses so much more than their products, Blackboard works with schools to develop comprehensive eLearning accessibility plans.
Register at http://go.onlinelearning-c.org/ZSq4R0dSL0000o0CI30FMCT

Resources

• 10 Things I've Learned About Teaching Online
  http://elearnmag.acm.org/featured.cfm?aid=1609990 
• Characteristics of Successful Online Faculty
  http://blogging.snhu.edu/academics/2016/06/09/characteristics-of-successful-online-faculty/ 
• Ten Best Practices for Teaching Online: Quick Guide for New Online Faculty
  http://www.designingforlearning.info/services/writing/ecoach/tenbest.html   

Share Teaching Resources or Professional Development Opportunities
If you have any teaching resources that you would like to share with other NSCC faculty or know of any other professional development opportunities that NSCC faculty might be interested in, please feel free to send them to ctli@northshore.edu and we will share them in the upcomimg issues of iDevelop.

We hope you have enjoyed this weekly eNewsletter and would love your input. Please let us know if you have any feedback on the format, content, and resources or if there is anything else you would like to see in the eNewsletter.

Thank you,
Center for Teaching, Learning, and Innovation
 

iDevelop – NSCC’s Faculty Professional Development eNewsletter (2/6/2017)

Welcome to iDevelop, a weekly eNewsletter providing faculty with information about professional development opportunities at NSCC. The intent of this eNewsletter is to spotlight the various professional development events for faculty in one convenient location as well as share best practices, resources and tips related to the teaching practice. iDevelop is being brought to you by the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Innovation (CTLI).
  

20 Minute Online Professional Development
The Monday Morning Mentor series will be available over the spring semester to bring you professional development in twenty minute snippets. The topic for the week of February 6th is Is There a Solution to Students Multitasking in Class? The presentation is available Monday at 10:00am and is accessible through Sunday of that week. For information on accessing the presentation and supplemental materials, please view the Bulletin or the email version of iDevelop. 

More information about this session (including description, topics, and learning goals) is available at http://www.magnapubs.com/online/mentor/is-there-a-solution-to-students-multitasking-in-class-13204-1.html. The complete spring schedule of Monday Morning Mentor sessions is available at http://nscclets.blogspot.com/2016/12/20-minute-mentor-online-faculty.html.

Looking for transcripts of past Monday Morning Mentor sessions? Please email ctli@northshore.edu with the session title and we can provide you with the transcript and supplementary materials.   

Upcoming Webinars of Interest

• Collaboration Island… Building Connections Between Students (a free NISOD webinar) - Date: Thursday, February 9, 2017 - Time: 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm Eastern Time - Register: https://shop.nisod.org/webinar-series/register.php?id=56&code=5185075115454075651   
• Effective strategies to prevent cheating in distance learning courses (Blackboard Innovative Teaching Series) - Date: Thursday, February 9, 2017 - Time: 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm Eastern Time - Register: http://bbbb.blackboard.com/bits-strategies-to-prevent-cheating?

 
Program/Department Learner Outcome Statements
For those participating in program review, the fourth installment on writing program/department learner outcome statements was attached in the iDevelop email. This details the importance of drawing from NSCC Gen Ed outcomes when writing these statements. Have questions or need assistance? Please contact Cate Kaluzny.
   
Share Teaching Resources or Professional Development OpportunitiesIf you have any teaching resources that you would like to share with other NSCC faculty or know of any other professional development opportunities that NSCC faculty might be interested in, please feel free to send them to ctli@northshore.edu and we will share them in the upcomimg issues of iDevelop.

We hope you have enjoyed this weekly eNewsletter and would love your input. Please let us know if you have any feedback on the format, content, and resources or if there is anything else you would like to see in the eNewsletter.

Thank you,
Center for Teaching, Learning, and Innovation
 

Revisiting Snow Days

Are you concerned your courses might be impacted by snow days? Are you looking for a way to continue student learning even when classes are cancelled due to weather? 

NSCC in the Snow!
February 2017

North Shore Community College’s learning management system, Blackboard Learn, is a great instructional technology tool that can aid you in maintaining the continuity of your course. All courses automatically have a Blackboard Learn course shell that provides faculty with a “private classroom” area for you and your students. In Blackboard Learn, faculty can post announcements about the status of class with instructions on how to proceed through related learning activities; upload various types of content such as assignments, readings, lecture notes, or PowerPoint slides; link to related online resources such as YouTube videos or web sites; set up assignment submissions areas drop boxes where students can submit homework; and facilitate discussions for students to engage with the course materials. 

CTLI's Instructional Technology and Design team has created a list of a few instructional technology tools that can be used to extend the teaching and learning environment outside the classroom walls to support your students’ engagement with the course content and facilitate your communication with them.

• Keeping Your Class Going Even When...Ideas for Continuing Face-to-Face Classes when the College Closes
• Instructional Technology and Continuity of Learning

What other instructional technologies have you used to extend the teaching and learning environment and to keep your classes moving forward even with snow day cancellations?

When one of my evening classes was cancelled due to snow, here is how I used various instructional technologies to keep the students on track and not miss a beat.

1. I sent an email to all my students providing them information on the activities we would be completing instead of class and directed them to the learning management system for more detailed information.
2. In the learning management system, I posted an announcement with detailed directions on the learning activities that the students needed to complete during the week to make up for the cancelled class.
3. I used Screencast-o-matic to record several mini-presentations demonstrating the key tasks and concepts covered in the chapter (we were just getting started with Excel) and walking them through the steps of the project that they needed to complete. These videos were posted up in YouTube and then linked into the learning management system for students to view.
4. In the learning management system, I posted directions for a project that the students needed to work on and then submit through the assignment drop box feature of the  learning management system.
5. I also held a discussion forum in the learning management system where students posted their thoughts on and discussed with each other the benefits of using Excel, the ways it could be used personally and professionally, and the types of decisions that need to be made when creating workbooks and charts.

What specific strategies have you employed to keep the learning process going when classes are cancelled due to snow?

Please contact itd@northshore.edu if you need any additional information or support to implement these in your courses.

iDevelop – NSCC’s Faculty Professional Development eNewsletter (1/30/2017)

Welcome to iDevelop, a weekly eNewsletter providing faculty with information about professional development opportunities at NSCC. The intent of this eNewsletter is to spotlight the various professional development events for faculty in one convenient location as well as share best practices, resources and tips related to the teaching practice. iDevelop is being brought to you by the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Innovation (CTLI).
  

20 Minute Online Professional Development
The Monday Morning Mentor series will be available over the spring semester to bring you professional development in twenty minute snippets. The topic for the week of January 30th is How Can I Keep Students Engaged with Instructor Presence? The presentation is available Monday at 10:00am and is accessible through Sunday of that week. For information on accessing the presentation and supplemental materials, please view the Bulletin or the email version of iDevelop. 

More information about this session (including description, topics, and learning goals) is available at http://www.magnapubs.com/online/mentor/how-can-keep-students-engaged-with-instructor-presence-13983-1.html. The complete spring schedule of Monday Morning Mentor sessions is available at http://nscclets.blogspot.com/2016/12/20-minute-mentor-online-faculty.html.

Looking for transcripts of past Monday Morning Mentor sessions? Please email ctli@northshore.edu with the session title and we can provide you with the transcript and supplementary materials.   

Upcoming Webinars of Interest

• Collaboration Island… Building Connections Between Students (a free NISOD webinar)
  Date: Thursday, February 9, 2017
  Time: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern Time Register: https://shop.nisod.org/webinar-series/register.php?id=56&code=5185075115454075651   

 
Resources

• How to Keep the Human Element in Online Classes
  https://www.edsurge.com/news/2016-04-27-how-to-keep-the-human-element-in-online-classes 
• Creating a Sense of Instructor Presence in the Online Classroom
  http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/online-education/creating-a-sense-of-instructor-presence-in-the-online-classroom/ 
• Instructor Online Presence Checklist
  https://vsuter.org/sense-of-presence/instruction-online-presence-checklist/

   
Share Teaching Resources or Professional Development Opportunities
If you have any teaching resources that you would like to share with other NSCC faculty or know of any other professional development opportunities that NSCC faculty might be interested in, please feel free to send them to ctli@northshore.edu and we will share them in the upcomimg issues of iDevelop.

We hope you have enjoyed this weekly eNewsletter and would love your input. Please let us know if you have any feedback on the format, content, and resources or if there is anything else you would like to see in the eNewsletter.

Thank you,
Center for Teaching, Learning, and Innovation
 

iDevelop – NSCC’s Faculty Professional Development eNewsletter (1/23/2017)

Welcome to iDevelop, a weekly eNewsletter providing faculty with information about professional development opportunities at NSCC. The intent of this eNewsletter is to spotlight the various professional development events for faculty in one convenient location as well as share best practices, resources and tips related to the teaching practice. iDevelop is being brought to you by the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Innovation (CTLI).
  

20 Minute Online Professional Development
The Monday Morning Mentor series will be available over the spring semester to bring you professional development in twenty minute snippets. The topic for the week of January 23rd is What Is the Role of Communication In Teaching Excellence? The presentation is available Monday at 10:00am and is accessible through Sunday of that week. For information on accessing the presentation and supplemental materials, please view the Bulletin or the email version of iDevelop. 

More information about this session (including description, topics, and learning goals) is available at http://www.magnapubs.com/online/mentor/what-is-the-role-of-communication-in-teaching-excellence-13784-1.html. The complete spring schedule of Monday Morning Mentor sessions is available at http://nscclets.blogspot.com/2016/12/20-minute-mentor-online-faculty.html.

Looking for transcripts of past Monday Morning Mentor sessions? Please email ctli@northshore.edu with the session title and we can provide you with the transcript and supplementary materials.  

Other Professional Development Opportunities

• Blackboard Learn Open Labs. During the first two weeks of the spring semester, CTLI team members will be offering Blackboard Learn open labs in Danvers and Lynn. Please stop by if you have any questions. The schedule is available at http://nscclets.blogspot.com/2016/12/january-blackboard-learn-workshops-and.html.   

 
Upcoming Webinars of Interest

• Teach Online? You Need This List of 17 Course Best Practices! (Blackboard Innovative Teaching Series). Date: Thursday, January 26, 2017
  Time: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern Time. Register at http://bbbb.blackboard.com/bits-course-best-practices

 
Program/Department Learner Outcome Statements
For those participating in program review, the third installment on writing program/department learner outcome statements is being distributed with iDevelop. Questions or assistance, please contact Cate Kaluzny.
 
Share Teaching Resources or Professional Development Opportunities
If you have any teaching resources that you would like to share with other NSCC faculty or know of any other professional development opportunities that NSCC faculty might be interested in, please feel free to send them to ctli@northshore.edu and we will share them in the upcomimg issues of iDevelop.
 
We hope you have enjoyed this weekly eNewsletter and would love your input. Please let us know if you have any feedback on the format, content, and resources or if there is anything else you would like to see in the eNewsletter.

Thank you,
Center for Teaching, Learning, and Innovation
 

Blackboard Learn Pre-Semester Course Checklist

Do you copy your previous Blackboard Learn course sites to a new semester? If so, here is a checklist to help you prepare your course site in Blackboard Learn for the upcoming semester and ensure that it is ready for your students to use.

1. Course Menu Items
   Reorder and/or rename the course menu items to be more reflective of your course structure. Any course menu items not in the default course template will be added to the bottom of the course menu under Help. Also, hide or delete any course menu items that you are not using for a more streamlined and simplified course navigation tool.
    
2. Announcements
   It is important to check the display dates of announcements to make sure that old announcements are not visible to students. Student Preview is a great way to see if old announcements are displaying. Change the display dates of any announcements that you plan on re-using. Delete any old announcements that you are not using.
    
3. DocumentsCheck all documents to make sure they still open properly. Update and re-upload any semester-based documents such as the syllabus and course schedule.
    
4. Due Dates
   Check and update due dates in discussion forums, assignments, and quizzes/tests so they will automatically be reflected in the Calendar. This also ensures that students do not receive past due notifications for future activities. You can easily view all due dates from within the Full Grade Center under Manage > Column Organization. Also, all due dates can be updated in the Date Management Course Tool.
     
5. Viewing Options
   Check the viewing date options for content folders, discussion forums, assignments, and quizzes/tests to ensure that only those items that you want students to see are visible. Change any display dates on items that you want to release to students at a later point.
    
6. Web Links
   Check the external hyperlinks to web resources in your course to make sure they still open properly and then update as necessary.
    
7. Quizzes, Tests and Pools
   Double check to ensure that all of your quizzes, tests, and pools were copied over from the previous course site and are deployed properly in the content areas. If not, please contact the Blackboard Helpdesk at bbhelp@northshore.edu right away. Also, check and update if necessary any quiz or test taking options.
    
8. Grade Center
   Check the Full Grade Center to ensure that all of the grading columns are present and visible to students (or not) and that the weighting is set up properly (if you use a weighted grade).
    
9. Student Course Tools
   Hide links to any course tools that you are not using with students to streamline the tool area and reduce confusion.
    
10. Content Collection
    Check the files listed in the course content collection and delete any files that you are not using as this helps manage the course quota. The course content collection can be accessed from the course's Control Panel and the 360 ° View allows you to see which files are linked into the course or not.

A printable version of this checklist is available at https://goo.gl/18q3r5.

When your course is ready for students to view, you will need to give them access. All course sites are unavailable to students by default.

To make your course available (when you are done updating it for the new semester):

1. In your Blackboard course, expand the Control Panel, click Customization, and then Properties.  
2. Scroll down to the Set Availability Section and choose Yes.
3. Click Submit to enable students to see and access your course.

Please send us an email at bbhelp@northshore.edu if you need help with any of these tasks.