BlackBoard Question of the Week

Q. I have a student in class who has a disability and as such, needs extra time to take tests on Blackboard.  Is it possible for me to make a test available for one student longer than the other students? If so, how do I do this?

A. If you want the student to take the test at the same time as the other students you must create a separate test (give this test a unique name – do not name it the same as your original test) and deploy it in the same content area as the original test. This will create two columns in your grade center which means that you will have to decide how you want to treat that extra column for the special needs student – one option is to take that column out of Grade Center calculations and then manually enter the score the student received into the original test column – the one containing all the other grades.

In addition to creating a separate test you should also create two groups of students: one group will be all your students who can take the regular test; the other group will consist of the student(s) who will take the longer test. Visit this link for instructions on how to create groups: Creating Student Groups.

Then you must create an adaptive release rule for both tests such that only the students in the appropriate group will see the test assigned to them. To set an adaptive release rule, find the test that you deployed in a content area and select Manage then Adaptive release.  Under Membership, choose which group will have access to the test you are managing.

This is the basic process for simultaneous testing. You could have the special needs students take the test at a different time — you would still need to create groups and rules but you would not have to create a separate test. You would simply make the test available at a different time for each group and then modify the amount of time for the test when it was time for your special needs group to take it.

Q. Is there a good tutorial or workshop available on setting up and using the Grade Center so I can maximize features?

A. Visit this link to find online documentation and videos for help with basic features of the Grade Center: 

If you find that you need additional assistance you can come to a Blackboard Dropin on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. in the Information Commons, Room 221, LSC. These are first come, first served, and are devoted to Grade Center questions.

If these times are not convenient you can schedule a one-on-one Teaching with Technology (TWT) clinic. Visit this link for more information about TWTs Teaching with Technology Clinics and email Blackboard@luc.edu to ask questions or to schedule time during a clinic .

Q. Where do I see myself in a group if I added myself and how do the students know they are in a group?

 A. You can see who is in a group by going to Control Panel, then clicking on Manage Groups in the User Management panel. Click on the Modify button for the group you want to see, then click on List Users in Group.  As instructor, you have access to all groups and do not need to add yourself, and you will not see yourself listed there.

When students who have been added to a group enter your course, they should click on the  Communication menu button, then on the Group Pages link. There, they will see a list of all the groups you have created, but only the name of the group they are in will appear as an active link that will give them access to the group when they click on it.

Tip: If you type the names of the group members into the Description box when you create or modify the group, you and your students can easily see who is a member without entering the group. 

Instructions for Creating Student Groups

Q. I am a leader of a Blackboard organization and I have enrolled persons who are full-time faculty, part-time faculty and graduate students.  I have set up groups so that I can send targeted e-mail messages.   Now I want to post content but somehow limit access to the content based upon group membership — can I do this? 

A. It is possible to limit access to content based on group membership using an adaptive release rule. Here’s how:

1. From the control panel, post a content item in any content area.
2. Select Manage next to the item.
3. Select Adaptive Release.
4. On the Adaptive Release page under Membership, select the group(s) you want to give access to.
5. Scroll down and click Submit.

 Now the content will appear for the group(s) you selected, but others will not see it.