- Enhancing the Student Experience: student feedback has repeatedly mentioned a lack of “consistency” as a barrier to the use of Blackboard.
- Inclusion: the Blackboard standards will help ensure the development of inclusive teaching and learning resources.
- Additional Staff Support: to enable staff to meet and exceed the standards there is more guidance within the basic site template.
No, the standards are not intended as “one size fits all”. Staff will still be able to adapt their sites for their needs.
There are Intermediate and Aspirational site standards that can be achieved. EDEU staff are available to support your extended use of Blackboard.
Initially, methods of monitoring are likely to be decided at school level.
You will find support and guidance
- Help & Support Tab in Blackboard
- Guidance within your Blackboard site
EDEU can provide training and support through:
You will find the Standards by clicking on the buttons below, alternatively you can download a copy from Blackboard here
Click on the buttons below to see the Standards.
Sites meet all these criteria |
|---|
| Use of Announcements for urgent notifications and reminders |
| Staff profile page with contact details and availability |
| Module Handbook or equivalent |
| Appropriate learning content available through a structured content organisation, using meaningful file names and folders where necessary |
| Text is clearly presented using basic text editor |
| Every content area should begin with a description |
| All items include descriptive information |
| Accessibility: All content (text, images and multimedia) is in an appropriate format and follows accessibility guidelines |
| Content is displayed in line with school guidelines/policy |
| Web links to external resources, as appropriate |
| General purpose discussion forum |
| All appropriate assignments submitted through Turnitin |
| All grades available through Grade Centre |
| TALIS Aspire reading list |
| Links to appropriate Referencing Guide and submission guidelines |
Intermediate sites meet some of these criteria and all Required Standards |
|---|
| Content to include images and additional formatting features |
| Content should be provided in alternative formats (pdf, etc) |
| All grades and feedback available through Grade Centre |
| Formative Blackboard tests/quizzes |
| Use of BB Surveys |
| Use of groups to provide targeted content |
| A class wiki |
| Use of YouTube mashup to embed video |
| Direct link to discussion forum |
| Direct link to Collaborate room |
| Additional content areas (e.g. field trips) |
| Adaptive release |
Aspirational sites meet some of these criteria and all Required Standards |
|---|
| Use of rubrics for electronic assessment and grading |
| Collaborate sessions and recordings |
| Embedded content from other sources (Flickr/Slideshare/Prezi) |
| Enhanced use of the text editor to create formatted content |
| Learning module for handbook |
| Wikis, discussion boards fully integrated into class activities |
| Use of journals and blogs for student reflection |
| Greater use of tests and surveys |
| Use of Helix to add own video content or audio podcast |
| Use of collaborative tools and tests as assessment methods |
| Use of mashup tool to embed content |
