| Building Blocks are additional features that may be added to Blackboard to extend functionality. Below are the building blocks currently installed in Blackboard 7.1. Visit Blackboard’s Building Blocks website http://www.blackboard.com/extend/b2/ to search the building block catalog. If you have ideas for new building blocks or would like to request a specific building block, please email blackboard@du.edu..
Advanced Group Management
Blackboard Backpack
Blog
Digital Drop Manager
Link Checker
Live Classroom
Podcast
Respondus
StudyMate
Send Homework
Wiki
What's New Module
Wimba Voice Tools
Advanced Group Management
×Instructor Tool Student Tool
This Course Tool extension appears in the instructor's control panel and provides an alternative to Blackboard's built-in manage groups tool. It includes the same functions as the built-in tool, with the following additional features: (1) summary display of all groups, their membership count, and enable features in one matrix; (2) ability to view/modify membership assignments to all groups in one display page, and thus more easily balance group assignment tasks; (3) random assignment of students to groups, whether overlapping membership or disjoint; (4) simultaneous multiple deletes of groups.
Blackboard Backpack
×Instructor Tool ×Student Tool
Blackboard Backpack allows students and instructors to download an entire Blackboard course at one time. It permits users to view resources when offline, including course documents, assignments, announcements, and grades. Blackboard Backpack is available for a 30-day free trial period and a small license fee for continued use (under $20 at this time). More information can be found at: http://backpack.blackboard.com/extendtrial2/
Blog
×Instructor Tool ×Student Tool
A blog is a frequently updated online journal that allows an individual or group to share personal thoughts, experiences, and web links with an online audience. This Blackboard building block gives instructors and students the tools to create rich multimedia blogs within the course. Like the wiki, a blog can be exported for publication on the web.
Blog Tool Support
The blog tool is licensed through Learning Objects. If you encounter a technical issue, please open a support ticket with Learning Objects by sending an email to support@learningobjects.com or call the live support line at 1.202.265.3276. Click on the blog quick start guide link below to download the blog guide.
Blog Quick Start Guide
Digital Dropbox Manager
×Instructor Tool Student Tool
The Digital Dropbox Manager provides an alternative to Blackboard's built-in Digital Dropbox. The Advanced Digital Dropbox Manager provides instructors with the ability to sort files by student name, file name or upload date. The Digital Dropbox Manager building block was developed by Carrie Lorenz in the CTL based on input from DU instructors. The DDB Manager appears in the instructor's control panel under the Course Tools area.
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Link Checker
×Instructor Tool Student Tool
The link checker verifies that the web links within a course are valid. The link checker may be accessed from within the Course Tools area of the control panel. Note: This tool does not remove the link; it just makes it invisible to users.
Wimba Live Classroom
×Instructor Tool ×Student Tool
Wimba Live Classroom is a synchronous collaboration tool developed by a third party vendor. Live Classroom supports multi-way audio (VOIP), text chat, application sharing, polling, and content display. Live Classroom goes beyond what is available in the collaboration tools bundled with Blackboard. Live classroom can be used for virtual guest speakers, online office hours, exam reviews, and distance learning.
Note: Live Classroom is not enabled in your Blackboard course automatically. Email blackboard@du.edu with the name and term of the course if you plan to use Live Classroom or to schedule a virtual Live Classroom orientation.
Live Classroom Support
Wimba provides technical support to students and instructors. Contact Wimba technical support (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) at either (866) 350-4978 or technicalsupport@wimba.com. Click on the link below to download the Live Classroom Presenter Guide.
LC Quickstart Guide
LC Presenter Guide
Podcast LX
×Instructor Tool ×Student Tool
The Podcast building block integrates podcasting into a Blackboard course. It allows users to instantly create and subscribe to audio and video feeds.
Users Guide
Respondus
×Instructor Tool ×Student Tool
The University of Denver has a campus-wide license for the Respondus software. Respondus is a third party tool that enhances the functionality and usability of Blackboard's exam and survey tools. Respondus easily converts an existing quiz or exam to a Blackboard quiz. Respondus is available for download from the Courseware Faculty Advisory Board portfolio website at http://portfolio.du.edu/cfab. You must login to portfolio before you can download the software. Alternatively, you may email blackboard@du.edu for information about how to download and install Respondus.
More information about the Respondus software and the Respondus Test Bank Network (a free service that allows instructors to download publisher test banks) is available at www.respondus.com.
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Send Homework
×Instructor Tool ×Student Tool
The Send Homework option provides an alternative for students submitting files to the instructor’s Digital Dropbox. The Send Homework option was developed to avoid confusion associated with the current Add/Send File options available in the existing Digital Dropbox. The Send Homework tool will only Send/Submit a file to the instructor’s Digital Dropbox. The Send Homework tool is located under Course Tools on the main Blackboard course menu. This course tool was developed by Carrie Lorenz in the CTL based on input from DU instructors.
StudyMate
×Instructor Tool ×Student Tool
The University of Denver has obtained a campus-wide license for the StudyMate software. StudyMate is a third party tool that allows instructors to create non-graded activities and games including crosswords, flashcards, matching, and fill-in-the-blank, to help students learn course material. StudyMate is available for download from the Courseware Faculty Advisory Board portfolio website at http://portfolio.du.edu/cfab. You must login to portfolio before you can download the software. Alternatively, you may email blackboard@du.edu for information about how to download and install StudyMate.
Additional information is available at http://www.respondus.com/products/studymate.shtml.
Wiki
×Instructor Tool ×Student Tool
. A wiki is a website that allows users to add and edit content collectively. Each student can add content, edit other students' contributions, and change the wiki design. A history of the revisions is maintained and accessible if students want to revert back to a previous version of a wiki page. Determining what and how much to add or revise is part of the group process. The wiki can only be accessed by members of the Blackboard course; however, if the instructor and students want to show the wiki to people who cannot access their Blackboard course, the wiki may be exported for hosting as a regular website.
Support
The wiki tool is licensed through Learning Objects. If you encounter a technical issue, please open a support ticket with Learning Objects by sending an email to support@learningobjects.com or call live support line on 1.202.265.3276. Click on the Quick Start Guide link below to download the wiki guide.
Wiki Quick Start Guide
What's New
×Instructor Tool ×Student Tool
The What's New link is located in the Tools module on the myDU page. Click on the What's New link to find out What's New in your Blackboard courses today or this week. Instructors and students no longer need to access each Blackboard course to check for new discussion board posts, content items, and digital dropbox items in order to find out what has recently been added to their courses. Note: If you teach several classes, please be patient because it may take a few minutes for new items to display in all of your Blackboard course containers.
Wimba Voice Tools
×Instructor Tool ×Student Tool
Wimba's Voice Tools (VT) allow instructors and students to use their computer's microphone to easily record and then embed their recordings in their Blackboard course. They can use the voice tool in threaded voice boards, voice-enabled email, embedded voice within course pages, and live group discussions and debates.
Voice Tools Support
Wimba provides technical support to students and instructors. Contact Wimba technical support (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) at either (866) 350-4978 or technicalsupport@wimba.com. Click on the link below to download the Voice Tools quick start guide.
VT Quick Start Guide
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