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Published on Leave a comment on Brightspace Tip #14: Are you Ready for Daylight?

sunrise at the lake

Brightspace's Daylight Experience is coming to Xavier! The Daylight Experience is a new, modern, responsive design. Responsive design means you can access your courses from any device, with the content adapting responsively to whatever screen size you are using so that the information is presented in the best way possible. Thus eliminating the need for a special app when using a mobile device.

We only have a few more weeks before Brightspace replaces Blackboard as our learning management system (LMS). Brightspace will be the official LMS here at Xavier starting spring 2018.

As we approach the sunrise of Brightspace at Xavier, are you ready?

Brightspace Quick Start Training sessions begin this week. The Quick Start Training sessions are designed to help faculty, who were not able to make it to the previous Brightspace training, to set up their Brightspace courses. Visit the CAT+FD events page for more information and to RSVP for upcoming workshops.

Want more information?

Brightspace Migration FAQs
View all the Brightspace training recaps
Request a sandbox course
Sign-up for Brightspace training sessions
You can find Brightspace help at D2L's website.
Join the Brightspace Community.
Try these Brightspace How-To documents.
Visit our Brightspace FAQs for additional Brightspace information
or schedule a one-on-one session, email, or
call Janice Florent: (504) 520-7418.

Photo Credit: Sunrise | CC0

Published on Leave a comment on Bb Tip #188: My Final Blackboard Tip

sunset at the pier

As we approach the sunset of Blackboard at Xavier, I'm posting this final Blackboard tip.

Download your gradebook

Access to Blackboard courses will be removed December 31st. You will not have access to your courses and your gradebook records after December 31st. You should download your gradebook to your local computer after you submit your final grades.

Follow these steps to do it.

Instructions for downloading your grade book are available in this previous Bb tip.

Want more information?

Brightspace Migration FAQs
View all the Brightspace training recaps
Request a sandbox course
Sign-up for Brightspace training sessions
You can find Brightspace help at D2L's website.
Join the Brightspace Community.
Try these Brightspace How-To documents.
Visit our Brightspace FAQs for additional Brightspace information
or schedule a one-on-one session, email, or
call Janice Florent: (504) 520-7418.

Photo Credit: Jetty Pier Sunset | CC0

Published on Leave a comment on Brightspace Tip #13: Virtual Classrooms and Video Assignments Training Recap

keep calm and let's recap

This week’s "Virtual Classrooms and Video Assignments" training focused using YouSeeU for virtual classrooms, virtual office hours, and video assignments in Brightspace.

in case you missed it

In case you missed this week’s training sessions or if you attended one of the training sessions and want to recap what was covered, you can review these resources:

Our Brightspace training continues next week.

Next week's Brightspace Quick Start training sessions are designed to help faculty to get their Brightspace courses up and running quickly. If you did not get a chance to attend any of the Brightspace training sessions, these Quick Start sessions are for you. Please visit our events page for workshop details and to RSVP for upcoming Brightspace training sessions.

Want more information?

View all the Brightspace training recaps
Brightspace Migration FAQs
Request a sandbox course
Sign-up for Brightspace training sessions
You can find Brightspace help at D2L's website.
Join the Brightspace Community.
Try these Brightspace How-To documents.
Visit our Brightspace FAQs for additional Brightspace information
or schedule a one-on-one session, email, or
call Janice Florent: (504) 520-7418.

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Published on 1 Comment on Brightspace Tip #12: Master Course Shell

female using copy machine

Instructors who want to build their course before the normal course creation schedule can request a Brightspace Master Course Shell that can be used to develop and maintain their course materials.

A Master Course Shell:

  • Is a course environment an instructor uses to develop and maintain course materials that are used from semester to semester.
  • Is not tied to Banner. Therefore, no students or other users are enrolled into this Shell.
  • Can be used as a "master" where one keeps permanent changes to a course.
  • Faculty may copy content from a Master Course Shell into a Brightspace Course shell as long as they are enrolled as an instructor in both shells.
  • Master Course Shells are not deleted except upon the request of the instructor or when the instructor is no longer employed at Xavier.

Follow these steps to do it.

If you want to build your course from scratch before your Brightspace course shell for the upcoming semester is made available, you should:

  • Fill out the Brightspace Master Course Request Form.
  • Add your content and learning activities to your Master Course Shell.
  • Copy the Master Course Shell contents into your “empty” Brightspace course once the course becomes available. Follow these steps:
    1. In the NavBar of your "empty" Brightspace course, click on "Course Admin".
    2. Click on the "Import/Export/Copy Components" link.
    3. Click on the "Copy Components from another Org Unit" radio button.
    4. In the Course to Copy option, click the "Search for Offering" button.
    5. Click on the magnifying glass in the "Search for" field.
    6. Click on the radio button to the right of your Master Course Shell and then click on "Add Selected".
    7. Verify your selections are correct before proceeding.
    8. At the bottom on the browser window you will click on either "Copy all Components" OR "Select Components" and follow the prompts.

Want more information?

Brightspace Master Course Request Form
Copy Course Components
Import/Export/Copy - Copy Components video [1:31]
Brightspace training recaps
Brightspace Migration FAQs
Request a sandbox course
Sign-up for Brightspace training sessions
You can find Brightspace help at D2L's website.
Join the Brightspace Community.
Try these Brightspace How-To documents.
Visit our Brightspace FAQs for additional Brightspace information
or schedule a one-on-one session, email, or
call Janice Florent: (504) 520-7418.

Published on Leave a comment on Brightspace Tip #11: Grades and Rubrics Tools Training Recap

keep calm and let's recap

This week’s "Grades and Rubrics Tools" training focused on setting up your Grade Book and using the Rubrics Tool in Brightspace.

in case you missed it

In case you missed this week’s training sessions or if you attended one of the training sessions and want to recap what was covered, you can review these resources:

Our Brightspace training continues next week.

Next week's training sessions will focus on using YouSeeU for virtual classrooms, virtual office hours, and video assignments in Brightspace. Please visit our events page for workshop details and to RSVP for upcoming Brightspace training sessions.

Want more information?

View all the Brightspace training recaps
Brightspace Migration FAQs
Request a sandbox course
Sign-up for Brightspace training sessions
You can find Brightspace help at D2L's website.
Join the Brightspace Community.
Try these Brightspace How-To documents.
Visit our Brightspace FAQs for additional Brightspace information
or schedule a one-on-one session, email, or
call Janice Florent: (504) 520-7418.

Published on Leave a comment on Conversation #65: Kelly Young on Mentorship

Download Conversation #65

Kelly Young
A conversation with Dr. Kelly Young of California State University Long Beach (CSULB) on mentorship.

I'm a Full Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at California State University Long Beach.  A CSU graduate from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, I trained at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and the Oregon National Primate Research Center at the Oregon Health & Science University. My desire to teach in both the classroom and the laboratory made returning to the CSU system a priority, and I'm proud to be a Chancellor’s Doctoral Incentive Program recipient.  In my reproductive biology laboratory, my students and I examine the genes and proteins that regulate the gonadal transition between atrophy in the non-breeding season to fully functional in the breeding season. Most of the research in my laboratory has been conducted with CSULB undergraduates, and I focus on developing independent, productive, and confident undergraduate scientists who take the lead role in their research projects. My passion for engaging undergraduates in science extends into the pedagogical world, where my goal is to design and teach student-centered courses. I’ve been involved in several course-restructure projects to create more effective classroom environments where learning, grades, and motavation improve. I’m also thrilled to be working with fellow faculty members as we all work to better our teaching and mentoring techniques. In that vein, I developed a STEM-faculty learning community for the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and a BUILD Mentoring Community at CSULB. My goal of enhancing student success and trying to make the world a more positive place drives me to work hard each day.

Links for this episode:

...continue reading "Conversation #65: Kelly Young on Mentorship"

Published on Leave a comment on Brightspace Tip #10: Tests and Surveys Training Recap

keep calm and let's recap

This week’s "Tests and Surveys" training focused on using tests, surveys, and self-assessments in Brightspace.

in case you missed it

In case you missed this week’s training sessions or if you attended one of the training sessions and want to recap what was covered, you can review these resources:

Our training continues the week after Thanksgiving. The next training sessions will focus on setting up your Grade Book and using the Rubrics Tool in Brightspace. Please visit our events page for workshop details and to RSVP for upcoming Brightspace training sessions.

Want more information?

View all the Brightspace training recaps
Brightspace Migration FAQs
Request a sandbox course
Sign-up for Brightspace training sessions
You can find Brightspace help at D2L's website.
Join the Brightspace Community.
Try these Brightspace How-To documents.
Visit our Brightspace FAQs for additional Brightspace information
or schedule a one-on-one session, email, or
call Janice Florent: (504) 520-7418.

Published on Leave a comment on Brightspace Tip #9: Using Turnitin for Plagiarism Detection Training Recap

keep calm and let's recap

This week’s "Using Turnitin" training focused on detecting potential plagiarism in student work by using Turnitin.

in case you missed it

In case you missed this week’s training sessions or if you attended one of the training sessions and want to recap what was covered, you can review these resources:

Our Brightspace training continues through the end of the semester.

Next week's training sessions will focus on using tests and surveys in Brightspace. Please visit our events page for workshop details and to RSVP for upcoming Brightspace training sessions.

Want more information?

Try out an interactive demo of Feedback Studio
Viewing the Similarity Report
Interpreting the Similarity Report
Rubrics and Grading Forms
Sample Rubrics
Commenting Tools
Using Layers

View all the Brightspace training recaps
Brightspace Migration FAQs
Request a sandbox course
Sign-up for Brightspace training sessions
You can find Brightspace help at D2L's website.
Join the Brightspace Community.
Try these Brightspace How-To documents.
Visit our Brightspace FAQs for additional Brightspace information
or schedule a one-on-one session, email, or
call Janice Florent: (504) 520-7418.

Published on Leave a comment on Conversation #64: Keyana Scales on Enrollment Management

Download Conversation #64

Keyana Scales
A conversation with Ms. Keyana Scales on enrollment management.

Keyana Scales is vice president for enrollment management at Xavier University of Louisiana. She is charged with strengthening the university’s enrollment through effective outreach strategies; overseeing the management of all aspects of the enrollment process; and ensuring that high ethical standards are maintained in admissions, recruitment, and financial aid policies and practices.

Ms. Scales has conducted presentations for national and regional associations within higher education. She attained both a BA in Communications and a M.Ed. in Counseling from North Carolina State University. She is a National Board Certified Counselor; an alumnus of the BRIDGES Academic Leadership for Women Program; a former member of the Southern Regional Council for The College Board; and a former executive board member of the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling.

Links for this episode:

  • In terms of helpful links to faculty, here is an article that may be helpful for faculty with high school-aged students as they prepare for the college admissions process.  There is also quite a bit of literature that speaks to the trends related to increased anxiety levels students are currently presenting upon their arrival to college that may be helpful.  A recent article featured in the NY Times speaks to this issue.  There was also an article in Inside Higher Ed that talks about the increased number of students who present mental health challenges on college campuses.   Finally, with regard to how faculty can best support students, our approach at Xavier will largely mirror what is described in the EAB whitepaper that can be found here.

...continue reading "Conversation #64: Keyana Scales on Enrollment Management"

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Published on 1 Comment on Brightspace Tip #8: Assignments Tool Training Recap

keep calm and let's recap

This week’s “Assignments Tool” training focused on how to collect, manage, and grade student work using the Assignments Tool in Brightspace.

in case you missed it

In case you missed this week’s training sessions or if you attended one of the training sessions and want to recap what was covered, you can review these resources:

Our Brightspace training continues through the end of the semester.

Next week's training sessions will focus on using Turnitin (plagiarism detection tool) in Brightspace. Please visit our events page for workshop details and to RSVP for upcoming Brightspace training sessions.

Want more information?

Create an assignment
View assignment submissions
Evaluate assignment submissions
Email students who haven't submitted an assignment
Allow special access for assignments

View all the Brightspace training recaps
Brightspace Migration FAQs
Request a sandbox course
Sign-up for Brightspace training sessions
You can find Brightspace help at D2L's website.
Join the Brightspace Community.
Try these Brightspace How-To documents.
Visit our Brightspace FAQs for additional Brightspace information
or schedule a one-on-one session, email, or
call Janice Florent: (504) 520-7418.