University of Toronto

Checklist for Getting Started using Blackboard

1. Log in to the Portal
   In order to access your Blackboard Learning Management System (LMS), you will need to have a UTORID.
   • Activate your UTORid (all new students, faculty, and staff)
   • Create your UTORid (existing faculty & staff and returning students)
   • Open up a browser, and type in the following URL: http://portal.utoronto.ca/
   • Instructors should see the courses that you are teaching as this information is provided by ROSI
   • If not, your department’s Undergraduate Secretary, Registrar or Chair will update your course workload information in ROSI. Courses that instructors are teaching are provided to Blackboard by ROSI.
     
     
2. Add your syllabus (or a Word, PDF, PowerPoint file) in Blackboard
   You can use the add Item tool. The recommended method is to link to the Content Collection
   
   
3. Give your students a "message template" that gives students all the information they need to successfully log into Blackboard
   You can download a one-page insert called the Syllabus Template.
   
   
4. Enroll your course staff in Blackboard
   Instructors wishing to enrol additional users such as Teaching Assistants, visiting lecturers, special guest, peer or auditing student by using the UT Manage Users tool.
   
   
5. Consider sending an Announcement
   The Announcement tool is simple but effective tool for broadcasting information to your students
   
   
6. Begin adding documents, images and files in Blackboard
   Publishing or distributing files to your students can be done through the Content Collection area. Alternatively, you can attach local files directly into your Content areas, from your desktop, CD, or any removable device.
   
   
7. Create a link to an external website
   Use the External Link tool to make a link to any website
   
   
8. Download the class list
   The UT Manage Groups tool you a way to download class lists and information about students, TAs and other course staff . The downloaded Grade Center will give you a class list of all students (no course staff) and no group information.
   


9. Begin emailing students
   Send Mail  is the Portal tool for sending email to some or all course participants
   
   
10. Begin using the discussion board
    Begin by setting up a forum , then starting a new thread
    
    
11. Give students grades
    First you want to create a new Grade Column  in the Grade Center (for the essay or lab or other item of assessment) or by following these instructions, the entire class at once.
    
    
12. Make an archive of the course
    To provide you with a personal backup in case of such an accident we strongly recommend that you regularly archive your course. It only takes a moment and could save you hours of work.
    
    
13. Who can I ask for more help?
    Contact a member of the Portal Team