Setting up your online course on a Learning Management System (LMS) can feel daunting, but with the right guidance, it becomes a streamlined process that empowers both instructors and students. For instructors at Catholic University of America (CUA) using Cardinal Learn, this guide provides a clear pathway to effectively setting up your courses. Whether you’re teaching fully online, hybrid, or in-person, understanding the fundamentals of Cardinal Learn is crucial for a successful academic experience. This page aims to be your central resource for navigating the essential steps of Cardinal Learn course setup, ensuring a smooth and engaging learning environment.
Who Should Use This Guide?
This guide is primarily designed for instructors who are new to Cardinal Learn, CUA’s implementation of Blackboard. If you’re just starting to teach online or transitioning to using Cardinal Learn for your courses, you’ll find step-by-step instructions to get your course site up and running. However, even experienced online instructors can benefit from this resource, particularly when exploring features like weighted grading or refining their course structure within Cardinal Learn. Instructors teaching hybrid or in-person courses will also find valuable guidance, especially for leveraging Cardinal Learn to enhance course communication, deliver materials, and manage grades. At a minimum, all instructors should prioritize adding their syllabus and configuring the Grade Center within Cardinal Learn, regardless of the course delivery method.
Navigating the Setup Steps
This guide is structured to walk you through the course setup process in a logical order. Each step is designed to build upon the previous one, ensuring a comprehensive and coherent setup. To access the details of each step, simply click on the step name to expand the content. Clicking again will collapse the content, allowing you to focus on specific areas as needed.
Each step is organized into three key sections to provide a holistic learning experience:
- Notes: This section offers introductory information, context, and helpful tips relevant to the step’s content. It sets the stage and provides essential background knowledge.
- Action Items: This is the core of each step, outlining specific tasks you need to complete within Cardinal Learn to progress with your course setup. These are actionable steps designed to move you forward in building your online course.
- Additional Resources: To support deeper learning and cater to different learning preferences, this section provides curated text-based and video resources. These resources offer opportunities to explore topics in more detail, expand your understanding, and discover advanced features within Cardinal Learn. Feel free to engage with these resources based on your individual needs and interests – explore all, some, or none, depending on your familiarity with the topic.
Alternative Access and Support
To ensure accessibility and convenience, this guide is also available in alternative formats:
If you require personalized assistance at any point during your course setup, the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) is available to help. You can schedule a consultation by completing the CTE Service Request Form.
Throughout this guide, please note that “Cardinal Learn” and “Blackboard” are used interchangeably to refer to the Catholic University of America’s Learning Management System.
Essential Course Setup Steps in Cardinal Learn
Let’s dive into the essential steps for setting up your Cardinal Learn course. Click on each step to expand and explore the details.
Step 1: Making Your Course Available to Students
Understanding course availability is the first crucial step. By default, courses in Cardinal Learn are often set to “unavailable” to students. Making your course available is essential for student access.
Notes: Making your course available is a simple but critical step. Students cannot see or access your course content until it is made available. It’s generally recommended to make your course available to students a few days before the official start date of the semester to allow them to familiarize themselves with the platform and course materials.
Action Items:
- Navigate to your course in Cardinal Learn.
- Look for the “Course Management” control panel, usually located on the left-hand side of your course page.
- Within “Course Management,” find the “Customization” section.
- Click on “Properties.”
- Under “Set Availability,” select “Yes” to make the course available to students.
- Click “Submit” to save your changes.
Additional Resources: Explore Blackboard’s help documentation on course availability for more detailed instructions and troubleshooting tips. Consider watching a brief video tutorial on YouTube demonstrating how to make a Blackboard course available.
Step 2: Uploading Your Syllabus
The syllabus is the backbone of your course. Providing students with easy access to the syllabus within Cardinal Learn is paramount.
Notes: The syllabus serves as a contract between you and your students. It outlines course objectives, learning outcomes, grading policies, schedules, and important dates. Uploading it to Cardinal Learn ensures students can access it anytime, anywhere. Consider uploading your syllabus in multiple formats (e.g., PDF and Word) to accommodate different student needs.
Action Items:
- In your Cardinal Learn course, identify a suitable content area to upload your syllabus. Common areas include “Course Information” or “Syllabus.” You may need to create a new content area if one doesn’t exist.
- Click on the chosen content area.
- Hover over “Build Content” and select “File.”
- In the “File” upload window, browse your computer to locate your syllabus file.
- Give your syllabus file a clear and descriptive name (e.g., “Course Syllabus – [Course Name]”).
- Optionally, add a description.
- Click “Submit” to upload your syllabus.
Additional Resources: Review examples of effective online syllabi. Explore resources from teaching and learning centers on syllabus design best practices. Learn about accessibility considerations for syllabus documents to ensure they are usable by all students.
Step 3: Setting Up Your Grade Center
The Grade Center in Cardinal Learn is your central hub for managing and calculating student grades. Setting it up correctly from the start is essential for accurate grade keeping.
Notes: The Grade Center can be customized to reflect your course’s grading scheme. You can set up columns for assignments, exams, participation, and more. You can also implement weighted grading if your course uses different weightings for various assessment categories. Accurate Grade Center setup saves time and reduces errors when calculating final grades.
Action Items:
- Access the “Grade Center” from the “Course Management” control panel.
- Familiarize yourself with the default Grade Center columns (e.g., “Total,” “Weighted Total”).
- Create columns for all graded assignments and activities in your course by clicking “Create Column.”
- For each column, enter a clear “Column Name” (e.g., “Midterm Exam,” “Weekly Quiz 1”).
- Choose a “Primary Display” (e.g., “Score,” “Percentage,” “Letter”).
- Enter “Points Possible” for each graded item.
- If using weighted grading, set up categories (e.g., “Assignments,” “Exams,” “Participation”) by going to “Manage” and then “Categories.” Assign weights to these categories using the “Weighted Total” column settings (accessed by editing the “Weighted Total” column).
- Organize your Grade Center columns for easy navigation using the “Column Organization” option under “Manage.”
Additional Resources: Watch video tutorials on setting up and using the Blackboard Grade Center. Explore Blackboard’s documentation on weighted grading and learn how to configure it accurately. Consult with your institution’s instructional designers for personalized guidance on complex Grade Center setups.
Step 4: Organizing Course Content
A well-organized course site is crucial for student navigation and learning. Structuring your content logically helps students find materials easily and promotes a clear understanding of the course flow.
Notes: Think about how students will access and interact with your course materials. Organize content into logical modules or folders, typically week by week or by topic. Use clear and consistent naming conventions for folders and files. Consider using learning modules within Cardinal Learn for a more structured learning path.
Action Items:
- Determine the most logical structure for your course content (e.g., weekly modules, topic-based units).
- Create content areas or folders in your Cardinal Learn course to reflect this structure. Use the “Content Area” or “Module Pages” options under “Build Content.”
- Within each content area or folder, upload or create your learning materials, including documents, presentations, videos, links, and assignments.
- Use clear and descriptive names for all content items.
- Consider using Blackboard’s “Learning Modules” to create a sequential and structured learning path for students.
- Use visual cues like headings, bullet points, and consistent formatting to enhance readability and organization within content items.
Additional Resources: Explore examples of well-organized online course sites in different disciplines. Read articles and guides on information architecture for online courses. Learn about using learning modules and adaptive release in Blackboard to enhance content delivery.
Step 5: Setting Up Communication Tools
Effective communication is vital in any course, and Cardinal Learn offers various tools to facilitate interaction and engagement.
Notes: Establish clear communication channels from the outset. Utilize announcements for course-wide updates, the discussion board for class discussions and Q&A, and email for individual communication. Set expectations for response times and communication protocols. Encourage students to use the discussion board for general questions to benefit the entire class.
Action Items:
- Decide which communication tools you will use in your course (Announcements, Discussion Board, Email, Blackboard Collaborate, etc.).
- Make “Announcements” regularly to keep students informed about important updates, deadlines, and changes.
- Set up one or more “Discussion Forums” for class discussions, Q&A, and student interaction. Consider creating forums for different topics or weeks.
- Clearly communicate your preferred method of communication and expected response times in your syllabus and in an announcement.
- If using Blackboard Collaborate or similar tools for synchronous sessions, schedule sessions and make sure students know how to access them.
Additional Resources: Review best practices for online communication and engagement. Explore Blackboard’s help documentation on announcements, discussion boards, and other communication tools. Participate in a webinar or workshop on fostering online community and interaction.
Conclusion
Setting up your Cardinal Learn course effectively is a foundational step towards creating a successful and engaging learning environment. By following these steps and utilizing the resources available, you can confidently build a robust online presence for your courses at Catholic University of America. Remember to leverage the support of the Center for Teaching Excellence as you navigate Cardinal Learn and continually refine your online teaching practices. Effective use of Cardinal Learn not only streamlines course management but also enhances the overall learning experience for your students, contributing to their academic success.
