Department of Information Technology Resources
Lehman College

Faculty & Staff Workshops

   March - May,  2006

About our workshops
While the workshops scheduled below emphasize software tools to create and manage Blackboard content, the sessions on Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint and scanning should be of interest to individuals who work with these applications in other instructional settings.  The sessions will be conducted using Windows XP Professional but the techniques and skills presented are in many cases applicable to those using comparable software on the Apple Macintosh.

Topics
Date
Time
Place
Blackboard: An Introduction
Monday March 20
12 noon - 1 pm
IT Center
Adding content to a Blackboard Course:
Using the Text Box Editor and Attaching Files

Wednesday, March 22
2 p..m. - 3 p.m.
IT Center
Using PowerPoint in Blackboard
Tuessday, March 28
10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
IT Center
Using Microsoft Word to Create
Blackboard and Web Content

Thursday, March 30
5 p.m. - 6 p.m.
IT Center
Using Microsoft Word to Mark Up
Student Papers

Monday, April 3
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
IT Center
Scanning Graphics and Text
Tuesday, April 11
2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
IT Center
Using Graphics in Blackboard
Thursday, April 27
4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
IT Center
Using Sound in Blackboard Wednesday, May  3
12 noon - 1 p.m.
IT Center


Blackboard: An Introduction

Blackboard is a web-based course management system used for conducting a class entirely or partially online. Blackboard may also be used to supplement traditional classroom instruction with materials accessible over the Internet. Every Lehman College credit-bearing course section has a corresponding Blackboard course section ready to be used by the instructor  This introductory workshop will cover administrative and course management issues such as usernames, passwords and enrollment; network access; a brief overview of tools for adding content and for collaboration; and a brief demonstration and hands-on exercise in adding simple content such as syllabi and announcements.

Adding content to a Blackboard Course: Using the Text Box Editor and Attaching Files
Learn how to use Blackboard's Text Box Editor to create content.  Documents created with the Text Box Editor (only available when using Internet Explorer under Microsoft Windows to manage your course) can include hyperlinks, attached files, and embedded graphics, sound and video.  This session will also cover the alternative approach: attaching existing documents created outside of Blackboard to a Blackboard course.  Such documents may be in a wide variety of formats such as Microsoft Word, HTML, Acrobat, PowerPoint and Microsoft Excel.  Techniques for attaching files and the advantages of different file formats will be discussed.

Using PowerPoint in Blackboard

Session will cover techniques and guidelines for adding Microsoft PowerPoint presentations to Blackboard course websites.  Topics will include software requirements for viewing PowerPoint presentations over the Internet, performance considerations, converting a PowerPoint presentation to a web page, browser differences, printing and compressing PowePoint presentations.   Session will not cover how to create PowerPoint presentations.   Attendee should be familiar with the basics of using PowerPoint.  While the emphasis is on PowerPoint in a Blackboard course website, anyone interested in using PowerPoint in other contexts might find the session useful. 

Using Microsoft Word to Create Blackboard and Web Content
Session will cover techniques and guidelines for adding Microsoft Word documents to a Blackboark course website including creating word documents for online viewing by incorporating web-like elements to a Word Document (external and internal links, tables of contensts, lists, tables), adding graphics to a Word document,  converting Word documents to other formats including HTML and RFT, acrobat.  Attendees should have a basic knowledge of Word and how to use BB but of interest..l

Using Microsoft Word to Mark Up Student Papers
Microsoft Word includes features that allow you to track changes in documents, to add, hide and display comments, protect documents from being changed and to selectively apply suggested editorial changes.  These features can be applied to marking up student papers and are especially useful with Blackboard's Digital Drop Box which facilitates exchange of papers between student and instructor.  However, marked up documents can just as easily be sent as attachments via email.

Scanning Images and Text
Topics include basic scanning concepts, hardware and software requirements, scanning for different purposes (e.g. print, Blackboard), scanning software settings controlling file formats, image size and other properties, and coverting scanned images to text for editing in Word and other applications.

Using Graphics in Blackboard
Incorporating graphic images and documents with graphics in Blackboard, software requirements, graphic file formats, file size and other attributes, and a brief introduction to image editing to convert and modify images, instructional uses of images in an online course.

Using Sound in Blackboard
Incorporating sound files and documents with embedded sound in Blackboard, hardware and software requirements, suitable sound file formats, file size and other attributes, and a brief introduction to image editing to convert and modify images.

Sessions will consist primarily of demonstration with hands-on exercises where practical. The sessions will take place in the Information Technology Center, Plaza Level, Carman Hall. Register by contacting the IT Center Help Desk at (718) 960-1111 or via email at helpdesk@lehman.cuny.edu.  Check at the Help Desk for the room number on the day of the workshop.