- Make the tools you aren't using during this semester "unavailable." To make unused tools unavailable, go to the Control Panel, and click on "Manage Course Menu." Click on "Modify" located next to the tool that you aren't using, and uncheck the box that is marked "Available for Student/Participant users."
- Post your syllabus so that is easily accessible to students. Go to Control Panel > Syllabus > Item.
- Create announcements. While instructors in a conventional classroom environment make periodic ”in-class” announcements, the same type of communication can take place effectively in BeachBoard. The homepage is usually the first page students see when they access their course, and BeachBoard provides an area to post regular course announcements. Such announcement/messages might include event or quiz reminders, assignment due dates, course milestones or notification of schedule changes. Changing these announcements regularly keeps students alert to course happenings and encourages them to revisit and read the homepage. Go to Control Panel > Announcements > Add Announcement.
- Track students' activities. Identifying students who have logged in to your course and which areas they have accessed which could provide you valuable feedback to areas in the course that is and is not visited by the students. Go to Control Panel > Course Statistics > Overall Summary of Course Usage.
- Send Email. Go to Control Panel > Send Email. Students can also communicate with one another via this tool.
- Set up a discussion forum with the Discussion Board. You can set expectations that the students need to discussion amongst themselves specific course information or use this method to answer course content questions which everyone in the class can benefit from. Go to Control Panel > Discussion Board > Add Forum. Keep in mind that you will need to monitor the forum(s) in order to keep them on task and relevant.
We hope the beginning of the semester runs smoothly for you. If you have any questions, please contact BeachBoard Services at 985-4745 or at factech@csulb.edu.
