TOOLS PRACTICE
Blackboard Vista

You will need the latest version of Winamp (free) or Window Media Player in order to view the Camtasia practice videos.

If you can't make the videos work....can't see them but you hear them click here and follow the instructions for installing a fix.

Created by Sandra T. Caceres, Instructional Designer, San Antonio College
NOTE: This tool practice DOES NOT SUBSTITUTE for the assignments, discussions, exercises of the Blackboard Vista Training program for which you registered.

INSTRUCTIONS:

  • Keep this website open, then open your blank course.
  • Click on which ever tool practice you wish to perform.
  • Each video is a short exercise demonstrating the key strokes necessary to utilize the tool in the manner the title describes.
  • You can pause, you can rewind or replay the practice demonstration as often as needed.
  • You can perform the task in your blank course or use the demo to perform tasks in your course.
Camtasia Videos
Customizing the Homepage Layout
Deciding on the Layout and Background Color
Applying Default to the Background Changes
Adding a Header (with image) and Footer on the Homepage
Changing an Icon or Description
Selecting and Arranging Course Tools
Choosing the Tools and Arranging the Order
Creating, Editing, and Adding Web Links
Creating a Web Link
Editing a Web Link
Adding a Web Link to the Homepage
Adding More Links

Creating Files and Folders

Adding a File to the Homepage

Creating a Folder and Moving a File into the Folder

Managing Files

Course Files, My Files, Adding a File to Each

Using WebDAV to Drag and Drop Files into BBVista

Syllabus

Adding a Syllabus to Your Course (SAC)
*Note: If you create your syllabus in Word and save it as a web document (html) you will not be able to edit it from within BBVista since BB Vista does not recognize Word's version of html. You will have to edit the original Word document, re-save as html and upload to replace the existing syllabus. If you create the syllabus in Express, Dreamweaver or Frontpage you can edit it within BBVista.
Calendar
Add an Entry
Adding a Repeating Entry
Add File Attachment to First Repeated Entry
NOTE: There is an option to delete all calendar entrys....That should be written in red. Don't touch! You will delete all your hard work.
Announcements
Creating An Announcement
Discussions
Creating Discussion Categories
Creating Discussion Topics
Edit a Graded Discussion Topic to Release the Grade

Creating a Blog

Creating a Journal

Grading the Discussion Posts from Students
Grading History--seeing what you changed and why

NOTE: If you wanted to, you could click and read all your own posts by clicking Discussions/ All My Posts.

You can also hide your discussion items and release at a later date. Simply click the message title action menu and click on hide. Just remember to show later or you can set the release criteria when you create the discussion assignment.

Chat and Whiteboard

Creating a Chat

Using the Whiteboard

Assessments (Quiz Tool)
NOTE: You can't add the quiz tool to the homepage but you can add individual quizzes to the homepage.
Creating an Assessment Category (Quiz) and a Calculated Question
Creating A Combination Quiz Question

Creating a Fill in the Blank Quiz Question

Creating a Jumbled Sentence Quiz Question

Creating a Matching Quiz Question

Creating a Multiple Choice Quiz Question

Creating a Paragraph Quiz Question

Creating a Short Answer Quiz Question

Creating a True False Quiz Question