https://fdc.umbc.edu/resources/keep-on-teaching/Following guidance from the University System of Maryland in the rapidly developing public health response to COVID-19, UMBC will transition to fully online instruction when classes resume after Spring Break. Per the announcement on March 10, we expect online instruction to continue for at least two weeks. As UMBC faculty shift to remote instruction using virtual tools, Blackboard has designed a series of free 30-minute webinars to help get started. Multiple dates & times are offered.

Teaching Remotely (Blackboard Learn Basics)

In response to growing concerns on the spread of the coronavirus, and institutions moving to fully online teaching, this webinar is designed to provide you easy step-by-step instructions on how to upload course content, create discussion boards for students to communicate, and provide an overview on the types of online assessments available in Blackboard Learn. 

• Tuesday, March 17:  9-9:30 AM, 11-11:30 AM, 8-8:30 PM 
• Wednesday, March 18:  9-9:30 AM, 11-11:30 AM, 8-8:30 PM
• Tuesday, March 24:  9-9:30 AM, 11-11:30 AM, 9-9:30 PM  
• Thursday, March 26:  9-9:30 AM, 11-11:30 AM, 8-8:30 PM  

--> Register online with Blackboard

Getting Started with Teaching a Virtual Class

Moving from in-classroom instruction to the online classroom does not have to be difficult or stressful. Blackboard Collaborate Ultra is a communication tool that will allow you to continue to engage with your students in a synchronous manner, or record sessions for students to watch at a later time. In this 30-minute session, we will review the Collaborate interface and tools available to use while teaching online. 

• Tuesday, March 17: 8-8:30 AM , 10-10:30 AM,  9-9:30 PM  
• Wednesday, March 18:  8-8:30 AM , 10-10:30 AM  9-9:30 PM  
• Tuesday, March 24:  8-8:30 AM, 10-10:30 AM, 10-10:30 PM  
• Thursday, March 26:  8-8:30 AM , 10-10:30 AM  9-9:30 PM  

--> Register online with Blackboard

Guide to Building Mobile Content

In this urgent response to moving from in-person instruction to online instruction, instructors should prepare for students to access course information on the go. In this 30-minute session, we provide you with basic fundamentals for preparing online course content for mobile delivery. Additionally, we will review Blackboard mobile apps and provide you with a helpful worksheet on mobile content development. 

• Thursday, March 19: 9-9:30 AM, 11-11:30 AM  
• Thursday, March 26: 9-9:30 AM, 11-11:30 AM  

--> Register online with Blackboard 

As always, if you have any questions, please consider the following resources:

• From DoIT: Academic Continuity | Business Continuity
• From FDC: Keep on Teaching 
• Available instructional technologies to support academic continuity 
• Check our extensive FAQ collection 
• Open a ticket via RT 
• Follow the Instructional Technology & DoIT myUMBC groups