Getting Started - Blackboard (2024)

Blackboard Learn(mymodule.tcd.ie) is College's Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). You can use Blackboard to host your teaching materials, create online assessments, use social learning tools such as blogs and journals, and incorporate other technologies such asvideosandwebinars. Having a clear layout in your modules will help students to find content quickly and make it easier to add in more advanced tools and features over time. Click on the sections below for an overview of the different aspects of Blackboard and to view some guides to help you to add content and plan the layout of your modules. Once you have developed your module layout, then consider incorporating other learning technologies that align with and support your module's learning outcomes.

Blackboard (mymodule.tcd.ie) requires an active TCD computer account for access. If you are not enrolled to a module check with your school office to ensure you are timetabled for it in CMIS (the College timetable system). Your students are automatically enrolled to your Blackboard modules as long as they are listed on my.tcd.ie (SITS). IT Services cannot manually enrol staff and students - the enrolments must come from CMIS or SITS.

Staff enrolment: Academics & teaching staff please check with your school office that you are timetabled to the modules in CMIS (the College timetable system) and you will be automatically enrolled in the corresponding Blackboard modules for 2023/24. Administrative staff who require access can complete the form on the IT Services website.

Module creation: Modules are created automatically in Blackboard based on the information in SITS (my.tcd.ie); please ensure the required modules are set up correctly in SITS for 2023/24 if they are not appearing in Blackboard. However if you don't see a module listed, it may just be that you are not enrolled to it - see enrolment details above.

Student enrolment: Student enrolments in Blackboard are automated and are based on their SITS (my.tcd.ie) student record. Do not manually enrol students who are taking your module for credit directly via Blackboard. Instead, if a student is not enrolled to your module check with your school administrator to ensure their student record is correct.

Changes to enrolments/module creation typically occur overnight. For more information on access and enrolment issues visit the IT Services VLE enrolment page.

Blackboard Allyis being introduced as a new feature within the Trinity Blackboard Learn Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).This is a collaborative partnership between the Trinity Disability Service and IT Services to improve the accessibility of online content available to our student community. For information related to accessibility, please visit the Trinity Disability Service website.

The accessibility icons visible to yo as a module instructor are not visible to the students in their Blackboard view. If you are presenting to your students within Blackboard, it is recommended that you switch to the student preview mode within your module so the students don’t see the accessibility icons next to your content.

The Blackboard Help website provides a range of guides on how to improve the accessibility of your module content. When you upload new files or replace existing files, Blackboard may take a few minutes to process and add the accessibility score and alternative formats icons beside your files. You can also use the module accessibility reports (in the left-hand menu of your module, under Module Management, Module Tools) to review how your module meets accessibility standards overall.

Using Blackboard Ally is a key part of fulfilling College’s commitment to accessibility. Trinity is governed by a number of policies and guidelines, including at a national and international level, in relation to providing information in an accessible format:

1. The Trinity Accessible Information Policy states that “information should be available in an accessible format, without discrimination against those with print disabilities.” Furthermore, section 4 of the policy states that “staff should be attentive to principles of accessible design when developing material.”
2. Disability Act (2005), section 28 states that public bodies have a duty to ensure that “as far as practicable, written and oral communications be provided to the public in an accessible format.”
3. EU Web Accessibility Directive (2016) stipulates that the websites and mobile apps must be accessible to all people, including persons with disabilities.
4. United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Section 9 states that “States Parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure to persons with disabilities access, on an equal basis with others, to the physical environment, to transportation, to information and communications.”

Information on creating accessible content is also available on the Trinity Inclusive Learning and the Creating Accessible Material pages and the Trinity-INC Explains: Blackboard Ally and Accessibility Video Playlist.

Please note: modules are referred to as courses in the Blackboard Help documentation.

Below are examples of some of the communication tools available to add to your Blackboard module once you have created your module structure and added your content.

There are some communication tools included in modules by default such as Module Messages that you can choose to use (or disable as needed). If you need advice on these tools, please .

Below are examples of some of the assessment tools available in Blackboard. We recommend you first create a dedicated folder (Content Area) in your module's left-hand menu and group all assessment links and related material in this folder so that students can more easily locate the assessed components of the module.

Direct your students to the Student Help tab in Blackboard for student support; you can also check here to see what guides are available for students to help you develop your own instructions.

Guides are also available on Blackboard's official help website. Please note: Modules are referred to as Courses on the website & Trinity uses the 'Original Experience' version of Blackboard.

Contact: You can contact the Teaching & Learning IT team via itservicedesk@tcd.ie if you need any further information.

For more information on access and enrolment issues visit the IT Services VLE page.