H1N1 and Blackboard: Preparing for a Flu Outbreak
With the threat of a serious outbreak of the H1N1 virus (previously referred to as the Swine Flu) this Fall, the use of Blackboard to maintain learning is of increased importance. FCLD staff is available to provide assistance to faculty wishing to learn Blackboard. Faculty are encouraged to attend a Blackboard basics orientation, held every Tuesday throughout the year, 12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Woods Classroom in Mortensen Library. Faculty whose schedule does not permit them to attend a Tuesday session may contact FCLD to schedule an orientation at an alternate time, fcld@hartford.edu. FCLD also offers online ‘live’ instruction using web conferencing tools. All UH courses are set up automatically on Blackboard at a basic level that includes faculty and student emails (updated daily) for each course. Below is a quick guide to getting started and using basic communication tools in Blackboard.
As instructors prepare for fall courses, it would be helpful given the potential for a major flu outbreak to include in their syllabi readings and assignments for the entire semester so that any interruption in classes does not mean an interruption in what is expected of students. Below is an online example of a systematic approach to do so. Additional help with systematic course planning may be found on the Teach Philosophy 101 website.
Additional instructions and information about Blackboard is here, as well as in the Instructor Manual, available through the Control Panel of all Blackboard courses. A full schedule of FCLD seminars can be found here. Instructors are welcome to contact FCLD with any questions. FCLD is open 8:30-5pm, Monday – Friday. You may also e-mail fcld@hartford.edu or call FCLD at (860) 768-4661.