Remote Teaching - Quick Start for Beginners

Below contains a series of links to get you up and running for remote teaching. As always our Academic Technology team is available to answer your questions regarding any of the available tools and resources for instruction. Please feel free to contact us.

Click here for youtube playlist of online essential tutorials!

1. Blackboard Learning Management System (LMS)

At CSUDH we use Blackboard as our LMS to upload course content and communicate to students using email and announcements.

Accessing CSUDH Blackboard

Log into Blackboard using the same login and password as CSUDH email and MyCSUDH.

https://toro.csudh.edu

If you are having password issues, you can attempt to reset your password. If you require additional support, please contact the IT Help Desk (310.243.2500, option 1).

Web Browser Requirements

Blackboard supports Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, or Microsoft Edge. Please make sure to have two or more of these browsers installed on your computer.

Blackboard Layout

This short video covers Blackboard’s layout.

Edit Mode

To make changes to the course, make sure edit mode is set to ON.

• Using Edit Mode Video | PDF

2. Communication

Use announcements and email to keep your students informed about your class.

Announcements

• Creating an Announcement Video | PDF

Email

• Sending an Email in Blackboard Video| PDF

Discussion Board

The discussion board is a great tool to communicate with students and to initiate discussions of important topics related to your course. Students do not need to be at the discussion board at the same time.

Creating and Managing Discussion Boards Video | PDF

3. Adding Content to Course

To add course content, make sure edit mode is set to ON. After that, you can upload you can upload files and create assignments.

Uploading Files

• Posting Content Video | PDF

4. Creating Assignments and Tests

• Creating an Assignment Video | PDF
• Collecting and Grading Assignments Video | PDF
• Creating an Exam Video | PDF
• Making an Exam Available Video | PDF

5. Live Lecture/Office Hours

CSUDH offers two modalities for teaching. We offer Zoom and Blackboard Collaborate for live teaching/office hours. Please review the best option for your needs.

Zoom

The following page provides information on how you can download the sign in, download, schedule a meeting, join a meeting, and use Zoom.

• https://at.csudh.edu/docs/?docs=zoom

Blackboard Collaborate Ultra

• Using Blackboard Collaborate Ultra Video | PDF
• Blackboard Collaborate Online Resources by Topic Webpage

6. Lecture Capture

Lecture capture is a tool which allows instructors to capture their desktop, microphone audio, and webcam (optional). This is a great tool for pre-recording a lecture that your students can play back at their convenience. Our lecture capture tool of choice is TechSmith Relay.

• https://at.csudh.edu/docs/?docs=techsmith-relay

 

Additional Info

Our Academic Technology team is available to answer your questions regarding any of the available tools and resources for instruction. Please feel free to contact us.

• Academic Technology Tutorial Pages
• Faculty Blackboard Tutorial YouTube Playlist

 

Additional Information on Web Browsers

Generally, we recommend using Blackboard with a full screen window. Blackboard will adjust its presentation to accommodate different device screen sizes (tablets, mobile devices, laptop screens). If your desktop/laptop looks different because the window was resized, below is how you can go back to the original view.

• Blackboard Responsive Design Video | PDF

Getting Help

Login/Password Resets

• Online Password Reset
• Contact the IT Help Desk (310.243.2500, option 1)

Blackboard Related Questions

1. Open a support ticket at service.now.com
2. Login with your campus username and password
3. Navigate to Request Support > Blackboard Support
4. Select an issue from the choices provided