Instructional Support
This section of the Teaching Hub provides guides and resources to support good pedagogy and instruction in all DWR Writing and Speech courses.
Instructional Designer
Make an appointment with Andrew Davis or stop by Lamar Hall Suite B, Rm. 22.
Blackboard Templates
The WRIT 100/101 Blackboard template provides a pre-developed course structure, major assignments, and grade center configuration for the standard, NYT, and NPR curriculum options. It is designed to accommodate face-to-face and web modalities and is fully customizable once added to a course.
The template is designed to save you time and headaches and to provide a consistent experience for students. If you would rather build your Blackboard shell from scratch, you’re free to do so.
Get the Template
Download the Blackboard package below. The package is a .zip file, and you should not extract it. Some browsers (like Safari), may extract the .zip file automatically, so if you see an extracted folder, try downloading the package using a different browser.
If you would like to be added to the Blackboard sandbox for the template instead of using the package, just contact Andrew Davis. This is a good option if you only want to use certain parts of the template.
Importing the Template
Log in to your Blackboard course. Below the main course navigation, select “Import Package/View Logs” from the Course Management Menu. On the next screen, click the “Import Package” button.
Important
“Import Package” Button
Upload the .zip Blackboard package you downloaded earlier by clicking “Browse my Computer.” You’ll know you have successfully uploaded the package if you see the file name “WRIT100-101 Template.zip”
Important
Attach the template .zip file that you downloaded earlier.
Click the check boxes next to the following items to import:
Content Areas
Announcements
Discussion Board
Grade Center Columns and Settings
Rubrics
Settings (automatically checks “Banner Image” and “Navigation Settings)
Tests, Surveys, and Pools
Click Submit when you’re done.
Cleaning Up
All of the Blackboard menu items in your course before the import will still be there when it’s finished. You should delete all menu items except the following:
Announcements
My Grades
Welcome
About this Course
Current Week
Course Content
Major Assignments
Reflection Blog
Additional Resources
Panopto Video
RhetLab Dashboard
UM Writing Centers
Feel free to reorder or rename these items as you wish.