InstructionManualonHowtousetheDiscussionToolinBlackboard

Preface
ThisinstructionmanualisintendedtoinstructstudentsonhowtousetheDiscussiontoolin
Blackboard.Themanualconsistsofasixstepprocesswhichguidesstudentsincreatinga
discussionpostandalsoreplyingtothediscussionpostofothers.

TableofContents

Step1:SelectYourCourse
Step2:SelectDiscussions
Step3:SelectaForum
Step4:CreateaThread
Step5:WriteDiscussionPostandSubmit
Step6:ReplytoaClassmate'sDiscussionPostandSubmit
FrequentlyAskedQuestions

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Step1:SelectYourCourse
ThefirststepthatyouwanttodoonceyousuccessfullylogintoBlackboardisselectyourcourse
ofinterestfromthe

MyCourses

tab,whichislocatedattheupperareaofthesecondcolumn
ofthe

MyInstitution

page.Eachcoursehastheirownindividualpage(asubsectionin
blackboard)whereassignments,announcements,lectures,discussions,andothercontents
pertainingtothatcourseareplaced.

FigureA
illustratesthelocationofMyCourses


Step2:SelectDiscussions
Secondly,afterselectingyourcourseofinterest,youwillbetakentothemainpageofthat
course.Intheleftsideofthecoursespageisacolumnthatcontainsallthelinksassociatedwith
thecourse.Amongthoselinksisthelinkfor
Discussion.
ClickonthelinkforDiscussions.

FigureB
illustratesthelocationofDiscussions.

AfteryouclickonDiscussionsyouwillbeledtothemainsectionyouwillbeworkingin
whenitcomestoengagingindiscussionswithyourfellowclassmates.Takeamomenttogetto
knowthemaincomponentsofthissectionbeforeproceedingtoStep3.

FigureC
illustratessomeofthemaincomponentsintheDiscussionBoardsection.

Step3:SelectaForum
Thirdly,selectaforuminwhichyouwouldliketostartadiscussionin.Eachforumiscreated
bytheProfessorofthatcourse.Usuallytheforumcontainadescriptionofwhatthetopicandthe
instructionsforthatdiscussion.

SeeFigureCforillustrations.

Step4:CreateaThread
Fourthly,createathreadforyourdiscussion.Athreadcontainstheinitialpostwhereyour
discussionisformed,aswellasanyrepliesthataremadetothatthread.Youcancreateathread
byclickingCreateThread.

FigureD
illustrateswhereCreateaThreadislocated.

Step5:WriteDiscussionPostandSubmit
Fifthly,writeyourdiscussionrelatingtothetopicoftheforum,alongwithatitlethatsuitsyour
discussion.Onceyouaredonewritingyourdiscussion,clickSubmit

FigureE
illustratesthelocationoftheSubmitbuttonaswellaswheretoplacethetitleand
discussionforyourpost.

Step6:ReplytoaClassmate'sDiscussionPostandSubmit
Last,butnotleast,youmustreplytoaclassmatesposttoengageinfurtherdiscussion.Toreply
toaclassmatespost,firstselectthediscussionpostthatislocatedintheforumofinterest.Read
yourclassmatesdiscussionpostandreplytoitbyclickingonthebuttonthatsaysReply.
OnceyouclickonReply,writearesponseandafteryouaredonewritingyourresponse,click
Submit.

FigureF
illustrateswheretheReplybuttonislocated.

FigureG
illustrateswheretoinsertyourresponsetoyourclassmatespostaswellaswherethe
Submitbuttonislocated.
FrequentlyAskedQuestions

Q:WhatifIforgotmyusernameandpasswordforBlackboard?
A:Ifyouforgotyourusernameandpassword,youwillhavetoresetbycontactingTechnical
SupportServices.ThenumberforTechnicalSupportServicesis(956)8888888

Q:CanIeditmydiscussionpostonceIsubmitit?
A:Youmayedityourdiscussionpostifyourprofessorallowsthatoptiontobeavailablefor
students.Iftheoptionisavailable,yesyoumayeditatease.Iftheoptionisnotavailable,
contactyourprofessor,andaskifheorshecanallowyoutomakethenecessarychanges.

Q:Whatisthepurposeofdoingdiscussions?
A:Discussionsaremeanttofurtherenrichclassmaterialbyengagingwithotherclassmatesand
theprofessoraswell.Itisveryusefulforonlinecourses,andtofurtherenhancecriticalthinking
amongstclassmates.

Q:Howmuchisadiscussionpostworthasagrade?
A:Thegradesofadiscussionpostvariesfromclasstoclass.Contactyourprofessortofindout
whattheexactamountofpointsadiscussionpostisworth,orcheckyoursyllabus.

Q:WhatifIforgottowritemydiscussionpostbythedeadline?CanIstillpostit?
A:Yesyoumaystillpostyourdiscussionpostevenifitspastthedeadline,however,whether
theprofessorwillacceptitordeductpointsforlatenessislefttothejurisdictionoftheprofessor.