Interactive Audio/Visual instruction allows for synchronous online learning through video conferencing.

Interactive Audio/Visual Instruction Defined

Interactive A/V instruction utilizes video conferencing to deliver courses online synchronously with live lectures and discussions. Students have the opportunity to interact with the instructor and other students in real-time, all online. Blackboard Learn can be used to supplement with recordings of the course, pre-recorded lectures to better utilize live class time, discussions, and assessments.

According to the Office of Academic Affairs, an Interactive Audio/Video Course is taught via remote interactive A/V (e.g., Zoom) in keeping with the assigned meeting schedule from an origination site to one or more reception sites or via streaming media technologies. The interactive A/V-delivered components include real-time teaching and learning activities. The interactive A/V-delivered components reduce the time traditionally spent in the face-to-face portion of the class. Lectures, interactive activities and assignments are delivered in real time with two-way exchange capabilities between instructor and student during the designated class period.

Conducting synchronous class sessions

Teaching and Presenting Tool Comparison Chart
Getting Started with Collaborate Ultra
Getting Started with Zoom
Webcast with Panopto

Record your synchronous meetings for students who may be unable to attend.

Upload Any Recorded Lecture to Panopto
Record Collaborate Ultra Sessions
Record Remote Zoom Meetings

Monitor chat windows or assign a student/TA to be the “voice of chat,” voicing any questions that come across.

Electronic Whiteboard Options


Using Blackboard

Instructor Quick Start for Blackboard Learn
Tips for Teaching Online – from the experts at the College of Continuing Studies (CCS)
Blackboard Learn: Where Do I Start?
Communication Features in Blackboard Learn webinar (Recorded Mar 27, 2020)


Tracking Student Attendance

Using the Blackboard Attendance Tool
View Zoom meeting participant details
View Panopto Session Statistics for participation information
Online Polling with PointSolutions Pro
Blackboard Retention Center


Engagement Tools for All Students

Set expectations during first class and in your syllabus. When creating assignments, especially discussion boards, state requirements for a good response. Use your syllabus to establish course goals, learning objectives, technology requirements, and where to go for help in various situations (Covid-19 accommodations, technology help).

Online Polling with PointSolutions Pro – Anonymized engagement & just-in-time responses
Blackboard Discussion Boards – Asynchronous discussion for introductions and prompts
PeerMark Turnitin Assignments – Peer review essays & research papers

Group Work and Collaboration

Hypothes.is – Collaborative annotation tool integrated with Blackboard
UA Box – Collaboration tools for sharing, storing, and editing documents
Zoom Breakout Rooms
Using Zoom for Presentations


Ensure Access

Accessible course content makes it easier for everyone to read and access your materials and can help improve overall quality and usability. Visit the Accessibility Resources page for more in-depth guidance on how to create accessible documents, images, audio, video, and web content or contact the technology accessibility team for help.


Ensure Course Material Security

When making course content available online, it’s important to know who has the ability to access and download those course materials. Review these tips to enhance the security of your course materials.


Assessment

You can use Blackboard tests to measure student knowledge, gauge progress, and gather information from students. Instructors can give online tests during class or during a longer period of time outside of class. Best practices for testing include:

  • Share our Testing Tips for Students with your class to help them avoid typical technical problems.
  • Prepare a practice test, in Blackboard, that has similar types of questions and settings to graded tests for your course.
  • We do not encourage the use of the Force Completion test option. Any issues with Internet connectivity can cause the student’s test attempt to submit before they have completed the test.
  • Be aware that Blackboard has a 3-hour inactivity time limit. Ask students to save their answers after answering each question, and save essay questions frequently to avoid timeout
  • A Submission Report shows after students submit their test. You may ask the student to print or email you a screen capture of the report in case of a technical issue.

Blackboard Test Security

  • When creating or editing a question, there is a Randomize Answers checkbox for question types with multiple options.
  • Utilize these settings in Test Options:
    • Set a timer for the test.
    • If using a timer, turn on Auto-Submit.
    • Use Display After and Display Until to control when the test link is available to students. Note: It does not have to be available for the duration of the test. If the test should last from 9AM-10AM, and your link is also available, students can start the test at 9:59 AM.
    • Uncheck all boxes under Feedback to Students to show only the score after an attempt.
    • Check the option to Randomize Questions.

For more test security, you may use Respondus Lockdown Browser & Monitor. Respondus Lockdown Browser closes all computer programs while testing in Blackboard. Respondus Monitor is an add-on feature that requires students to use a webcam while testing to remotely proctor the assessment.