Fall Semester 2008—CRN
94485
2:30-3:20 MWF—Squires Recital Salon
Prof. John R. Howell
This page has been updated for Fall 2008.
Using Blackboard in Music 2115
What is Blackboard?
"Blackboard" is a web-based course management system available
to all Virginia Tech instructors. Some choose to use many of the features
offered by Blackboard, while others, like me, prefer to use it for very
specific things only. At this time those specific things include:
* Terms Quizzes and Listening Quizzes for each Chapter covered in Music 2115 (Chapters 1-17)
* Copies of Class Powerpoint Presentations that can be accessed outside class (but they are from a previous year so all dates are wrong)
* Copies of PDF Downloads of those same Presentations formatted to be downloaded as handouts and printed to be brought to class
* Review copies (at the end of the semester) of the early Terms and Listening quizzes
Additional uses for Blackboard may be added during the semester. I am still
experimenting with its use, and it has just been upgraded to Blackboard
8, and if you are used to Blackboard 7 you will find some confusing differences.
Where will I find Blackboard?
Since it is web-based, you need to access it through your web browser. Go
to:
* http://learn.vt.edu/
You will need to enter your PID (the name by which the Virginia Tech computers
know you for your email) and your password to access the program. And you
will have to be currently and properly enrolled in Music 2115 to get access
to it.
What do I do once I'm into the Music 2115 Blackboard site?
Terms and Listening quizzes will be found on the "Assignments" page. Powerpoint Presentations and Downloads will be found on the "Lectures" page. You can access your scores through the "Tools" page.
Blackboard thinks it is managing the entire class. It isn't! All your quiz
scores will be transferred to my own class Gradesheet, so ignore anything
Blackboard wants to tell you about your overall class standing or grade
averages.
And Blackboard is NOT the only website for this course. The URL for the official class website is on the handout you will get the first week of class, but for your information it is http://www.music.vt.edu/faculty/howell/2115/2115.html.
How do I take the quizzes?
The Terms and Listening quizzes are required for students who choose Grading Options 2 and 3 (see the Course Syllabus for an explanation). Students who choose Grading Option 1 may certainly take the quizzes for practice, and it is a good idea to do so, but those scores will not count on your final grade. By the first day of class, you will find a practice Listening Quizz up and available. (It is marked Listeing Quiz 1, but it is set up so you may repeat it as many times as needed to make sure your equipment is working properly.) You may need to upgrade your free copy of Quicktime to the latest version in order to play the Listening examples, so try this practice quizz to make sure everything works for you. Some students have had trouble accessing the Quizes. In some cases they have downloaded the files to their desktops. Problems are usually caused by incompatibilities with your own computer and the way it's set up, so contact the usual sources for help.
There will also be two Extra Credit Quizzes on Blackboard for everyone,
on all 3 Grading Options, during the first three weeks of class (see the
Course Calendar), and a third extra credit written assignment. The beginning
of the semester is the time to do extra credit work, because none will be
available at the end of the semester!
* Before starting, make sure you have all the material you might need handy, including the textbook, the CDs (and scores for Music Minors), the relevant Study Guide for that chapter, the Recording Index for that chapter, and the downloaded Powerpoint Presentation for that chapter. These are "open-book" quizzes.
* These quizzes are to help you learn, not just to test you. I expect you to score 100%.
* Click on the link for the quiz you want to take. The link should show on the "Announcements" page as well as on the "Assignments" page, but it doesn't always.
* Take the quiz and double check all your answers. Generally you may only take each quiz once, there is no time limit, and you must complete it before a specified deadline, generally 23:55 on the deadline date..
*Click on Submit or your score will not be preserved!
*If you have problems or get locked out of a Quiz, email me rather than just letting a score of zero stand.
* Don't forget to click the Submit button at the bottom of the page when you are done.
* If there are no complications, you can access your score immediately.
Complications:
Blackboard is very touchy, and if anything out of the ordinary happens it
will not credit your score and will lock you out so you can't try again.
This can happen if your browser burps, if you try to do something Blackboard
doesn't like, if you lose power, if you go overtime or forget to click Submit,
or if it's just having a bad hair day!
If that happens, don't panic! Contact me by email and I will go into the
system and reopen the quiz for you. If necessary, and if your problem seems
reasonable, I will extend the deadline for you, but with a password so only
you can access the quiz.
Because complications can happen, do not wait until the very last minute
before the deadline! I recommend taking the quizzes as soon as they are
open, because this will help you prepare for class and prepare in turn for
each Unit Quiz and the Final Exam.
How can I access the downloadable study materials?
Go to the "Lectures" page, find the lecture or download you want
to access, and click on the link. The Presentations are duplicates of the
class Powerpoint slides, without the animation, but they are not exact duplicates.
All dates are wrong, because the files on Blackboard are from a previous
year. The presentations in class ARE correct and DO have the correct deadlines
listed. The Downloads are formatted 3 slides to a page with a space for
taking notes in class. Both are PDF files, so make sure you have the free
Adobe PDF Reader on your computer.