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In the event of a pandemic (or other) emergency that closes the Unviersity for an ongoing period of time, you will most likely want to communicate with your students and make content available to them in fairly short order. Below are some suggested resources for getting started in that process.

Host Your Course in ELMS (powered by Blackboard)

1. Upload your Syllabus
   Getting Started with Blackboard Academic Suite (pdf) pp. 11 and 12
2. Post Announcements
   Getting Started with Blackboard Academic Suite (pdf) pp. 8 and 9
3. Upload and manage course materials (files in digital format—e.g., Word, PowerPoint, PDF)
   Managing Course Content in Blackboard Academic Suite (pdf) pp. 3-7
   How to Upload a File to an ELMS Course Space (flash tutorial).

Use Online Tools to Interact with Your Students

1. Send E-mail or Messages in ELMS
   Collaboration and Communication in Blackboard Academic Suite (pdf) pp. 3-6
2. Create Forums in the ELMS Discussion Board
   Collaboration and Communication in Blackboard Academic Suite (pdf) pp. 9-14
   What are the Components of the ELMS Discussion Board? (flash tutorial)
   How to Create a Forum in the ELMS Discussion Board (flash tutorial)
3. Set up a real-time online classroom with Wimba Live Classroom
   Getting Started With Wimba Live Classroom (pdf)
   Setting Up a Live Classroom (flash tutorial)
4. Set up a "Coursemail" list (alternative to using Send E-mail tool in ELMS)

Create Course Materials

1. Brush up on MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel (to name a few)
   Tutorials available on University's SkillSoft portal (Windows only)
2. Convert MS Office documents to PDF format before uploading them to ELMS
   Create PDF File in MS Office (flash tutorial)
3. Conduct "live" classroom sessions in Wimba Live Classroom (record and archive the proceedings)
   Creating Wimba Live Classroom in Blackboard Guide (pdf)
   Managing a Live Classroom (flash video)

Next Steps

1. Create and post Assignments
   Assignment Tool
2. Create a podcast
   Use Audacity to create an mp3 audio file.
   Record and Edit Digital Audio with Audacity (pdf)
3. Host podcasts on iTunesU Academic
   Request an iTunesU course space
   Upload podcast files
4. Create short tutorials (5 minutes or less)
   Use Jing (free for download).
   Record Screen Motion and Sound with Jing (pdf)
5. Create video captures of your lecture materials with Camtasia. This application is available for purchase from the University Software Licensing Office. {I have a workshop handout on Camtasia basics, for version 3.1.} [I'm not sure we want to include this unless faculty will have an online method for ordering Camtasia from SLIC]

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