Blackboard Course Creation

Find the link to the Blackboard Course Creator on the Bethel Blackboard support page via the Help button in the black header area at the top of any Blackboard page. Or you may go there via links in BLink or directly via the following link:
http://blackboard.bethel.edu/webapps/course-creator/

Step 1. Select the Semester/Quarter from the Session/Term selector box. Note that all courses are coded by the LAST YEAR of the academic year 2007 - 2008.

• For CAPS/GS (Adult & Professional Studies/ Graduate School)(2)

  • Fall Courses - CAPS/GS Fall 2008 (200812) Courses Sept  - January
    
  • Spring Courses - CAPS/GS Spring 2008 (200852) Courses February - May
  • Summer Courses - CAPS/GS Summer 2008 (200872) Courses June - August
    

• For CAS (Arts & Sciences)(1)

  • Fall Courses - CAS Fall 2008 (200811)
    
  • Interim Courses - CAS Interim/Winter 2008 (200831)
    
  • Spring Courses - CAS Spring 2008 (200851)
    
  • Summer Courses - CAS Summer 2008 (200871)
    

• For Seminary (3)

  • Fall Courses - Seminary Fall 2008 (200813)
    
  • Winter Courses - Seminary Interim/Winter 2008 (200833)
  • Spring Courses - Seminary Spring 2008 (200853)
    
  • Seminary Summer Courses - Seminary Summer 2008 (200873)
    

Note: 200811 code explanation:

Year = 2008;

bold 1, 3, 5,7 = Fall, Interim/Winter, Spring, Summer;

last digit = college, 1 = CAS, 2 = CAPS/GS, 3 = Seminary

Any courses for which you are listed as INSTRUCTOR via the Registrar's office should show up in your course list. If your courses DO NOT show up, please contact the registrar's office (NOT Blackboard support).

Step 2: Check the checkboxes of the course for which you want a Blackboard course

• You can add all of your courses at one time, EXCEPT if you wish to group courses only check the courses you wish to group and add them separately from other courses.
  

Step 3: Click on the Add Courses to Blackboard Course Button

OPTIONAL GROUPING STEP:

If you have added multiple sections of ONE course (or a cross listed course) to the "New Blackboard Course" box, then you have an option to GROUP the courses.

Not Checking any Grouping Choice will create separate Blackboard courses for each course. (See example below.)

Checking Group sections into one Blackboard course will create ONE common Blackboard course for all current sections listed in the box PLUS a separate Blackboard course for EACH course section listed. (The disadvantage of this is that you then must maintain multiple sections, often with the same materials. So think carefully what you really want.) (See example below.)

Checking Check this box also if you only want one combined Blackboard course containing all sections will create ONLY ONE Blackboard course for ALL of the current sections listed in the box.  All students in all sections  will be automatically enrolled in this single common (M) Blackboard course. (See example below.)

Step 4 (optional): Add a TA if you wish.  Type in the students name and a list should appear from which you can select your TA.

Step 5 Click the "Create Course" button for EACH course or Group of course sections that you wish to create.

[***There is a 15 minute processing time before your course will show up in Blackboard.***]

TROUBLESHOOTING:

• IF you see a RED [BB] next to a course in your list, that means that the course has already been created.  If you don't find the course in Blackboard (after 15 minutes), please contact the Blackboard help desk (6500 #3).
• IF you do not see a course in your list in the Bb Course Creator, first check Blackboard to see if the course has not already been created and then check the directory to see if an instructor has been assigned to the course yet. Do this at https://directory.bethel.edu and then in the "Course title/number:" blank type in your course number (e.g. BAS101) and click the "Find Course" button. If you don't show up as instructor or the course is not listed at all, then contact your dept chair, program director, or the registrar's office to see that the proper data gets entered so that you can create your course in a timely manner. Blackboard support will NOT create courses or add instructors for courses not in the BANNER system.
  

• Make your previous semester's courses unavailable:  A good time to make your previous courses unavailable is when you create your next semester's courses (only if the semester is over).  Doing this keeps our student's Blackboard Course list up to date with only current courses.  Control Panel/Settings/Course Availability.