Hiding and Collapsing the Course Menu

Blackboard offers users the option to hide the Course Menu so that the area of the course you are viewing takes up the entire screen. While this is a helpful feature, it may cause confusion due to the fact that if you "accidentally" hide the Course Menu, by clicking on the arrow directly to the left of the main page, you will not be able to see your Course Menu. Users also have the ability to totally collapse the Course Menu by clicking on the arrows directly to the left of the course name at the top of the Course Menu.

To Hide the Course Menu

1. Click the < icon on the left side of the main screen.
2. When you are ready to view the Course Menu again click the > icon on the left side of the main screen.

Collapse and Expand the Course Menu

1. To collapse the Course Menu, click the two "upper arrows" directly to the left of the course name at the top of the Course Menu.
2. When you are ready to expand the Course Menu, click the same arrows, which are now pointing down.

This short screencast demonstrates how to hide and collapse the Course Menu and how to un-hide and expand the area.

Accessibility Simulations

These simulations will provide you with the opportunity to experience what it is like to have certain disabilities.  You will have to download specific free plug-ins found on each site in order to view the simulations. WebAim Web Accessibility in Mind

Screen Reader Simulation This simulation will help you to understand what it is like for a person with vision loss or low vision to access the Internet using a software program called a "screen reader."
Low Vision Simulation This simulation provides and opportunity for users to experience a web page as someone with a visual disability might see it.
Distractibility Simulation The goal of the simulation is to illustrate the design principles that make it easier for individuals to access the information on a web site.

2010 Horizon Report

2010 Horizon Report
The annual Horizon Report describes the continuing work of the New Media Consortium (NMC)’s Horizon Project , a long-running qualitative research project that seeks to identify and describe emerging technologies likely to have a large impact on teaching, learning, research, or creative expression within learning-focused organizations. The 2010 Horizon Report is the seventh annual report in the series.
In reading the 2010 Horizon Report, you will explore the four key trends selected for 2010 which are key in driving technology:

• The abundance of resources and relationships made easily accessible via the Internet is increasingly challenging us to revisit our roles as educators in sense-making, coaching, and credentialing

• People expect to be able to work, learn, and study whenever and wherever they want to

• The technologies we use are increasingly cloud-based, and our notions of IT support are decentralized.

• The work of students is increasingly seen as collaborative by nature, and there is more cross-campus collaboration between departments.

Add New Test Student

Instructor can now create a Test Student User Account using the Add Test Student tool accessible from the Course Tools of the Control Panel. An instructor can create only ONE test student user account. This test student account is tied to an individual instructor and can be added to any course of the instructor.

Once a test student is added to a course, the instructor can log into the course as a test student THROUGH THE NON-FRESNO STATE OR COMMUNITY USERS LINK LOCATED UNDER THE REGULAR BLACKBOARD LOGIN. You will not be able to login as a Test Student through the regular login area.

NOTE: Please do not share this account with others because they will gain access to ALL the courses associated with this test student. This account should be used to only test your course as a student. Please do not use this account for guest users or official course records.