Learning and Teaching Centre

learn.mq: Q&A for MQ Staff

learn.mq - Q&A for MQ Staff addresses a range of issues relevant to Macquarie University staff using learn.mq and Blackboard CE6 software. Peripheral software includes LAMS, iLecture, Wimba Voice Tools and Wimba Classroom. If this Q&A does not address your query, submit a request via LTC Help.

Click on the plus '+' sign or the question to reveal the answer. Clicking on the minus '-' sign or the question a second time hides a revealed answer.

Questions and answers are organised into the following categories:

Getting started with Blackboard

Whether you have inherited an online unit from another convener or you have decided to create your own, there are a range of educational, technical and organisational issues to consider. This section is designed to answer your questions about using online tools with your unit.

Q: What is learn.mq?

A: learn.mq is a combination of several learning and teaching technologies that form a facility allowing academics and students to interact as part of a collaborative, flexible learning and teaching experience. Technologies include:

  • Blackboard CE6
  • LAMS
  • iLecture
  • Wimba.

Blackboard CE6 Help:
Getting to Know the Blackboard Learning System

Other resources:
Learning and Teaching Centre
New Teaching Staff @ MQ
MERLOT - Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching

Animated tutorial:
Exploring the Interface

Podcast:
Engaging Students

Related Questions:

  • Q: I want to teach online - where do I start?
  • Q: Can I record my lectures and make them available online?
  • Q: How do I find out if my unit is already online?

Submit requestRequest assistance:
LTC Help

 

Q: I want to teach online - where do I start?

A: Teaching online has unlimited possibilities which may seem quite overwhelming at first. With a range of issues including available technologies, the process of getting an account on Blackboard CE6, requesting an online unit or iLecture recordings. The LTC Help Desk has compiled a range of online and other support resources to address some of these common issues, procedures and frequently asked questions. For additional information, explore the Related Questions listed below.

Step 1 - Request an account

Download, print, complete and submit the signed account request form

Step 2a -  Request a new online unit

Download, print, complete and submit the signed online unit request form

or...

Step 2b - Take over an existing online unit

A new convener of an online unit usually requires access as a Section Instructor and Designer and requires a formal hand-over process. This hand-over is initiated by an email from the previous convenor of the online unit(or Head of Department) sent to LTC Help  <ltchelp@mq.edu.au>

Step 3 - Prepare your online unit

You may find it helpful to attend a face-to-face workshop or consult Self-help guides and other resources from LTCRESOURCES Blackboard CE6 Resources for Staff

  1. Arrange access for teaching staff (eg co-convenors, teaching assistants)
  2. Develop content (eg readings, weblinks)
  3. Prepare assessments (eg quizzes, drop-box)
  4. Prepare communications tools (eg discussions, announcements)
  5. Book iLecture (if you want to record your lectures and make them available online)

Step 4 - Make your online unit available
Download, read and complete Are you ready? - checklist & procedure

Note: For semester one or two online units, an 'Are you ready?' email is generated by the LTC Help Desk <ltchelp@mq.edu.au> reminding convenors to make their online unit available to students.

Forms and procedures:
Account request form
Unit request form

Blackboard CE6 Help:
Getting to Know the Blackboard Learning System (or browse help contents within Blackboard CE6 Online Help)

Other resources:
Learning and Teaching Centre
New Teaching Staff @ MQ
Are you ready? - checklist & procedure

Animated tutorial:
Exploring the Interface

Submit requestRequest assistance:
LTC Help

Related Questions:

  • Q: How do I find out if my unit is already online?
  • Q: What must I do to get my unit ready?
  • Q: Can I record my lectures and make them available online?

Blackboard CE6 Resources for Staff
For a range of Self-help guides and other resources related to this topic, log-on at http://learn.mq.edu.au and explore LTCRESOURCES Blackboard CE6 Resources for Staff.

 

Q: Can I record my lectures and make them available online?

A: Yes, iLecture enables digital recordings of lectures which are transmitted over the Web and accessed via a link from your online unit.  The MQ iLecture website contains more information, support documentation, demonstrations, training options and booking forms.  The iLecture page contains more information about the use of iLecture for the design and delivery of curricula, good teaching and high quality learning in higher education.

Other resources:
MQ iLecture website.

Making the most of:
iLecture

Submit requestRequest assistance:
LTC Help

Related Questions:

  • Q: Where can I go if I need help with the iLecture system?
  • Q: How do I add the iLecture system to my Blackboard CE6 Online Unit?

Blackboard CE6 Resources for Staff
For a range of Self-help guides and other resources related to this topic, log-on at http://learn.mq.edu.au and explore LTCRESOURCES Blackboard CE6 Resources for Staff.

 

Q: Can I have my learn.mq password reset?

A: Yes, to reset your password request assistance at LTC Help
(select the Password reset for Blackboard CE6 category)

Submit requestRequest assistance:
LTC Help

 

Q: How do I find out if my unit is already online?

A: Check with your departmental administrator. Following this, request assistance at LTC Help (select the Check Status of online unit category). Please Note: If the unit is already online and is assigned to a different convenor, you will need to organise a unit transfer.

Related Questions:

  • Q: How do I get access to a unit that is already online?

Submit requestRequest assistance:
LTC Help

 

Q: How do I get access to a unit that is already online?

A: In learn.mq, there are a number of reasons why staff may need to request access to an existing online unit (eg assisting a convenor to develop some content). Depending on your role you will be given different levels of access to the unit - as a Teaching Assistant, Section Instructor and/or Designer. A new convener of an online unit usually requires access as a Section Instructor and Designer and requires a formal hand-over process. Any type of access requires a current learn.mq account, regardless of level. If you need to organise a new account contact the LTC Help or follow the steps below.

Step 1 - Request an account (if needed)

Download, print, complete and submit the signed Account request form

Step 2 - Take over an existing online unit

A new convener of an online unit usually requires access as a Section Instructor and Designer and requires a formal hand-over process. This hand-over is initiated by an email from the previous convenor of the online unit(or Head of Department) sent to LTC Help  <ltchelp@mq.edu.au>

Forms and procedures:
Account request form
Unit request form

Related Questions:

  • Q: What must I do to get my unit ready?
  • Q: How do I find out if my unit is already online?

Submit requestRequest assistance:
LTC Help

 

Q: What must I do to get my unit ready?

A: Once you have access to your online unit, there are a number of tasks to complete as part of getting a unit ready for students. These are listed below:

  1. Arrange access for teaching staff (eg co-convenors, teaching assistants)
  2. Develop content (eg readings, weblinks)
  3. Prepare assessments (eg quizzes, drop-box)
  4. Prepare communications tools (eg discussions, announcements)
  5. Activate unit (eg reply to the 'Are you ready?' email)
  6. Create automatic student enrolment settings.

Other resources:
Are you ready? - checklist & procedure

Related Questions:

  • Q: How do I get access to a unit that is already online?
  • Q: How do I activate my unit?
  • Q: How do I find out if my unit is already online?
  • Q: I want to teach online - where do I start?

Submit requestRequest assistance:
LTC Help

Blackboard CE6 Resources for Staff
For a range of Self-help guides and other resources related to this topic, log-on at http://learn.mq.edu.au and explore LTCRESOURCES Blackboard CE6 Resources for Staff.

 

Q: How do I activate my online unit?

A: Convenors can activate an online unit via learn.mq unit LTCUNITS Manage Units. Please note: Each online unit must first be activated in order to enable automatic student enrolments.

Other resources:
Are you ready? - checklist & procedure

Related Questions:

  • Q: What must I do to get my online unit ready?

Submit requestRequest assistance:
LTC Help

 

Q: How are students enrolled in my online units?

A: There are two methods:

1. Convener activated
In this method, conveners create settings to nominate which students will be allocated to their online units. This method is commonly used to facilitate early student access.  Refer to Are you ready? - checklist & procedure.

2. LTC Help Desk activated
This method is commonly used when default date settings are suitable and there are no special requirements (eg early access). Conveners are sent an Are you Ready? email which initiates the process and prompts conveners to supply enrolment mode information. The default date is usually the first day of the study period.

Other resources:
Are you ready? - checklist & procedure

Related Questions:

  • Q: How are students enrolled in my units?
  • Q: How do I activate my unit?
  • Q: What must I do to get my unit ready?
  • Q: Can I identify my internal or external students?

Submit requestRequest assistance:
LTC Help

 

Q: When can students have access to my online unit?

A: Student access to an online unit is determined by a number of factors. All students must initially be enrolled at Macquarie University.  Following this, student access to online units is determined by the unit convenor, via the learn.mq unit LTCUNITS Manage Units. Consult theAre you ready? - checklist & procedure.

Other resources:
Are you ready? - checklist & procedure

Related Questions:

  • Q: How are students enrolled in my units?
  • Q: How do I activate my unit?
  • Q: What must I do to get my unit ready?

Submit requestRequest assistance:
LTC Help

 

Q: Why can't I see any students in my online unit?

A: There are a number of reasons why you may not see students in an online unit. As a starting point, check the Grade Book in your unit using the Members or View All tabs. If you still can not see any students, consult theAre you ready? - checklist & procedure.

Forms and procedures:
Are you ready? - checklist & procedure

Blackboard CE6 Help:
About the Grade Book Tabs

Related Questions:

  • Q: How are students enrolled in my units?
  • Q: How do I activate my unit?
  • Q: What must I do to get my unit ready?
  • Q: Can I identify my internal or external students?

Submit requestRequest assistance:
LTC Help

Blackboard CE6 Resources for Staff
For a range of Self-help guides and other resources related to this topic, log-on at http://learn.mq.edu.au and explore LTCRESOURCES Blackboard CE6 Resources for Staff.

 

Q: Can I add or remove staff in my online unit (eg Teaching Assistants)?

A: Yes, unit convenors can add/remove members with lower level access (eg Teaching Assistants), however in order to add/remove members with the same level of access (eg another convenor) it is necessary to request assistance from LTC Help. Note: any staff being added to an online unit will need to have an account.

Forms and procedures:
Account request form

Blackboard CE6 Help:
Getting to Know the Blackboard Learning System (description of roles)
Enrolling members (or search for members within Blackboard CE6 Online Help)
Unenrolling members (or search for members within Blackboard CE6 Online Help)

Related Questions:

  • Q: How are students enrolled in my units?
  • Q: How do I activate my unit?
  • Q: What must I do to get my unit ready?

Submit requestRequest assistance:
LTC Help

Blackboard CE6 Resources for Staff
For a range of Self-help guides and other resources related to this topic, log-on at http://learn.mq.edu.au and explore LTCRESOURCES Blackboard CE6 Resources for Staff.

Q: Can I amend unit details such as the title of an online unit or the name of an instructor?

A: Yes, unit convenors may perform these tasks via learn.mq unit LTCUNITS Manage Units.

Submit requestRequest assistance:
LTC Help

Blackboard CE6 Resources for Staff
For a range of Self-help guides and other resources related to this topic, log-on at http://learn.mq.edu.au and explore LTCRESOURCES Blackboard CE6 Resources for Staff.

Q: Can I provide access to my online unit for colleagues who are not MQ staff?

A: Create guest account via learn.mq unit LTCUNITS Manage Units, and then add them using the created guest account to the unit as an Auditor or Student or Teaching Assistant via the Grade Book using Enrol Members. Guest accounts are handy if you need to provide content or other elements of your unit to a colleague not employed by Macquarie University.

Q: Where can I find information about Copyright?

A: Contact the Macquarie University Copyright coordinator for students and staff advice, policy and papers.

Other resources:
Macquarie University Copyright Unit

Contact:
Matt Conners <matt.connors@library.mq.edu.au>

Q: What advice should be offered to a student who needs IT help?

A: Refer students to Student IT Help , Building C5C Room 244
http://www.sith.mq.edu.au/. For Blackboard CE6 issues, explore Getting Started, Help, Technical Information, Quick Guides, Online Study Tips etc from the left-hand menu of the Welcome to learn.mq log-in page.

Q: What advice should be offered to a student who needs help with academic writing?

A: Refer students to Macquarie Gateway to Academic Literacy (EDUCGATEWAY).

Q: Is there self-help support available to staff using learn.mq?

A: There is a range of self-help options available:

  • Explore online Staff Guides and Student Guides for additional support related to navigating the unit, netiquette and using Discussions and the Notes tool.
  • log-on at http://learn.mq.edu.au and explore LTCRESOURCES Blackboard CE6 Resources for Staff.
  • Explore Help, Technical Information, Quick Guides, Online Study Tips etc from the left-hand menu of the Welcome to learn.mq log-in page.
  • Consult the Are you ready? - checklist & procedure

Forms and procedures:
Are you ready? - checklist & procedure

Other resources:
Blackboard website

Related Questions:

  • Q: Can I access self-help guides for Blackboard CE6?
  • Q: Can I get additional help, tips and advice when I am logged on to Blackboard CE6?
  • Q: Are there workshops and/or professional learning available to staff using learn.mq?

Blackboard CE6 Resources for Staff
For a range of Self-help guides and other resources related to this topic, log-on at http://learn.mq.edu.au and explore LTCRESOURCES Blackboard CE6 Resources for Staff.

Q: Can I access self-help guides for Blackboard CE6?

A: Yes, to access a range of self-help guides and other support documentation, log-in to learn.mq and access the unit LTCRESOURCES Blackboard CE6 Resources for Staff. Please note: You will need a current learn.mq account.

Related Questions:

  • Q: I want to teach online - where do I start?

Blackboard CE6 Resources for Staff
For a range of Self-help guides and other resources related to this topic, log-on at http://learn.mq.edu.au and explore LTCRESOURCES Blackboard CE6 Resources for Staff.

 

Q: Can I get additional help, tips and advice when I am logged on to Blackboard CE6?

A: Yes, help is available via the Help link, found at the top right hand corner of the screen. Blackboard CE6 Online Help is contextual (ie relevant Help topics are displayed depending on the screen you are currently viewing).

Blackboard CE6 Help:
Getting to Know the Blackboard Learning System

Blackboard CE6 Resources for Staff
For a range of Self-help guides and other resources related to this topic, log-on at http://learn.mq.edu.au and explore LTCRESOURCES Blackboard CE6 Resources for Staff.

 

Q: Are there workshops and/or professional learning available to staff using learn.mq?

A: Yes, the Learning and Teaching Centre offers regular and customised face to face workshops.

Other resources:
LTC Workshops/Seminars

Submit requestRequest assistance:
LTC Help

 

If these questions and answers have not addressed your query, submit a request via LTC Help.

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