The Distant Librarian

Directions and Files For Integrating TILT Into Blackboard 6.0

Please Note: This entry is under development (I am still working on adding the screenshots).
I wanted to thank everyone for the interest in the TILT Board project. I have received several requests for the archive files that we used to create Blackboard. I have assisted a number of libraries in there efforts to import TILT into their local Blackboard system. In an effort to further promote development, I have taken some time to create a set of directions that will assist other libraries to create such a course. Please write me and let me know if this information is helpful or if you have questions or suggestions.

Requirements: Blackboard 6.0+ (basic or enterprise edition). Some sort of file compression/expansion utility such as PKZip, ZipGenius

Download the three files--two files for each module. Please note that I have still not imported module 3 into Blackboard.

  Click below to go to the downloads page:
  http://www.herr.alfred.edu/TILT/Archive_Download.asp

General directions
Download the files: 'TILTBoard_Module1', 'TILTBoard_Module2', and 'Assessment_Module1&2.' Next, you will import the file(s) marked as 'assessment' into your Blackboard course. Once the assessment has been imported, you will copy and paste the direct Assessment URL into the last page of module 1 and 2. Once the module files have been edited (including the direct link to the Blackboard assessment and any local customization), you can these two packages into your Blackboard course.

Detailed directions:
  1) If you have not done so already, have your Blackboard system administrator set up a blank course for you.

2) Download the files: TiltBoard_Module1, TILTBoard_Module2, and Assessment_Module1&2. Put the files TILTBoard_Module1 and TILTBoard_Module2 on the desktop-we will work with these files later. TILTBoard_Module1 and TILTBoard_Module2 are compressed files that contain all the HTML files that comprise the content portion of both TILT Module 1 and 2.

3) To start things off, we are going to load the assessment package into the Blackboard course before we import the actual TILT content-an action that seems counter-intuitive (somewhat like eating dessert before the main course). You will see why we are doing this in just a few minutes.

4) Login to your campus Blackboard system. Click on the link to your course (that your BlackBoard administrator set up for you) under the heading 'My Courses.' Next, Click on the 'Control Panel.'

  5) In the Control Panel, click on 'Import Package' under the heading 'Course Options.'
  The next page is the 'Import Package' screen. On this screen you will browse to the file 'Assessment Module1&2.'

6) On the 'Import Package' screen check the box 'Tests, Surveys and Pools' under the heading 'Select Course Materials.' Click on the submit button at the button of the screen.

  7) Once this process has completed click on the 'OK' button. You should be back at the main page of the 'Control Panel'

8) At the main Control Panel, click on 'Test Manager' under the 'Assessment' heading. Under 'Test Manager', you should see 'TILT Board Module 2 Quiz' and 'TILT Board Module 1 Quiz'. If you do not see these two quizzes, you may need to go back and re-import the quizzes.

Quiz Availability
The next several steps will make these quizzes 'Available.' Please notice that the two quizzes have been imported, but that they have not been 'deployed.' The next step is to make these quizzes available to the end-user.

9) Go back to the Control Panel and click on 'assignments' under the heading 'content areas.' Click on the 'Add Test' icon near the top of the screen.

10) Add TILT Board Module 1 Quiz by clicking on the text link 'TILT Board Module 1' quiz and hitting the submit button at the bottom of the screen.

  11) Go back to the 'Control Panel' by clicking on the 'Control Panel' near the top of the screen.

  12) Click on 'assignments' hyperlink under the heading 'content areas.'

  13) Notice the text that says 'This item is not yet available.' Click on the 'modify' button on the right side of the screen.

  14) Click on the hyperlink that says 'modify test options'
  On the 'test options' screen, click on the button 'yes' to the question; 'Do you want to make the link visible?'

  15) Check the box that says 'allow multiple attempts'

  16) Under 'test feedback', click on the 'Detailed Results, Correct Answers and Feedback' button.

17) Under 'test presentation' click on the button that says 'One at a time'. Check the box that says 'Prohibit backtracking.' Also, check the box that says 'Randomize Questions.' Click the 'submit' button.

  Go back and perform steps (9--17) for the module 2 Quiz.

At this point you have imported two Blackboard assessments. The next step is to copy and paste the persistent URL(s) that are assigned to the quiz(s) to the last page of the each module. Persistent URLs became viable in Blackboard 6+. Persistent URLs allow the patron to jump from the 'course documents' section right to the assessment.

18) Go back to the main course page. When you get back to the main course page, click on the 'assignments' link on the left navigation link. On the next page, you should see a link that says 'TILT Board Module 1 Quiz.' Position the pointer directly over this hyperlink and right-click. Choose the menu option 'Copy Shortcut'. Paste this shortcut into a text document and delete all the javascript. In other words, get rid of all the scripting except for the address that looks like this: /webapps/assessment/take/launch.jsp?course_assessment_id=_2467_1&course_id=_3879_1
  Copy this address into the clipboard.

You have just copied the persistent URL that links directly to the Module 1 assessment. You will now paste this hyperlink into the last page of the module 1 tutorial.

19) Go to the desktop and unzip the file called TILTBoard_Module1. Find the folder called 'Module1' In this folder is a file called PreQuiz.htm. Open up the source of this file and find the text that looks like this:

value='Go To The Test' onClick='MM_goToURL('parent','/webapps/assessment/take/launch.jsp?course_assessment_id=_2364_1&course_id=_2369_1')

  20) Delete the directory that is in the single quotes (the URL that starts with '/Webapps' and ends with a cryptic number).

21) Paste the URL that you copied from the Blackboard course between the single quotes. Make sure the URL starts with '/Webapps' and ends with the cryptic number (FYI, this cryptic number is actually the internal course ID of your blackboard course). At this point, you have created a direct link from the tutorial content to the Blackboard assessment. Now it is your turn to make any local changes or customizations to the content in the TILT_Module 1. You will also need to repeat steps (18--21) for module 2.

Final Step-Import The TILT Content

22) After you have made changes to the TILT files in module1, Compress or re-zip all the files that comprise TILTBoard_Module1 and name it 'TILTBoard_Module1.

23) Next, point your browser to the Control Panel in your course. Click on 'Course Documents' under 'Content Areas.' On the next screen, Click on 'Add Item'

24) On the next screen there are several options, for the moment, we are only going to work on the options under 'Content' in the middle of the screen. In the 'File To Attach' field click the browse button and locate 'TILTBoard_Module1'. In the 'Name Of Link To File' field type 'TILT Module 1'. Under 'Special Action' choose 'Unpackage This File'. At the bottom of the screen click on the 'Submit' button.

25) It should take a few seconds for the next screen to load. On the next screen, the Blackboard system will prompt you to specify an entry point for TILT Module 1. Look carefully and highlight the file: 'intro/TILT_Module_1.htm' Leave all the other services alone and click on the submit button.

You now have a fully functioning Module 1. You will need to repeat steps 22--25 for Module 2.

(Originally posted July 14, 2004)

Information Literacy Tutorials and Course Management Systems

I (Gary Roberts) presented the following session at the 2004 Computers In Libraries conference:

As learning continues to get more and more comfortable online, needs for tracking and demonstrating progress and success continue to cause a stir.  Many are turning to course management (CM) software for help, since these programs offer a suite of tools for large online courses. In particular, the registration and testing features found in CM systems can be integrated with the engaging content of online information-literacy tutorials to support comprehensive information literacy programs.  This presentation demonstrates how a tutorial can be enhanced by integrating it into CM.

click here for the full PowerPoint presentation (originally posted March 7, 2004)

Durable links to the assessment module in Blackboard 5.5 and 6.0

I (Gary Roberts) recently wrote an article in Computers In Libraries (See reference below) magazine about combining the testing and registration features of TILT with the interactive IL content of TILT (Texas Information Literacy Tutorial).  In the article, I discussed the process of importing TILT into the Blackboard course management system.  One of the greatest challenges of our TILT/Blackboard integration was the fact that Blackboard 5.5 does not provide for durable hyperlinks, meaning that it is impossible to directly-link end-users from the TILT content to the Blackboard assessment.  In the article, I discuss how I fashioned a work-around to the problem of getting an end-user from the tutorial to the actual Blackboard assessment. Unfortunately, this solution is somewhat convoluted and requires some Web trickery.  Paul Pival at the University Of Calgary pointed out that durable links do, in fact, work in BB 6.0. As a result, librarians who are working on importing TILT into Blackboard 6.0 can direct-link end-users to the assessment (without convoluted Web trickery).  A big thank you goes to Paul for spotting this new Blackboard feature.

Roberts, Gary. The Yin and Yang of Integrating TILT with Blackboard. Computers in Libraries, Sept. 2003, v.23, no. 8, page 10. (link goes to Academic Search Premier)  (originally posted October 19, 2003)

Switching Between Applications Within Microsoft PowerPoint

One of the most difficult and intangible qualities of any outstanding presentation is "Flow." Presentations with "flow" seem organized, logical and easy to follow. Without this attribute, the students/audience may feel the presentation is disjointed. Worse yet, if your presentation is lacking "flow"--the audience may entirely stop paying attention.

In PowerPoint presentations, you can lose your audience rather quickly, simply by switching from PowerPoint to an external program such as a Web browser. I can't tell you the number of times that I have seen a presenter fumble this transition. For good reason, it isn't easy to switch out of PowerPoint, without dropping the ball. Cutting down on the number of mouse-clicks when you make this transition can really remedy a bad transition. This week, I saw Jane Neale of NYLINK demonstrate a nifty little trick that enables the presenter to transition out of PowerPoint smoothly. The trick involves bringing the taskbar to the front of the screen--while PowerPoint is in slide show mode. This trick cuts the number of transition mouse-clicks in half. Here's how it works. While in presentation mode, hit the "windows" and "tab" keys. This key-stroke brings up the taskbar. Then just pick the application that is minimized to the taskbar--SSSMMOOOOOOTH  (originally posted June 30, 2003)

TILT and BlackBoard Presentation at SUNY CIT

The following abstract outlines a panel discussion that I (Gary Roberts) presented with Beverly Crowell and Barb Greil at the SUNY CIT conference in May 2003.

You can also preview the PowerPoint Presentation that we prepared for SUNY CIT.
Click Here For TILT Board PowerPoint Presentation (recovered via the Internet Archive)

Tilt Board Abstract
In what ways can small colleges with limited resources take strides to meet the new Middle States information literacy requirements? And, how can our academic institutions expand and grow their information literacy programs into campus-wide efforts that provide assessment tools to meet these standards? The three campuses in Alfred are working on a solution. With the adoption of an information literacy requirement, the Middle States Accreditation board has underscored the importance of documenting and evaluating information literacy skills in undergraduate education. Many schools are working to meet the challenge of transitioning from small-scale, informal information literacy efforts to campus-wide programs that meet the expectations of comprehensiveness and accountability. This panel discussion will explore the resources and strategies available to construct a Web-based information literacy tutorial to meet these needs. Included in the presentation will be a demonstration of how libraries can develop a campus-wide tutorial, which utilizes resources that are readily available on many campuses. Specifically, this panel presentation will explore how the Texas Information Literacy Tutorial (TILT) can be integrated with the registration and testing features of course management systems such as Blackboard and WebCT. Combining Course Management Systems with the multimedia content of TILT has a number of benefits:

1) The content of TILT is leveraged against the registration and testing features of course management systems.

2) Information literacy can be incorporated into course-specific work without reducing classroom time.

3) Student information literacy competency can be measured and documented with CMS-based evaluations.

4) Small institutions can leverage their investment in available course management systems without having to implement technology-intensive authentication systems.

In this session, three potential models of incorporating TILT into course management systems will be discussed. The session will also include a demonstration of the TILT Board (TILT and Blackboard) used at Alfred University, SUNY College of Ceramics, and Alfred State College. Representative panelists from these institutions will discuss their experiences in testing and implementation and share future plans. In addition, an archive copy of the Alfred TILT Board module, will be made available for campuses who wish to import it into their own local Blackboard system.  (originally posted June 3, 2003)

Gary Roberts - the recovered blog posts

One of the first library blogs I started reading was called The Library IT Blog, and it was written by Gary Roberts at Alfred University.  I've written about some of Gary's posts before (and before), and recently posted the story of what became of Gary's blog.  It turns out though that my aggregator had cached every post of Gary's since late 2003.  I emailed Gary and he was truly excited to have his content back (many of us use these here blog thingies as backup brains); there really is some good information there.  I asked Gary if he was going to start blogging again now that he had his base content back, and he replied that he just felt a little too busy to be able to commit to regular upkeep again.  I then asked him if I could re-post some of his distance education related posts, and he said he'd be happy to have me do that, so what will follow are several posts from Gary's original blog on topics that relate to library support of DE.  Each entry will include Gary's original post date, and do pay attention to that as some of this stuff may be a little dated now, but I'm only going to cherry pick the stuff that I think is still relevant.  Gary also gets his own post Category, so you'll be able to see all his posts with one click.

Thanks for sharing Gary!  (and be sure to check out Gary's monthly column in Computers in Libraries.