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BB Modules, Teaching Support Areas and Programme Support Areas

BB Modules, Teaching Support Areas and Programme Support Areas

Three different types of course are available from Blackboard Ultra: a teaching module, Programme Support Area (PSA) and a Teaching Support Area (TSA).

A standard Blackboard Ultra module is associated with each unique version of a module identified by a CRN e.g. 78904. Any student registered against that CRN will be automatically enrolled in the associated Blackboard module. These standard Blackboard modules are used to manage and deliver learning and assessment activities. They are set up via the Module Manager every year.

A Teaching Support Area (TSA) is a Blackboard area set up for teaching or assessing a partial or alternative grouping of a CRN enrolment i.e. a research cohort.

Every programme has a unique four digit programme code, and the option to create an associated Programme Support Area (PSA).  A PSA is a Blackboard Ultra module, which is available to every student enrolled against that programme code. There is an option to merge PSAs if the associated courses have shared curricula. A PSA functions just like a normal Blackboard Ultra module, but the purpose and the cohort sets it apart.

programme-codes.jpg
Every module will have a unique has a unique CRN and shared programme code.

The following is an overview of the characteristics of each type of Blackboard course.

 

Teaching or research module

Teaching support Area

Programme Support Area

Purpose

Teaching, research, assessment, sharing information

Teaching, research, assessment, sharing information

Sharing information

Enrolment

Automatic via CRN registration

Manual, often subset of CRN enrolment

Automatic via programme code registration

Announcements

Whole module

Whole cohort

Whole programme

Learning materials

Y

Y

N

Links and info

Y

Y

Y

Support

Y

Y

Y

Assessment info

Y

Y

Y

Assignments

Y

Y

N

Marks and feedback

Y

Y

N

Setting up your Blackboard areas

  • A standard Blackboard module is created in Module Manager, using your unique CRN, students will be automatically enrolled see Setting up your module for teaching.

  • Please contact the CDLE team blackboardhelpdesk@ulster.ac.uk to set up a Teaching Support Area or Programme Support Area.

  • You can also set up a personal development area, as a sandbox to trial out new content or structures or functionality

  • Organisations are also available for cross-departmental enrolments chat with CDLE to find out more.