Blackboard Basics

At Sheffield Hallam University we use a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) known as Blackboard or SHUspace. The VLE is a gateway for both module staff and students to access the modules materials, information and grades.

Access to Blackboard

Blackboard is normally available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Some periods of downtime are necessary to allow essential maintenance and system upgrades. Wherever possible these will be scheduled outside normal working hours, and publicised at least one week in advance.

All staff and enrolled students of Sheffield Hallam University have access to the Blackboard system using their normal SHU username and password. Staff and student accounts are created automatically as part of the process to create their IT accounts.

Staff who are not employed by SHU but who are employed by other organisations associated with the university and are directly involved in teaching students enrolled at SHU can be given access where necessary for their SHU teaching activities. External examiners have accounts created for them after their complete induction which they can use to access Blackboard if you decide to enrol them on your Blackboard site. It is not possible to give access to other users, for example workplace mentors, employers. Requests for access should be made via the tools within Blackboard. This will give access to Blackboard only; it is not possible to give access to other resources, for example electronic information resources such as journals.

All users are expected to adhere to the IT Usage Regulations and the university’s data protection policy. For non-SHU staff the person requesting access must ensure that the user is aware of all relevant SHU policies and guidelines.

Site Management

There are two types of sites available for use on Blackboard: module sites and organisation sites. Staff are responsible for requesting new sites as necessary. Requests can be made via the tools on the My SHU tab in shuspace.

Module Sites

Module sites are used to support teaching and learning activities for a specific instance of a validated module. Each instance of a module should have its own Blackboard site. Module sites on Blackboard are linked to the student management system, and map directly to a specific occurrence of a single module. Where there are multiple occurrences or versions of a module on the student management system, but students are taught together, modules can be linked to allow a single Blackboard site to support multiple instances of a module. It is not possible to do this in other circumstances, for example where two modules contain similar content, but are taught at different times, or to link a single instance of a module to multiple Blackboard sites.

Organisation Sites

Organisation sites are available to support other teaching and learning related activities, for example study skills, placements, general course support and guidance. Organisations should not be used for assessment. There are three models for organisations for student use:

• Level specific
• Cohort specific
• All levels

At Sheffield Hallam University we have a minimum threshold standard that all blackboard sites must meet. Please make sure you have reviewed the overview and completed the checklist below.