Blackboard Learn

Brunel's virtual learning environment, Blackboard Learn, is managed by Brunel's Learning Technology Team (LTT).

Blackboard Learn a 24/7 portal available anywhere in the world to assist and enhance your studies. With Blackboard Learn you can carry on studying at home, at work or overseas - all you need is an internet connection.

Blackboard Learn can help you to:

• study at your own pace;
• communicate with other students and with your lecturers;
• access extra information that may be available for your modules, including timetables, lecture notes, additional reading and much more;
• access key student services information and other central resources to help you improve your skills and knowledge.

Your personal account is customised for your programme of study with links to your academic modules, including lecture notes, course materials, online discussion boards and links to further reading material specific to your course.

Blackboard Learn also brings together information from other University services and portals, including:

• the University webmail system
• the Library
• the Computer Centre
• the Placement and Careers Centre (PCC)

In addition to these links, you will receive campus announcements with important information relating to your studies and other events. These announcements pop up each time you log in to the system, but they are also available on the homepage of Blackboard Learn for you to view at any time.

Each student has access to central Blackboard Learn sections that provide resources from the Counselling Service, the Computer Centre and the Disability and Dyslexia Service, as well as the Academic Skills Service (ASK), English language support and research skills training for postgraduate students.

'Help ME LTT'

For staff looking to get to grips with Blackboard Learn, there is a new 'Help Me LTT' tab inside Blackboard which contains a range of support resources. One page PDF guides, help videos, links to sign up for staff training and links for further Learning Technology Team support are now all available in one place.

Blackboard Mobile

From November 2012, the Blackboard Mobile app will be available for staff and students at Brunel. From that date, you can download it for free at the app store or equivalent for your device. The app is available for iOS, Android, and Blackberry devices.

For information on how to find and download the app, take a look at this guide.

Log in to the app using your usual Blackboard credentials, and the app will display your Courses, Organisations, and Announcements in a neat, mobile-friendly way.

If you are a member of staff teaching a module, you can add content to folders using the app, but not create new top-level folders. We advise, therefore, that you set up or edit the core structure of your modules using a PC. You can then add files, images, and text on the move. 

As well as supporting most of the VLE’s current tools, the app does allow for innovation and some new techniques. One example is the creation of a mobile-compatible quiz – your students can answer questions, or submit files and images on the move. To learn more about these tools, email ltt@brunel.ac.uk.