The Blackboard Learning Institute is composed of a series of sessions to train faculty in the most efficient and effective practices of Blackboard course design, management and instruction.
* Registration is required for attendance.
* A minimum of three registrants is required to hold a session.
Please note that the Blackboard Learning Institute series is available only to currently employed Butte College faculty and staff.
View the complete BLI Calendar: 
Blackboard Tools:
(may be taken in any order)
- Course Management Tools
- Communication Tools
- Assessment Tools
- Assignment Tools
- IDST-10
(This is the capstone online course. Requires prior completion of all other Blackboard training sessions.)
The appropriate form (Full-time or Associate) must be completed and submitted to the Office for Learning prior to attending Blackboard Tool trainings (Course Management, Assessment Tools, etc).
Full-Time Faculty
Professional Advancement Application (PDF)
Associate Faculty
Column Movement Application (PDF)
PREREQUISITE: None (*New Blackboard users begin here)
TIME: 3 hrs, presentation, hands-on
DESCRIPTION: This session will present a basic overview of the Blackboard environment. Participants will be given an introduction to navigation, common tools, file management, and student management.
* Faculty are encouraged to bring a digital copy of a course syllabus to the training.
The following sessions offer training in specific Blackboard tools (or tool sets), such as Quizzes, Discussions, Assignments, and Course Management.
If your objective is to become a certified online instructor for Butte College (COIT), you must complete the appropriate professional advancement form (at right) and submit it to the Office for Learning staff.
These sessions may be taken in any order.
PREREQUISITE: Blackboard Tool Training sessions require the previous completion of Blackboard Introduction.
PREREQUISITE: Blackboard Introduction
TIME: 3 hrs, hands-on
DESCRIPTION: This session will cover the various course management areas within Blackboard, including: student management, file management, grading, and other administrative tasks.
PREREQUISITE: Blackboard Introduction
TIME: 3 hrs, hands-on
DESCRIPTION: This session will cover best practices when using the Blackboard Communication tools: Mail, Discussions, and Chat.
PREREQUISITE: Blackboard Introduction
TIME: 3 hrs, hands-on
DESCRIPTION: This session will cover the Blackboard Assessment tool, including the Question Database, and the creation and mangement of quizzes, exams, and surveys.
PREREQUISITE: Blackboard Introduction
TIME: 3 hrs, hands-on
DESCRIPTION: This training will cover the Blackboard Assignment tool, including how to develop and deliver assignments, managing submissions, and grading.
PREREQUISITE: Blackboard Introduction, all four Tool Specialist sessions (Course Management, Communications, Assessments, and Assignments).
DESCRIPTION: It is assumed that participants have familiarity with the use of Blackboard. The course presents Butte College specific procedures in course development and gives instructors an opportunity to begin work on their actual proposed or revamped online or hybrid course.
This is a fully online course, taught by Dan Barnett. It is the last component required to be certified to teach online or hybrid courses at Butte College. A hybrid course is defined a course that replaces some regular seat time with mandatory time on the Internet.
IDST-10 is a 4-week, CR/NC online course (3-weeks during the Winter session), which must be completed AFTER the face-to-face Blackboard workshops. IDST-10 assumes skill in using Blackboard and so the the Intro, Course Management, Communications, Assessments, and Assignments workshops are prerequisites.
Online instructor certification includes successful completion of the following:
Face-to-face Workshops
Online Course
NOTE: IDST-10 replaces POP (Project Oriented Pedagogy), but the content is the same.
You enroll in the class just as would any prospective student. If as a faculty member you have not previously taken a Butte College course, step-by-step procedures are given below.
You will need to pay a unit fee of $39 by credit card which will be refunded once you’ve successfully completed IDST-10. As a faculty member, transportation fees are waived but to waive the Student Activities Fees you must call the Student Activities Office (details below). Only the unit fees will be reimbursed.
You may register for IDST-10 in advance but you must have completed all prerequisite training by the first day of class or you will be blocked from the course pending a suitable arrangement with the instructor.
HAVE YOU PREVIOUSLY ENROLLED IN A BUTTE COLLEGE COURSE AS A FACULTY MEMBER?
HAVE YOU NEVER PREVIOUSLY ENROLLED IN A BUTTE COLLEGE COURSE AS A FACULTY MEMBER?
NEED ASSISTANCE?
How will I be reimbursed the $30 unit fees and the $1.00 rep fee?
Should you elect to take the training stipend, the amount will be increased by $31 once you've completed IDST-10. The stipend will appear in a subsequent paycheck after the internal paperwork has been processed.
What if I'm applying the units received in my training to column movement?
If you've been pre-approved for column movement or longevity credit, you will not receive a cash stipend and will not be reimbursed the $30 unit fees or the $1.00 rep fee.
What if I need to drop IDST-10?
You can only receive a full refund if you drop the same day class begins. If you drop after that, you will be responsible for the unit fees paid. They will not be reimbursed since no stipend will be paid.
I'm completing my training but haven't been hired yet to teach a class. What should I do?
You'll need to complete the application and registration process and pay all the fees. If you're hired to teach a course within a year of completion of training, you'll be paid a stipend which will include reimbursement for unit fees as well as rep, transportation, and health fees, but not Student Activities fee (see instruction above for waving the Student Activities fee before you pay).
Why do I have to go through this process? I just want to teach!
Teaching an online or hybrid course is significantly different from the face-to-face classroom experience. Prospective online instructors need to learn not only what works pedagogically online, but what it's like to be an online student. IDST-10 helps ensure that instructors are as prepared as possible to develop quality online courses and to teach them with passion, skill and integrity.