The journal is designed as a private space between the instructor and a student, though at any time during the course you can open journals to the entire class for viewing. A Journal is similar to a blog in that it is a searchable list of postings displayed in reverse chronological order (most recent first). The difference between a Journal and Blog in Blackboard is the option to keep Journals private.
How to set up a Journal
- Make sure Edit Mode is ON
- Go to a content page (such as Course Materials)
- Under the “Tools” button, choose “Journal”
- Choose “Create New Journal” and click “Next”
- Fill out the form and choose your settings, explained below:> Journal Availability: click Yes so each student can see their own journal.
> Allow Users to Edit and Delete Entries gives students the option to control their own entries
> Allow Users to Delete Comments: allows students to control their own comments
> Permit Course Users to View Journal: opens the journal to the rest of the class - Click Submit
- On this next page, make sure your newly created journal is now highlighted, and click “Next”
- Adding a description is optional – click Submit
How to grade students’ Journals
Journals are graded as a whole product, not entry-by-entry.
Your first option is to go to Control Panel > Grade Center > Needs Grading. Click on the link for each student. This will take you to each student’s journal where you can enter the grade value and narrative feedback in the boxes to the right. Click Submit when you have finished grading a student’s work.
You can also go to Control Panel > Grade Center > Full Grade Center and scroll to the column for the blog. Submissions that are ready to be graded are indicated with a yellow exclamation point. Click on the small button within that cell, choose “Grade User Activity,” and proceed to grade the student’s journal by entering the grade value and narrative feedback in the boxes to the right. Click Submit when you have finished grading a student’s work.