Learning Management Systems
Notice:

These tutorials are designed for Blackboard 6.3 - Basic Edition.

Course Roles

Overview

Course Roles control access to the content and tools within a course. Each user is assigned a role for each Course (or Organization) in which they participate. For example, a User with a role of Teaching Assistant in one Course can have a role of Student in another Course. Instructors may use these roles to delegate some of the responsibility for maintaining the course.  We gathered a great majority of the information in the below listed pages from Louisiana State University and Wayne State University School of Medicine . 

The Course Role is set when a User is enrolled. It can also be modified after enrollment from the Course Control Panel of the Course. Click on on one of the Role Titles listed below  for additional information. 

 

Course Builder

The course builder is granted access to most areas in the Control Panel.  The course builder does not have access to student grades, cannot remove an instructor, however the course is available to the builder even if it is not accessible to the student.  The course builder cannot create Elluminate sessions. 

The course builder does not appear to be in the roster.  How does one see the list of users in the different roles in a course? 

The following is a list of access areas from the Control Panel for the Course Builder.

  • Course Information
  • Course Documents
  • Assignments
  • External Links
  • Announcements
  • Course Calendar
  • Staff Information
  • Tasks
  • Discussion Board
  • Send E-Mail
  • Collaboration
  • DDB
  • Manage Course Menu
  • Archive Course
  • Manage Tools
  • Settings
  • Import Course Cartridge
  • Import Package
  • Resources
  • Course Copy
  • Export Courses
  • List/Modify Users
  • Create User
  • Enroll User
  • Remove User
  • Manage Groups
  • Test Manager
  • Survey Manager
  • Pool Manager

course builder control panel

Grader

The Grader has a very limited access to the Control Panel.  The Grader is really an assistant to the instructor.  The will have access to implementation of surveys, management, creation, and delivery of the course.  Below are the areas of the Control Panel the Grader has access:

  • Announcements
  • Course Calendar
  • DDB
  • List/Modify Users
  • Test Manager
  • Survey Manager
  • Pool Manager
  • Gradebook
  • Course Stats

grader control panel

Student

Remember that the Student has NO access to the Control Panel.  They do have access to the following:

  • Content Areas
  • Communication Areas
  • Assessment Areas

Teaching Assistant

Teacher's Assistance can access most of the Control Panel. If the course is not available to the student it will still be available to the T.A. However instuctors cannot be removed from the course by the T.A nor can they ba added by a T.A.  The following are available to the T.A.

  • List/Modify Users
  • Create Users
  • Remove Users from a Course
  • Enroll a User
  • All Course "Settings"
  • Course Copy
  • Import Course Cartridge
  • Export Course
  • Archive Course
  • Manage Course Menu

TA control panel

Instructor

The Instructor has complete access to all tools in the Control Panel.  The course will always be available to the instructor even if it is not available to the student.  All functions are available to the Instructor.

instructor control panel

Guest

A Guest will not have any access to the Control Panel unless the Instructor makes it available.

It is important to remember that a user can only be assigned one role.