Blackboard automatically creates three distinct shells when two instructors are attached to the same CRN in Banner. The example below shows CRN 12345 is taught by two instructors: Amy Goruk (Faculty A) and Kim Reid (Faculty B).

This means each faculty member will see two Blackboard shells related to the CRN in their course list on the Blackboard homepage: the main shell and their individual shell.

Any items meant to be shared between both faculty members should go into the main shell. This could include grades, announcements, syllabi, and course materials.

Any items meant to be kept in a closed environment should go into the individual shell. This information is shared only with the students and not with the other faculty member.

Communication will need to be made very clear to students about which shells to access and when if both the main and individual shells are being used. A suggested best practice for faculty not using their individual shell is to merge it into the main shell which results in only the main shell being displayed in both the students’ and faculty’s course lists. To submit a merge request faculty should complete the Course Merge/Unmerge Request Form.

For Blackboard support with course or organization shells and to report issues, faculty should contact facultybbsupport@georgiancollege.ca. Students requiring Blackboard support should contact itsupport@georgiancollege.ca.

For login or access issues in Blackboard, faculty and students should contact itsupport@georgiancollege.ca.