Top HuskyCT Questions
2. How do I get a HuskyCT site for my class?
3. How do I "reactivate" my old HuskyCT site?
4. Why does my course say "Private" on the Courses page?
5. How do I give the students early access?
6. How do I add my syllabus and other files?
7. Why can't the students see the files I posted?
8. How do I add links to my course's main menu?
10. How do I get rid of all my old Announcements?
12. Can I request a HuskyCt site for my department or organization?
1. What is HuskyCT?
HuskyCT is UConn’s name for the Blackboard learning management system used here. Instructor use of the system is optional but we host over 5000 HuskyCT sites per semester, most of which are used for face-to-face classes. Fully online classes use HuskyCT as well. The use of HuskyCT is so widespread in fact, that students expect to see a HuskyCT site for each class they are taking and are worried when they don’t. A recent survey revealed that the most common uses of HuskyCT for traditional classes are sending announcements, posting content, and posting grades. Many instructors also use HuskyCT for the online submission of assignments, discussions, and quizzes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, HuskyCT was adopted even more widely by faculty, and in most cases was the central platform for remote/online learning.
2. How do I get a HuskyCT site for my class?
HuskyCT sites are generated in conjunction with the Student Admin system. Instructors who are listed in Student Admin as the instructor-of-record for a course will automatically be added to the corresponding HuskyCT site with the Instructor role. Many HuskyCT sites are now created automatically based on listings in Student Admin. These include courses listed as Lecture and Discussion sections. Other types of course listings, such as Lab and Seminar sections, are not created automatically but can be easily requested through the Student Admin system via an instructor's Self-Service > Faculty Center area. Please see the instructions linked below for further information on that.
3. How do I “reactivate” my old HuskyCT site?
If an instructor is teaching a course again and HuskyCT was used in a previous term for that same class, it is possible to have the old site content copied into the HuskyCT site for the upcoming term. This requires two steps. FIRST, the site must already exist in HuskyCT for the relevant term, either having been created automatically (for Lecture and Discussion sections) or the instructor must request their NEW HuskyCT site using Student Admin (for Lab and Seminar sections). SECOND, the instructor needs to fill out the course content restore form. Please note that this content restore will bring over all instructor posted content, assignments, tests, grade center columns, and discussion board forums. The course will be in the same state as it was from the previous term when it was used, including all availability dates of content. The copy process will not bring over old student data and it will not bring over Library Reserve materials used previously. The Library Resources link in the new site needs to be used to “import” those materials. The instructor will also need to update availability dates, announcements, and any other elements of the course pertaining to the new/upcoming term.
4. Why does my course say "Private" on the Courses page?
Because HuskyCT sites are closed to students until the first day of classes, the “Private” message applies only to students. This means the course is not open to students yet, but instructor access is not date restricted. Instructors can change the opening date of their courses to whatever the choose. Opening the course early will allow students access prior to the previously set default date.
5. How do I give the students early access?
If an instructor wants to open a HuskyCT site earlier than the default start date this is easily done by changing the “Properties” of the site.
6. How do I add my syllabus and other files?
This is done using the “Build Content” button at the top of a Content Area such as the “Course Overview and Syllabus” page that is part of the default HuskyCT course template. From the “Build Content” drop-down menu, click on “File”. After this you will just need to browse for the file on your computer. It’s as easy as doing an email attachment.
7. Why can’t students see the files I posted?
Just about every piece of content you add to your HuskyCT course can be controlled by date restrictions, and sometimes instructors don't realize they have availability or date restrictions in place. You can set content to become available to students, or unavailable to them, based on whichever dates you choose. If you do not specifically set any availability or date restrictions, most content will become available as soon as you post it. Click here to find instructions on how to hide or show content to students.
Occasionally, instructors go directly to the “Content Collection” in the Control Panel and upload their files there. These files cannot be accessed by the students, however, because only instructors can see the options under the Control Panel > Content Collection. The Content Collection is basically just a HuskyCT course's file repository; it is not where students actually access files. Students will not be able to see these files until they are linked to a page on the HuskyCT site. Instructors need to create or go to a Content Area or Content Folder and add the files there.
8. How do I add links to my course's main menu?
All new HuskyCT sites have at least a set of default links on the left-hand main navigation menu: Announcements, Course Content, Discussion Board, My Grades, Student Help, Ask a Librarian, and possibly others. Instructors can add other tool links or content areas to this menu using the “+” icon at the upper left of the menu. This process would be used to add links to other content areas of the course, or tools such as Collaborate, Webex, and many other features.
9. How do I add my TA?
Instructors have the ability to enroll additional users on their HuskyCT sites. Most frequently this function is used to add a TA or another instructor, but anyone with a UConn NetID can be manually added to a HuskyCT site.
10. How do I get rid of all my old Announcements?
If you have had HuskyCT content restored from a prior semester, your old announcements may have come over as well. Instructors can delete these one-by-one. Now when instructors request a course restore, they can easily indicate whether they want their old announcements to come over or not.
11. Is there a Student View?
Instructors can use “Student Preview” to view their sites exactly as their students see them. When exiting Student Preview, instructors have the choice of retaining the preview user data or not. If the Preview User data is retained, a new student will appear in the Grade Center. The last name for this preview student account will be the instructor’s last name followed by “_PreviewUser”. Student Preview mode can be used to take tests, submit assignments, access materials, and check grades.
12. Can I request a HuskyCT site for my department or organization?
Faculty, staff, or students can request a non-class site for their department, program, or organization. In HuskyCT, these will show up under "Organizations", rather than "Courses".