Blackboard Courses should include an update Welcome and Start Here module at the very beginning of each course. The purpose of this section is to create consistency for students, reduce the mental bandwidth required to begin engaging with content, and provide important information to support learning success. This article provides details on how to design an effective Welcome and Start Here module. 

 

Why is the “Welcome and Start Here” module important?  

  

The “Welcome and Start Here” module is a vital part of all Blackboard course shells, not just online courses. CU instructors have a great deal of autonomy when it comes to designing their courses. However, sometimes students can be confused by the varied approaches to course layout and instructions. The “Welcome and Start Here” module is an important touchstone for student success because it’s one place that students can expect to see design consistency across courses.  

  

  

Why is there a new W&SH module in my new Blackboard shells every semester?  

  

Each semester, your Blackboard course shells have a template “Welcome and Start Here” module included. You do not need to use this template “Welcome and Start Here” if your content already includes an active W&SH module, but there may be some new elements added to the template that you’ll need to transfer into your active “Welcome and Start Here” module.  

  

Because a new W&SH template is added to the new Blackboard course shells each semester, courses can easily end up with more than one W&SH included. It’s important to always delete any excess W&SH modules after making sure that your course includes one active and updated “Welcome and Start Here” module. Courses that contain more than one W&SH module can cause a great deal of confusion for students.  

  

  

How are the elements selected for the W&SH module?  

  

The elements included in the “Welcome and Start Here” template are selected based on quality course design best practices and align with our CU LMS checklist requirements and our CU Quality Online Course Review Rubric, so it’s important to make sure that your active W&SH module includes all of the important elements.  

  

  

What should my W&SH include?  

  

While instructors have freedom to update the wording, titles, and layout of the W&SH template, please make sure that your course includes an active W&SH module that contains the following:  

• Course Introduction and Welcome Message that includes an Overview of the course and a description of the Course Purpose  

• An Introduction to the Instructor and Instructor Contact Information including the preferred contact method, email, phone, office location, and response timeline/protocol  

• Explanation of the course layout and how to effectively navigate the course  

• Getting Started instructions that describe where to begin the coursework after completing the W&SH  

• The most updated copy of the “Blackboard Help, Technical Support, and Additional Resources” page  

  

In addition, always remember to complete the following:  

• Update script wording included in brackets ( [ / ] ) with course-specific information  

• Remove extra/old “Welcome and Start Here” modules (your course should include only one W&SH)  

• Transfer any new elements from the current semester W&SH template into your active “Welcome and Start Here” module, if you aren’t using the most recent version.  

  

  

What’s new to the W&SH module for the Spring 2025 Semester?  

  

The Spring 2025 semester features a new “Blackboard Help, Technical Support, and Additional Resources” page added to the “Welcome and Start Here” module.  Instructors should delete the old “Getting Help: Technical Support” page from their Welcome modules and replace it with the new page by dragging the new page into their active W&SH module. If you are using the newest template W&SH (Spring 2025), you do not need to move the new “Blackboard Help” page. The Spring 2025 Blackboard shells contain the most recently updated W&SH template.  

  

Screenshot: old Getting Help page (delete this)  

  

  

 

 

Screenshot: new/current Blackboard Help, Technical Support, and additional resources page. Keep this. 

 

 

 

What are these words already in the W&SH module?  

  

Script wording is included in your W&SH module as a model for what to include on each page. This model wording is included within brackets ( [ / ] ). Instructors should update the wording in their “Welcome and Start Here” by replacing the script wording with course-specific information. Never leave script wording that is included in brackets within the “Welcome and Start Here” module in your courses. 

 

For any additional assistance with your Welcome and Start Here module, please contact the CU Instructional Technologies and Design Services team.