As an instructor, you see two buttons underneath the left Navigation menu that your students do not see. The Control Panel is exactly that: it is the place where you build, edit, and control your Blackboard site. Clicking on the Control Panel link takes you to the Control Panel screen:

The Control Panel is comprised of six function areas:

Content Areas:

This area provides tools for adding, organizing, and updating information that the user will access.

Course Tools:

Under the Course Tools heading, you will find Announcements, Course Calendar, Staff Information, Tasks, Send Email, Discussion Board, Collaboration, Voice Announcements and Safe Assign.

Course Options:

This part of the control panel is used to establish choices and customize a class. Under the Course Options panel you will find: Manage Course Menu, Manage Tools, Settings, Course Copy, Import Course Cartridge, Import Package, Export Course and Archive Course.

User Management:

This section provides tools for enrolling or removing students from the class. If the class is designed to include small group work, special group spaces with a separate Discussion Board and/or Chat area can be created and managed here.

Assessment:

This area provides the Assessment Manager for constructing online assessments such as tests and surveys. The Assessment panel includes: Test Manager, Survey Manager, Pool Manager, Course Statistics Gradebook, Gradebook Views, Performance Dashboard and Early Warning System.

Help:

This area offers support contacts and online documentation including links to Support pages and Blackboard manuals