Issue/Question
What are the user roles within a Blackboard course?
Resolution
A user cannot be added with any other role if they are on a course roster as a student in the same Blackboard course. For example, a user who is on a student roster for ENG 100-001 cannot also be a Teaching Assistant in ENG 100-001.
Course Builder
The course builder role has access to most areas of the Control Panel. This role is appropriate for a user to manage the course without having access to student grades. A course builder can still access the course if the course is unavailable to students. A course builder cannot delete an instructor from a course. A course builder cannot build anything that integrates with the Grade Center.
Course builders have access to the areas of the Control Panel in the following list. The tools and functions within each area can vary depending on the settings that the Blackboard administrator at your school has put into place, including enforcing a course template and customizing the role of course builder. The instructor can also limit the availability of certain tools and functions.
- Course files
- Content Collection
- Course tools
- Users and groups
- Customization
- Packages and utilities
- Help
Grader
A grader assists the instructor in the creation, management, delivery, and grading of items, such as tests and discussion board posts. A grader also assists the instructor with managing the Grade Center. A grader cannot access a course if it is unavailable to students.
Graders have access to the areas of the Control Panel in the following list. The tools and functions within each area can vary depending on the settings that the Blackboard administrator at your school has put into place, including enforcing a course template and customizing the role of grader. The instructor can also limit the availability of certain tools and functions.
- Course files
- Course collection
- Course tools
- Evaluation
- Grade Center
- Packages and utilities (limited access)
- Help
Instructor
Instructors have access to all areas in the Control Panel. This role is generally given to those developing, teaching, or facilitating the class. Instructors may access a course that is unavailable to students.
- List users
- Edit users
- Create user
- Batch create users
- Delete users
- Enroll users
- Settings
- Import
- Export
- Archive
Student
Student is the default course role. Students have no access to the Control Panel.
Teaching Assistant
The teaching assistant (or TA) role is that of a co-teacher. Teaching assistants are able to administer all areas of a course. Their only limitations are those imposed by the instructor or Blackboard administrator at your school. A teaching assistant cannot delete an instructor from a course.
Teaching assistants have access to most all tools and features in the Control Panel.
Even if the course is unavailable to students, teaching assistants still have access to the course. Teaching assistants are not listed in the Course Catalog listing for the course.