Learn@Seneca | The Teaching & Learning Centre | Seneca College

Getting Started with Learn@Seneca

Learn@Seneca is our branded version of Blackboard, the official learning management system at Seneca.

The use of Learn@Seneca is a requirement for all of the courses at the college, as explained in the Learn@Seneca Minimum Requirements Policy.

To meet the minimum requirements, you must

• post course specific information that includes:
  • a link to the approved course outline from the Seneca Subject Outline System
  • accessible versions of the addendum and/or proposed schedule
  • weighted evaluation breakdown for the current term
  • required resources e.g., software, materials, supplies
• set up the Grade Centre to communicate grades to students with individual assessment items as columns and a weighted evaluation column
• enter grades in accordance with the Student Assessment Policy, (i.e., within 10 business days, or prior to the date of the next assessment) and hide columns that do not provide accurate grades (e.g., total column)
• use the announcement tool to post a welcome announcement and meaningful, regular course updates as per the communication plan
• post a communication plan that includes:
  • faculty contact information
  • preferred method of communication
  • expected response time (two business days)
  • announcement schedule (e.g., weekly announcements, test/assignment reminders, updates)
  • a clear place for students to ask questions
• post online or in-person office/student hours
• make the course available to students in Learn@Seneca (earliest one week prior to the beginning of the term and no later than the first day of the term), subject to change pending teaching assignments.
• communicate, distribute and/or collect (where applicable) assessments using Learn@Seneca. Assignment communications will include the following:
  • instructions
  • rubrics or marking guide/criteria
  • due dates
  • submission instructions
  • feedback
  • the academic integrity statement
• make recordings available to students for synchronous classes (when possible); when not possible, provide alternate equivalent materials asynchronously
• run an accessibility check on the course using Blackboard Ally. At a minimum, 100 percent of the materials should meet 67 percent (pale green for Blackboard Ally)
• provide a course orientation for students in a digital format that will include:
  • how to navigate the course
  • where to find information
  • a review of key contents
  • guidelines and expectations (e.g., netiquette, participation)
  • a communication plan
  • academic integrity and copyright statements

Use this simple Learn@Seneca Minimum Requirements Checklist (PDF) to make sure you have met the minimum requirements when setting up your course(s).

Here are the links to help you meet the minimum requirements:

You may need to be logged into MySeneca to access all of the links.

1. Log into Learn@Seneca at https://learn.senecacollege.ca. This video will help you get oriented with Learn@Seneca.

2. To add your course outline to Learn@Seneca, you first need to locate your course outline. Go to the Seneca Subject Outline System and enter your course code or title at the top, then select your school. Once you have your Course Outline, copy the URL and go back to Learn@Seneca. Under course information, follow these steps to add an external link: How to Manage Links.

3. Post the accessible version of the addendum and/or proposed schedule. See How to Manage Content Items for more information.

4. Take a look at the information on how to use and set-up the Grade Centre: Grade Center.

5. Create an announcement in your course to welcome your students.

6. Post your contact information.
Click on “Faculty Information” in the course menu. Edit the current template item by clicking on the grey chevron and selecting “Edit.” Fill in all the information. Instructions are also presented in your Learn@Seneca Shell.

7. Post office hour information.

8. Make your course available to students.

9. To learn more about assessments in Learn@Seneca, see How to Create an Assignment.

10. The How to Upload and Share Videos webpage explains one way you can make recordings available to students.

11. Run an accessibility check on your course using Blackboard Ally .

12. Provide a course orientation for students in a digital format.

Need help? Contact the service desk at servicedesk@senecacollege.ca or at 416-491-5050 ext. 22129.

The above steps will help you meet the minimum requirements of using Learn@Seneca. If you would like to learn more about the features of Learn@Seneca that are available to you, see the content on Course Management on Learn@Seneca (Blackboard).

If you would like to learn more about Blackboard Ally, the accessibility tool integrated into Learn@Seneca, see the content on Blackboard Ally.

Check out the following self-paced online modules:

• Learn@Seneca Essentials – use this module to help you set up your Learn@Seneca course(s) to meet with the Learn@Seneca minimum requirements. You’ll also learn the value of using Learn@Seneca as a way of supporting student learning.
• Learn@Seneca Grade Centre – use this module to help you set up your Grade Centre to display all individual assessments and corresponding grades to students in your course and calculate their final grades.
• Learn@Seneca SafeAssign Tool – use this module to help you set up the SafeAssign tool in your Learn@Seneca course(s).
• Learn@Seneca Groups Tool – use this module to help you set up online groups to engage students in collaborative learning and use the Learn@Seneca Groups tool to manage student group work online.