Below are messages publicizing the upgrade to Bb 9.1 that were distributed via the SIUE Announce listserv during the Spring 2012 and Summer 2012 semesters.
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As part of our commitment to improving teaching and learning technology, SIUE will be upgrading the institutional learning management system from Blackboard 8 to Blackboard 9.1 at the start of the Fall 2012 semester. The Blackboard 9.1 interface is different from Blackboard 8 although most of the tools and functionality should feel familiar to current Blackboard 8 users. ITS encourages Blackboard users to watch for updates in the coming months and to attend the information and training sessions ITS will be offering throughout the spring and summer semesters in order to become familiar with the new system.
ITS will keep the campus community informed about the Bb 9.1 upgrade by sending out periodic email messages, regularly updating the Bb 9.1 Upgrade Resource site, posting frequent tweets to the ITS Twitter account, and via advertisements. The QR code included in this email will be incorporated into ITS digital ads and print flyers and be included on the current Bb resource pages. By using an application on a smart device (e.g. phone, iPad, tablet, etc.), this code will direct users to a hub where they can access the Bb 9.1 upgrade resources mentioned above.
If you have any questions, contact ITS at (618) 650-5500 or via email at ftc_help@siue.edu.
SIUE will be upgrading the institutional learning management system from Blackboard 8 to Blackboard 9.1 at the start of the Fall 2012 semester.
Bb 9.1 offers several new assignment, communication, and assessment features including blogs, wikis, journals, media mashups, and grading rubrics. Another new tool is the Bb Drive desktop application, which greatly simplifies the process of uploading files and folders into the Bb content system. Finally, Wimba Live Classroom will be replaced by the robust Bb Collaborate as a tool used for synchronous and asynchronous online learning. Visit the Bb 9.1 Upgrade Resource site for additional information about these features and to learn more about Bb 9.1.
ITS encourages Blackboard users to watch for updates in the coming months and to attend the information and training sessions ITS will be offering throughout the spring and summer semesters in order to become familiar with the new system. If you have any questions, contact ITS at (618) 650-5500 or via email at ftc_help@siue.edu.
SIUE will be upgrading the institutional learning management system from Blackboard 8 to Blackboard 9.1 at the start of the Fall 2012 semester.
Bb 9.1 affords users a different type of functionality, most evident in the “drag and drop” organization of the modules and course resources. Also, Bb 9.1 reduces the number of clicks required to complete a task by enabling modification through drop-down menus and streamlining content addition. The “behind the scenes” Control Panel has been integrated with the main navigation area, consolidating all of the management and content features into a central home page. Visit the Bb 9.1 Upgrade Resource site for additional information about the new functionality and to learn more about Bb 9.1.
ITS encourages Blackboard users to watch for updates in the coming months and to attend the information and training sessions ITS will be offering throughout the spring and summer semesters in order to become familiar with the new system. If you have any questions, contact ITS at (618) 650-5500 or via email at ftc_help@siue.edu.
SIUE will be upgrading the institutional learning management system from Blackboard 8 to Blackboard 9.1 at the start of the Fall 2012 semester.
Another upgrade that will take place in concert with the Bb migration is the move from Wimba Live Classroom to the replacement product, Blackboard Collaborate. Bb Collaborate is a merger of Wimba Live Classroom and Elluminate Live, two products whose parent companies were purchased by Blackboard. Bb Collaborate takes several features of it’s component systems to create a powerful tool for synchronous and asynchronous online teaching and learning. Conduct a live class session, hold office hours, or record a lecture for your students to access at a later time. Bb Collaborate features voice, video, and text capabilities as well as the option to share your desktop with your students. Visit the Bb 9.1 Upgrade Resource site for additional information about the transition to Bb Collaborate and to learn more about Bb 9.1.
ITS encourages Blackboard users to watch for updates in the coming months and to attend the information and training sessions ITS will be offering throughout the spring and summer semesters in order to become familiar with the new system. If you have any questions, contact ITS at (618) 650-5500 or via email at ftc_help@siue.edu.
SIUE will be upgrading the institutional learning management system from Blackboard 8 to Blackboard 9.1 at the start of the Fall 2012 semester.
Over the past several weeks, ITS has been spotlighting some of the new features and functions in Bb 9.1. A major change is the ability for instructors to easily customize the structure of their course to compliment their teaching style. Several pre-formatted Course Structure templates are available or instructors can create their own framework. Bb 9.1 also offers a more streamlined interface that makes it easier to consolidate material in key locations rather than have resources spread throughout the Bb shell. Visit the Bb 9.1 Upgrade Resource site for additional information about the customization options and to learn more about Bb 9.1.
ITS will create "sandbox" accounts in the Bb 9.1 test system for users who would like to explore Bb 9.1 and/or begin to design their courses for the FA12 semester. Visit the Bb 9.1 Sandbox Form to submit a request. Allow 3-5 business days for a course to be created.
ITS encourages Blackboard users to watch for updates in the coming months and to attend the information and training sessions ITS will be offering throughout the spring and summer semesters in order to become familiar with the new system. If you have any questions, contact ITS at (618) 650-5500 or via email at ftc_help@siue.edu.
SIUE will be upgrading the institutional learning management system from Blackboard 8 to Blackboard 9.1 at the start of the Fall 2012 semester.
Users will still have access to a content collection area in Bb 9.1 where they can store files that can be linked to from within any Bb course(s). NOTE: Users will need to move their content from the current Bb 8 system into the Bb 9.1 system when it goes into production this summer in preparation for classes that will be taught in the FA12 semester. In addition to the change in the content area, users will also have access to Bb Drive, a desktop application that simplifies the management of files in the Bb content area. Visit the Bb 9.1 Upgrade Resource site for additional information about content management and Bb Drive and to learn more about Bb 9.1.
ITS is also creating "sandbox" accounts in the Bb 9.1 test system for users who would like to explore Bb 9.1 and/or begin to design their courses for the FA12 semester. Visit the Bb 9.1 Sandbox Form to submit a request. Allow 3-5 business days for a course to be created.
ITS encourages Blackboard users to watch for updates in the coming months and to attend the information and training sessions ITS will be offering throughout the spring and summer semesters in order to become familiar with the new system. If you have any questions, contact ITS at (618) 650-5500 or via email at ftc_help@siue.edu.
Some of the interactive communication tools included in Bb 9.1 are journals, blogs, and wikis. The journal is a robust tool, allowing for the creation of narratives that can be shared on a course (visible by all users), group (visible only by members of the author’s group), or private (visible only by the author and instructor) level. The blog allows students to access a feature-rich editor to create content; students can develop their own individual blog entries and also have the ability to comment on each other’s posts. The wiki enables students to seamlessly collaborate in a shared environment using the multi-feature editor to create content. Visit the Bb 9.1 Upgrade Resource site for additional information about journals, blogs, and wikis and to learn more about Bb 9.1.
ITS is also creating "sandbox" accounts in the Bb 9.1 test system for users who would like to explore Bb 9.1 and/or begin to design their courses for the FA12 semester. Visit the Bb 9.1 Sandbox Form to submit a request. Allow 3-5 business days for a course to be created.
ITS encourages Blackboard users to watch for updates in the coming months and to attend the information and training sessions ITS will be offering throughout the spring and summer semesters in order to become familiar with the new system. If you have any questions, contact ITS at (618) 650-5500 or via email at ftc_help@siue.edu.
SIUE will be upgrading the institutional learning management system from Blackboard 8 to Blackboard 9.1 at the start of the Fall 2012 semester.
The addition of a number of new features in Bb 9.1 means the removal of several obsolete tools that had been present in previous versions of Blackboard. For instance, the improvement of the Assignment function led the company to eliminate the Digital Dropbox from Bb 9.1 as a means of collecting student papers. (SIUE’s adoption of the Turnitin suite of tools provides another option for collecting, marking up, and peer reviewing student papers.) Student Homepages have also been removed from the Bb 9.1 product list in favor of other communication tools such as blogs and journals. Also, as previously announced, Bb Collaborate will replace Wimba Live Classroom as a tool used to record/deliver asynchronous/synchronous lectures or presentations. Visit the Bb 9.1 Upgrade Resource site for additional information about the features that have been removed, the tools that replaced them, and to learn more about Bb 9.1.
ITS is also creating "sandbox" accounts in the Bb 9.1 test system for users who would like to explore Bb 9.1 and/or begin to design their courses for the FA12 semester. Visit the Bb 9.1 Sandbox Form to submit a request. Allow 3-5 business days for a course to be created.
ITS encourages Blackboard users to watch for updates in the coming months and to attend the information and training sessions ITS will be offering throughout the spring and summer semesters in order to become familiar with the new system. If you have any questions, contact ITS at (618) 650-5500 or via email at ftc_help@siue.edu.
