Our Blackboard learning management system is due for an update.  Updates are part of every software program and are intended to fix bugs, provide enhancements, and add new functionality based on instructor and student feedback. The update will occur on March 21st 7:00AM -10:00AM—after grades are due, between winter and spring quarters—to minimize disruption to faculty and students.

The following new features will be added to Blackboard as a result of this update:

• ·      Enhanced Calendar: When accessed from a course, allows instructors and students to see the course calendar from the course menu on the Tools page.

o   Instructors can use the calendar course tool as a primary way of managing and communicating the schedule of events and assignments in the course.

o   Calendar supports due dates, if set, for gradable items.

o   Clicking on calendar items allows an instructor to view or edit the item, or grade attempts for the associated item.
 

• ·      Video Everywhere is a feature of the content editor. Once installed and activated, you will see a new icon in the content editor that accesses your webcam. The feature provides the ability for instructors and students to:

o   Record a video on the fly using a webcam and have it seamlessly embedded in course materials, interactions, and feedback through the content editor.

o   Reuse previously recorded videos by choosing from one’s own “library” of videos. Global navigation streamlines access to personalized dashboard of settings and tools.
 

• ·      Discussions:  Discussion Board will now be referred to as Discussions.  The following is a list of new feature highlights:

o   All posts on one page – all of the posts in a thread are now visible at the same time on one page

o   Instructor highlighting – posts made by forum managers and moderators now contain the user’s course role and forum role.

o   Inline replies  – when replying to a post, the content editor used to write a response appears on the same page, in the context of the discussion.

o   Post First Discussions setting – this setting allows instructors to require students to post to a discussion before seeing other student’s posts.