[BB] Blackboard Maintenance

Hello Bb Users,

 

Please be advised, Blackboard will be down for maintenance on the morning of Saturday April 28, 2012 between 1 AM and 3 AM.

 

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause,

 

Thank you,

 

Rick Ramos

Department of Information Technology

Blackboard Help Desk Supervisor

305-284-3949

 

 

 

[BB] Blackboard Tip

Hello Bb Users,

 

We are approaching the end of the semester and we wanted to share a few tools Blackboard has available in case you did not know about them. I have attached  handouts for the following options:

 

• Voice Announcement: Voice Announcements are a unique means of vocal communication that only appear within the Announcements Area.
• Voice Email: The Voice Email feature gives instructors and students the ability to send voice email directly from a Blackboard course to anyone enrolled in the course. Voice Emails can be sent to either individual users, or to everyone registered in the course.
• Download Grade Center: Full or partial data can be downloaded from the Grade Center.
• Grade History: The Grade History page in the Grade Center acts like a log file that records all of the changes that occur to grades within a Course. The Grade History page displays all the data for grade submissions within a set date range. It is possible to manipulate the view and export the information

Please feel free to contact us for any issues you might have. Our business hours are from Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, our phone number is 305-284-3949 and you can email us at blackboardhelp@miami.edu.

 Thank you,

 Rick Ramos

Manager of your Blackboard Support team

 

 

 

 

[BB] Blackboard Tips

 

 

Hello Bb Users,

 

Blackboard 9.1 comes with the Notification Dashboard. It is aimed at increasing communication and workflow efficiency within Blackboard. The Notifications Dashboard is divided into Student Notifications and Instructor Notifications.

 

The data presented within Notifications are aggregated from all courses and organizations for which an Instructor is teaching or a Student is participating.

 

The Dashboard is divided in four different modules where you will receive information about events occurring in your courses sites.

 

Here are the four modules and what information you should expect:

 

• What’s New: The Communication area displays the number of unread Discussion Board posts for each forum, the unread blog entries, and the unread journal entries. The Materials area displays any updated, submitted, or created content, tests, assignments, and surveys.
• Needs Attention: Only instructors will receive notifications. Any submitted item by a user for review. Categories of the possible notification types:

• Grade Tests: The tests and the corresponding users who have submitted the tests.
• Grade Assignments: The assignments and the corresponding users who have submitted the assignments.
• Grade Surveys: The surveys and the corresponding users who have submitted the surveys.

• Alerts: Only instructors will receive notifications. The Past Due area displays any assessment, assignment, or survey that has passed its due date with no submission by the student. The Early Warning System area displays any rule and the list of students who have violated that rule.
• To Do: Only Students will receive notifications. The What's Past Due area displays any assessment, assignment, or survey that has passed its due date with no submission by the student. The What's Due displays information about any assessment, assignment, or survey that contains a due date.

It is also possible to have the notifications sent to your preferred email address either in an individual email or a Daily Digest email (for information on this see our handout “Notifications Dashboard Settings”).

 

I have attached a series of handouts that will help you better understand the Notification Dashboard and how to use it.

 

Please feel free to contact us for any issues you might have. Our business hours are from Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm; and our phone number is 305-284-3949; and you can email us at blackboardhelp@miami.edu.

 

Thank you,

 

Rick Ramos

Manager of your Blackboard Support team

 

 

 

 

[BB] Blackboard Tips

Hello Bb Users,

 

With so many different computers, OS, and browsers it is sometimes difficult to expect the same results across all these different systems. You might be familiar with what I mean if you have given a test using the Test Tool in Blackboard.

 

A test submitted by a student in Blackboard can fail for different reasons such as wireless failure or browser compatibility. Respondus Lockdown Browser is a tool available that can help reduce the issues associated with browsers during a test. This tool will not prevent issues from, for example, dropped wireless connection or power outage but it creates a unique point of access for the test. The Lockdown Browser is available and ready to use by the instructor, all it takes is a simple download and install from the students on their computer.

 

We have created steps by steps on how to use it and set it up in your class site. Click the following links for more information:

 

Download Respondus Lockdown Browser: http://goo.gl/0kmKb

 

Setup Respondus Lockdown Browser: http://goo.gl/tKs2L

 

Respondus has also a video available showing what the students will experience when using the tool:

 

Respondus Lockdown Browser Intro video: http://goo.gl/WHJj0

 

Note: The Lockdown Browser does not prevent cheating on the test but it reduces the risk by preventing students from browsing the web and the computer or access messengers.

 

TRAINING:  We offer instructor led trainings and workshops in the Faculty Exploratory at the Richter Library. You can register for any of our events by going to our Registration site and clicking on the title of the session:

 

Registration Site: http://goo.gl/0Wjee

 

Please feel free to contact us for any issues you might have. Our business hours are from Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm;  and our phone number is 305-284-3949; and you can email us at blackboardhelp@miami.edu.

 

Thank you,

 

Rick Ramos

Manager of your Blackboard Support team

305-284-3949