[BB] Blackboard working normally

The issue in Virginia has been resolved, we were told. Blackboard should be functioning normally.

Bill
From my iPhone

[BB] Blackboard issues

Blackboard users,

The hosting site, where our Blackboard server is located, is experiencing difficulties. The Blackboard system is still available, but the Home page looks different. In addition, because of the problem at the hosting site, SafeAssign is currently unavailable.

We will update you as we get more information. My cell phone is listed below, if you want/need/wish to contact me.

- Bill -


William Vilberg
Assistant Director, Learning Platforms
Information Technology
P: (305) 284-3944
C: (786) 250-2255

[BB] Blackboard courses sites setup

Blackboard Users,

 

With the beginning of every semester, you might like to have your Blackboard course sites setup in a specific way. Below are services we offer for your course sites. Let us know if we can do any of these, or anything else to assist you at the start of the semester. Send email to blackboardhelp@miami.edu or call 305-284-3949 to make a request or get assistance.

1.      Course Merge

If you teach multiple sections of a course, or have both graduate and undergraduate students in the same course, it may be easier to combine them into one Blackboard course site, rather than have a separate site for each section. With the merged site, you can post your course material once rather than posting it in each section’s site separately.

Note: This should be done before any activity takes place in the course sites. Please be aware User records, such as discussion board posts, grades, and assessment attempts will not be copied to the new site.

2.      Course Augment

There is also the option to do a course "augment" which will maintain all of your original course sites and add one additional master site with all of the students from your various sections. With the course augment option you can use the master site to post course material in one location, and reserve the individual section course sites for assignments or tests specific to each course section.

3.     Course Copy

If you have material from a prior semester that you would like to copy into the course site you are setting up, you can call us to do a course copy for you or you can follow the steps at the link below to do it yourself:

http://goo.gl/uq1qU

Note: You need to be enrolled as an instructor in both the source and destination courses sites in order to perform a Course Copy. User records, such as discussion board posts, grades, and assessment attempts will not be copied. Do NOT copy course enrollments.

4.      Teaching Assistant enrollment

Teaching assistants are not added automatically to your class, they have to be entered manually. You can have us do it for you or you can do it yourself using the instructions at the following link:

http://goo.gl/ON85r

 

5.     Course Availability

 

When created, course sites are unavailable to students. We can make them available for you or you can follow these easy steps to do it yourself:

 

http://goo.gl/J5fsL5 

 

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 or you can email us atblackboardhelp@miami.edu

 

 

Your Blackboard team

(P): 305-284-3949

 

 

[BB] Softchalk training

Dear Blackboard users,

 

SoftChalk Create is a program, licensed by UM, that makes it easy to create on-line learning activities. UM IT Academic Technologies has arranged for some training next week to introduce you to SoftChalk Create and to help you develop some material that you can use in your Blackboard course site. You can either join us in the Faculty Exploratory, Room 305, in Richter Library for the webinars or participate in the sessions from the convenience of your home or office. 

 

To register for the Faculty Exploratory events, please go to www.iacevents.org. To register so that you can participate at your own computer, use the "gotomeeting" links below.

 

Tuesday, Jan. 7th – 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST - https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/367119920

This one-hour Short Course class will show the many features of SoftChalk Create. In the overview, you will see how to take a Word document and easily make it into an interactive web page, how to save your lesson, add a design style, create interactive activities and text annotations.  Lastly, you'll see how to place your lesson for delivery in a Blackboard.

 

Thursday, Jan. 9th – 1:00pm - 4:00pm EST - https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/858116280

This three and a half hour class will cover the advanced features of SoftChalk. In this webinar you will learn how to:

• Create a text file to be used in Several Activities
• Publish an Activity to the SoftChalk Library
• Create Quiz Group Questions
• Create a Personal Style using the SoftChalk Style Builder
• Create a Scenario Branching Lesson

When you register you will be asked to download a file. This file is necessary for you to participate in the class.

 

If you have questions or concerns, please contact the Blackboard team at: (305) 284-3949 or blackboardhelp@miami.edu.

 

Regards,

 

Your Blackboard Team

(P): 305-284-3949