[BB] Safe Assign Upgrade & Upcoming Training

Blackboard Users,

 

Safe Assign is going to be upgraded during the day on Saturday (9.27). Users will NOT be able to submit to SafeAssign during this maintenance period. Please plan accordingly.

Enhancements include:

§         ability to accept .docx documents.

§         organization access to the Safe Assign functionality

 

Let me also direct your attention to some upcoming Lunch & Learn / Training sessions:

 

Copyright Basics Lunch & Learn – What’s fair when making copies or scanning material for your class or showing DVDs? We will discuss fair use, intellectual property, and the TEACH Act. Friday 9/26, 12:20-1:10 in Memorial classroom 200. Lunch will be served. Registration required.

 

Bb GRADE CENTER Training – If you need assistance with the new Grade Center, join us Friday, 10/3 from 2:30-3:30 in Memorial classroom 313. Registration required. Here are some additional resources:
   * Grade Center Basics documentation (15 pp.)
   * Getting Started with the Grade Center PDF (4 p.)

 

 

As always, please keep an eye on the Blackboard Update section of your Bb Home page and contact the Help Desk with any questions.

 

-Jennifer

____________________________________
JENNIFER CLISTER
Blackboard System Manager
University of Miami IAC
305-284-3949

 

[BB] Respondus Lockdown Browser Lunch & Learn

Lunch & Learn: A Custom (and Standardized) Browser to “Lockdown” Tests in Blackboard

 

Respondus Lockdown Browser
Lunch & Learn

Friday, September 19^th

12:20-1:10pm (lunch will be provided)

LC 160

Click here to register.

 

The Respondus Lockdown Browser

Please join us on Friday, 9/19 while we discuss our current free trial of the Respondus Lockdown Browser technology with a representative from the company – and then talk amongst ourselves with some people on campus who have already tried out the new browser in their classes.

This means that you can deploy tests in Blackboard and specify that you want students to use the Lockdown Browser to take the test. Your students will have to download the browser, but once they do it will lock them out of EVERYTHING on their computers until the test has been submitted. This is a deterrent for cheating, but it also standardizes the browser students use to take the assessments (on Windows and Macintosh platforms). This reduces technical problems and makes those that do arise easier to troubleshoot. If enough people are interested, we will be able purchase a campus-wide license.

You can try it now to see what you think, then bring your questions to the Lunch & Learn.

§         Video about how students would access a test using the lockdown browser: http://www.respondus.com/movies/LDB_Bb_Intro1/LDB_Bb_Intro1.html

§         Quick-start guide for instructors:
http://www.respondus.com/downloads/RLDB%20Quick%20Start%20Guide-Bb-Enterprise-Instructor.pdf

§         Link to download the browser:
http://www.respondus.com/lockdown/information.pl?ID=527636896

 

Here are some additional Lockdown Browser features:

· Assessments are displayed full-screen and cannot be minimized

· Assessments cannot be exited until submitted by users for grading

· Task switching or access to other applications is prevented

· Printing functions are disabled

· Print Screen and capturing functions are disabled

· Copying and pasting anything to and from an assessment is prohibited

· Right-click menu options are disabled

· Browser menu and toolbar options are disabled, except for Back, Forward, Refresh and Stop

 

-Jennifer

 

PS – There will be an Intro to Blackboard course on Friday, 9/12 in Memorial 313 from 2:30-3:30. Please pass this on to anyone you know who may be interested.

____________________________________
JENNIFER CLISTER
Blackboard System Manager
University of Miami IAC
305-284-3949