[BB] Assessments problem resolved

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The assessment problem has been resolved. Everyone should be able to get to assessments now.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Our Blackboard system is managed by the Blackboard company. At 5:00 pm yesterday I informed them of the problem accessing assessments from some browsers on some computers. At 11:00 they had resolved the problem. They discovered an add-on (Building Block) that was somehow causing the problem. We were not using its features any more, so the make it unavailable and verified that everything was working. I just verified it myself with three different browsers on both Mac and Windows. They are all working at this point.

If you see any errors or anything else that we need to know about, PLEASE click on the "Help" link at the top of any Blackboard page and fill out a ticket to let us know about the issue. You are using the system in ways that we may not have thoroughly tested. Let us know about problems so that we can get them resolved for you and for everyone else. Thanks.

Bill Vilberg, bill.vilberg@miami.edu, 786-250-2255

http://vilberg.com - Spreading seeds of education, technology, and more

[BB] Assessment issue

It appears that some browsers, on some computers, are unable to access any assessments. I can't even tell you which browsers because it is different on different computers.

If you have online quizzes or tests, stay tuned for more information. We have generated a ticket with Blackboard and will follow up with them on tomorrow and keep you posted.

Bill Vilberg

[BB] Fall 2011 Semester

Bb Users,

Here are a few announcement and reminders for Fall 2011 semester:


1. Course Merges

2. TA enrollment

3. Join the Bb Mailing List

4. Blackboard Training


Course Merges
If you would like to collapse your Blackboard sites into one course site or would like to add an additional site that include all of the students in your courses, let us know. Here's a shortcut to filling out a Course Merge Request Ticket<http://www6.miami.edu/bb/forms/combine_courses.htm>.( Or copy and paste this URL: <http://www6.miami.edu/bb/forms/combine_courses.htm> <http://www6.miami.edu/bb/forms/combine_courses.htm> http://www6.miami.edu/bb/forms/combine_courses.htm )

TA enrollment
We offer assistance enrolling TA's for you so if you need help and would like us to do it for you, contact the Blackboard help desk at 305-284-3949<tel:305-284-3949> or email <mailto:blackboardhelp@miami.edu> <mailto:blackboardhelp@miami.edu> blackboardhelp@miami.edu<mailto:blackboardhelp@miami.edu>.

Join the Bb Mailing List
Do you know someone who should be receiving these emails? Please pass this information on to them. Join the Bb Mailing list<https://listserv.miami.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=BB&A=1> ( Or copy and paste this URL:<https://listserv.miami.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=BB&A=1><https://listserv.miami.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=BB&A=1>https://listserv.miami.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=BB&A=1 )

Blackboard Training
New to UM? New to Blackboard? Join us for these introductory training to set up your Blackboard course. There will be time after each session for additional questions by people who stay. Please try to arrive early if you need assistance logging in to Blackboard.

To Register and to look at all trainings we offer, go to the IAC site at <http://www.iacmiami.org/> <http://www.iacmiami.org/> http://www.iacmiami.org/ and click on the "Events" page

Please let us know if you have any questions, Thank you for your patience and feedback, and we look forward to work with you throughout the fall semester.

Sincerely,

Rick Ramos
Blackboard Help Desk Supervisor
305-284-3949<tel:305-284-3949>

[BB] Blackboard training information

Hello Bb Users,

 

On July 5th, the University of Miami upgraded Blackboard, the class site system, to Version 9.1. The new version has been designed to increase student engagement and faculty efficiency.

 

== FACE TO FACE TRAINING SESSIONS ==

 

To help with the transition to the new system, we have scheduled multiple training sessions. "Getting Comfortable with Blackboard 9.1" is designed for people who have used Blackboard 8.0 and need to quickly get up to speed on 9.1. "Introduction to Blackboard" is designed for people who have not used Blackboard before and need to start at the beginning. Multiple offerings of both trainings are available.

 

See the schedule and register for a training session at http://iacevents.org

 

== ON-LINE VIDEO ==

 

We have also created a nine minute video to explain the six major new features in this new version. This video will help you quickly get started with your class site, if you had experience with Blackboard 8.0.

 

View the video at: http://snurl.com/sixthings

 

These six important features are covered in the video:

 

1.     The new "Edit" button

2.     The new "Hide and Show Control Panel" button

3.     The new "Chevrons" or "Contextual Menus"

4.     The new "Control Panel"

5.     The new "Drag and Drop" reordering

6.     The new "Create Menu" button

 

== CONTACT THE HELP DESK ==

 

Our help desk team is available to answer any of your questions. We can be reached by phone at 305-284-3949 or by email at blackboardhelp@miami.edu.

 

Let us know what we can do to help you use Blackboard at its fullest.

 

Blackboard Support Team: Bill, Alex, Rick, and Kelley Instructional Advancement Center

 

305-284-3949

 

 

 

[BB] Bb Upgrades and Maintenances

Hello Bb Users,

 

Please be informed there are some important maintenances and upgrades coming up. Here is a list and dates for them:

 

·         ARES Course Reserve Upgrade and Maintenance

 

The library Course Reserve (Ares) service will be temporarily unavailable between 1:00 pm -5pm  on Aug. 10th due to a system upgrade. 

 

 

·         SafeAssign Upgrade and Maintenance

 

Blackboard is upgrading  SafeAssign so  that it  will increase the reliability and performance of the SafeAssign product.

 

The SafeAssign service will be unavailable on Saturday August 13, 2011 from 8:00 AM US Eastern (GMT -4) until Saturday August 13, 2011 at 11:59 PM US Eastern (GMT-4).

 

During this outage, SafeAssign will be unavailable. End-users will not be able to submit papers through SafeAssign during the planned downtime and will receive an error message if they attempt to do so. SafeAssign Originality Reports will not be available to Instructors or Students during the planned downtime, nor will Instructors be able to access SafeAssign DirectSubmit.

 

 

If you have question, please feel free to contact our Blackboard help desk by calling 305-284-3949 or by email at blackboardhelp@miami.edu .

 

Sincerely,

 

Rick Ramos

Blackboard Help Desk Supervisor

305-284-3949

 

 

 

[BB] Blackboard Training

Hello Bb Users,

In July, the Blackboard class web site system at UM was upgraded from 8.0 to 9.1. This is a major improvement in the interface and workflow of the system.

The Instructional Advancement Center will provide training sessions on the Gables Campus for people who are already familiar with Blackboard 8.0 and need to learn how to work in Blackboard 9.1.

We are also offering complete training on 9.1 for people who have NOT used Blackboard before.  These training classes are offered before and during the fall semester. Please visit our events page http://www.iacmiami.org , click on upcoming events and register for a training session that is convenient for you. 

Classes are also offered on the Medical Campus by appointment 305-284-2008

For additional information please contact Kelley Seaman 305-284-2008 or k.seaman@miami.edu

Rick Ramos

Blackboard Help Desk Supervisor

305-284-3949