Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Re: [BB] CAS authentication is back

Dear Colleagues,
I have used BB since it was introduced years ago and in fact two of my classes were some years counted as number 3  and 4 in the total count of the use of BB.  So I was a dedicated user but the the "advances" of the Bb technology has gone beyond my capability. 
So this year I have given up.  Totally.
The thing is completely ridiculous.  It keeps telling me that I don't have admin privileges, or it says error and I write a long letter in announcements and it throws me out - and wipes out the message.  I tried to put up my resume and the format of it was so ridiculous that I deleted it:  a page document was on three lines with the lines going a mile to the right and no visible way of how to format.  I posted a banner  after trying for ages until I figured out that it takes only a png format.
So:  I have given up.  I upload everything in my dropbox for which I pay out of my pocket.  I invite students to participate in it (for free).  I upload materials and they upload their assignments including PP which this BB "Rolls Royce"  I suspect could not handle.
I will use only the function through which I will be emailing to the class and brief announcements to be emailed to the class - brief for fear that the system will kick me out and wipe out the message in the process.  It also took me a while  how to operate the discussion board and blogs which too was shrouded in mystery - I will stop using it and use some other private software if that too somehow packs up.
I long for the return of BB about 5 models ago which was user friendly, did not have all of the tricks which I seriously doubt anybody can use.  I suggest that you do a faculty survey and roll back to a usable version.  and make sure that you ask whether faculty actually use it beyond posting a syllabus.  I urge whoever is in charge to reconsider this annual upgrading since this last version in my view is totally useless.
Thanks
Dr.V.Kubalkova
Professor of International Studies
On Sep 5, 2012, at 11:51 AM, "Ramos, Ricardo" <r.ramos3@MIAMI.EDU> wrote:

Hello Bb Users,
 
CAS is now working and you should be able to log into Blackboard.
 
Thank you,
 
Rick Ramos
Department of Information Technology
Blackboard Help Desk Supervisor
305-284-3949
 
<image001.png>