[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

 

 

 

[BB] Fall 2011 Classes

Hello Bb Users,

 

Please be informed the classes for Fall 2011 are now available under “My Current Courses”.

 

If you have any question or concern, call the blackboard help desk at 305-284-3949 or email at blackboardhelp@miami.edu

 

Thanks,

 

Rick Ramos

Blackboard Help Desk Supervisor

305-284-3949

 

 

 

[BB] Blackboard will be down on Wednesday morning, 3:00 am - 6:00 am

The Blackboard system will be out of service Wednesday July 6, 2011 between the hours of 03:00 am to 06:00 am US Eastern due to important maintenance following our recent upgrade.

[BB] Bb 9.1 training site: iacevents.org

The correct web site to register for Bb 9.1 training, if you are using the system NOW, is http://iacevents.org

Bill

[BB] Blackboard upgrade - COMPLETED

The Blackboard system has been upgraded from version 8.0 to version 9.1. We have configured, customized, and tested the new system. The system is now available for your use.

If you see problems, or have questions, let us know. I will be monitoring my email overnight. From 9-5 on Tuesday, call the Blackboard Help Desk at 305-284-3949 with any questions.

If you have not gone to a Blackboard 9.1 upgrade training, and are using the system NOW in a class, see if you can sign up for one of the upcoming trainings on Tuesday and Wednesday. It will really make the migration easier for you. You can find the available times at the http://iacenvets.org web page. No need to log in. Just look in the upcoming events and click on the event to register.

More dates and times will be added soon for people getting ready for the fall semester.

You Blackboard team,

Rick Ramos
Bill Vilberg
Alex Zaldivar

[BB] Blackboard upgrade - status report

Blackboard Managed Hosting has run into some issues with our upgrade. Luckily we have tomorrow, Monday, in case we need to get everything taken care of.

We are waiting for them to hand the system over to us so that we can customize and configure it. Then it will be released for your use. I will keep you informed of developments.

Bill Vilberg, 786-250-2255, http://vilberg.com

[BB] Upgrading to 9.1 this weekend

Just a quick reminder that our Blackboard system is being upgraded from version 8.0 to 9.1 this weekend. We will let you know as soon as the upgrade is completed, sometime on Monday we expect.

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

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

[BB] Blackboard 9.1 is coming!

If you cannot see this email, click or copy and paste in your browser the following link:  http://www6.miami.edu/bb/helpdesk/email_upgrade/upgrade%20announcement%20email.htm

 

  

Dear Bb Users

I have some exciting news. We will be upgrading to Blackboard Learn™, Release 9.1 over the 4th of July weekend. Here are just a few things that are built into Release 9.1:

Student Engagement is the Key to Success

In Release 9.1, exciting new social learning and teaching tools foster more logical, visually impactful, and active learning opportunities for students, helping them stay connected to their educational experience 24 hours a day. Features like wiki’s, gradable blogs, and Mashups are part of Release 9.1.

Educator Efficiency is Important

New capabilities in Release 9.1 will save educators and organizational leaders’ time and effort, making it easier to focus on student achievement and retention. Enhanced grading workflow, an assessment manager, and learning modules for course organization allow instructors to be more efficient.

Success Enablers to Help Us Get There

Blackboard is offering more assistance than ever before to help us better understand how to take advantage of all the new features in Release 9.1. A couple of the valuable new resources that you may be interested in checking out are:

• A New On-Demand Learning Center with free access to video quick tutorials and Getting Started Guide

• The University of Miami Blackboard Help Site with links to Blackboard's video quick tutorials and more: http://iacinfo.org/index.php?title=Blackboard_Course_Management_System

Please take some time to look at the attached “What’s New in Release 9.1” brochure. It will give you some more detail about the innovative new features we are about to experience.

Regards,

The UM Blackboard Support Team

 Rick Ramos, Blackboard User Support Manager

 Alex Zaldivar, Blackboard System Manager

 Bill Vilberg, Director of Instructional Advancement

305-284-3949

 

 

 

[BB] Blackboard 9.1 is coming!

If you cannot see this email, click or copy and paste in your browser the following link:  http://www6.miami.edu/bb/helpdesk/email_upgrade/upgrade%20announcement%20email.htm

 

  

Dear Bb Users

I have some exciting news. We will be upgrading to Blackboard Learn™, Release 9.1 over the 4th of July weekend. Here are just a few things that are built into Release 9.1:

Student Engagement is the Key to Success

In Release 9.1, exciting new social learning and teaching tools foster more logical, visually impactful, and active learning opportunities for students, helping them stay connected to their educational experience 24 hours a day. Features like wiki’s, gradable blogs, and Mashups are part of Release 9.1.

Educator Efficiency is Important

New capabilities in Release 9.1 will save educators and organizational leaders’ time and effort, making it easier to focus on student achievement and retention. Enhanced grading workflow, an assessment manager, and learning modules for course organization allow instructors to be more efficient.

Success Enablers to Help Us Get There

Blackboard is offering more assistance than ever before to help us better understand how to take advantage of all the new features in Release 9.1. A couple of the valuable new resources that you may be interested in checking out are:

• A New On-Demand Learning Center with free access to video quick tutorials and Getting Started Guide

• The University of Miami Blackboard Help Site with links to Blackboard's video quick tutorials and more: http://iacinfo.org/index.php?title=Blackboard_Course_Management_System

Please take some time to look at the attached “What’s New in Release 9.1” brochure. It will give you some more detail about the innovative new features we are about to experience.

Regards,

The UM Blackboard Support Team

 Rick Ramos, Blackboard User Support Manager

 Alex Zaldivar, Blackboard System Manager

 Bill Vilberg, Director of Instructional Advancement

305-284-3949

 

 

 

[BB] Blackboard is BACK

The Blackboard system seems to be back. Some sort of appliance failed.

If the outage caused problems and you need our help, please call 8-3949 or 305-284-3949 off campus.

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

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

[BB] Blackboard still down

The Blackboard system at UM is still down. Here is the information we have received.

"Blackboard Managed Hosting is currently experiencing an unexpected event at the Data Center that is affecting multiple clients. It appears that your institution is affected by this problem. While there is currently no ETA for resolution, Blackboard Engineers are working to resolve this issue as quickly as possible"

We will keep you informed.

Bill Vilberg
8-3944 or 786-250-2255

[BB] Blackboard is down

Blackboard is down. Blackboard, Inc., is aware of it and working to repair correct the solution. I will keep you informed.

Bill
8-3944 or 786-250-2255

[BB] Bb may be target of acquisition + Instructure Canvas

Interesting article about BB fundamentals and their problems. In the article they talk about Instructure Canvas, a new and exciting alternative system.

> http://www.cnbc.com/id/42667338?__source=yahoo|headline|quote|text|&par=yahoo

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

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

[BB] Instructure Canvas Demo THURSDAY - Please sign up

Instructure Canvas is a new learning management system, designed to be better than Blackboard. Really. It was designed by two graduate students who used Blackboard and were frustrated by it. They started from scratch, using a modern programming language, and came up with an interesting system.

Someone from Instructure will be on campus this THURSDAY to do demos for faculty focus groups. There will be two sessions, one from 12:30 pm to 1:45 pm and a second one from 2:00 pm to 3:15 pm. Since you have experience with Blackboard, it would be great if you could attend one of the sessions and compare Instructure Canvas to Bb.

To register for either session (registration is required) go to the http://iacevents.org web page.

To learn more about Instructrue Canvas, go to http://goo.gl/HV5Yv for information from outside of Instructure, including a link to a YouTube video, or go to http://www.instructure.com for material from instrcuture.

I hope a number of you will be able to sign up for one or the other session. You feedback will greatly influence our future plans.

Bill Vilberg
Instructional Advancement
Richter Library, Room 325
bill.vilberg@miami.edu
786-250-2255

http://iacinfo.org - Access to the information you need, WHEN YOU NEED IT.

[BB] Blackboard Advisory Committee

We need your help. We want to have an advisory committee help us with recommendations about Blackboard. Would you be willing to help? (If you, let me know by replying to this email. Otherwise, keep reading and maybe I can still convince you.)

In some cases we just need a group of people for opinions and ideas. In other cases we will ask a few people to get together as a focus group to look at something and provide feedback. This will NOT be a major time sink. If should take less than 30 minutes a week, unless you agree to be in a focus group. Those take an hour and 15 minutes.

We are looking for a range of users from beginners who use Backboard very little to people who are using multiple aspects of Blackboard as part of the student's learning experience. Over the summer participation will be almost exclusively via email or other electronic form, so you don't need to make any commitment to be in the heat and humidity of Miami all summer long.

If you are willing to be on the advisory committee, please reply to this message and I will be in touch with you. We would like about 30-40 advisors, so the load can be spread around a group of people. Please volunteer if you can.

Bill Vilberg
Instructional Advancement
Richter Library, Room 325
bill.vilberg@miami.edu
786-250-2255

http://iacinfo.org - Access to the information you need, WHEN YOU NEED IT.