Blackboard 9
On May 17th we will be upgrading to Blackboard Learn, Release 9.1, the newest version of the Blackboard Learn platform. This new version will be used starting with the 2012 summer semester. All previously existing courses will be kept on the system and will be available after the upgrade. In addition, tutorials and help will be updated for Blackboard 9.1 after the upgrade.
While many of the features are brand new, many others will feel familiar to what we are using today. Some of the new tools that you can look forward to are:
- Enhanced grading workflow
- Assessment Manager
- Learning Modules content tool
- Wiki’s
- Gradable blogs
- Gradable rubrics
Blackboard will not be accessible during the upgrade from 8am on Thursday, May 17 through 8am on Friday, May 18.
The Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) has presented a few Blackboard 9.1 Overview sessions on both the Monroe Park Campus and the MCV Campus to assist faculty and staff in becoming familiar with the major changes and new functionality. CTE recognizes that finding time to attend these sessions is not always possible, so they have recorded an overview, which is available online.
Blackboard is a Web-based course-management system designed to allow students and faculty to participate in classes delivered online or use online materials and activities to complement face-to-face teaching. Blackboard enables instructors to provide students with course materials, discussion boards, virtual chat, online quizzes, an academic resource center, and more. The degree to which Blackboard is used in a course varies. Instructors may supplement an on-campus class by putting their syllabus and handouts on their course sites. In contrast, other courses may be conducted entirely through Blackboard, without any on-campus sessions.
If you can not find the answer to your questions from the Blackboard Help links on this page; please email blackboard@vcu.edu, call the Technology Services HelpIT Center at (804) 828-2227, or submit a help ticket by going to http://go.vcu.edu/helpIT to have a support staff contact you.
