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JEFF: Hi there! I’m Jeff with the CII here at Brandman University, and I’d like to share some important and exciting news about Blackboard
and your spring courses. Brandman and the CII are all about instructional innovation, and as a faculty member, you
especially understand the power of providing quality instruction, utilizing the most up-to-date technology. With that in mind, we will be
updating Blackboard with some exciting new features for spring. This update is scheduled for December 23rd and
Blackboard will be unavailable for up to 24 hours. Now, for some, the words “Blackboard” and
“Update” in the same sentence can cause your toes to curl a little bit. We completely understand this, and the CII exists for your
support. First off, be reassured that most things in Blackboard aren’t changing. All of the awesome
tools that were added in the fall are working better than ever:
Improved assignment grading that allows you to view the assignment without downloading it. The multifaceted calendar that allows students
to see all of their due dates for all of their classes in one place. An extensive notification center that tells you
everything that’s happening in your courses. And the Retention Center that provides detailed student data you can use to ensure success for
all of your students. The biggest changes have been made to editing
test options. As you’ll see, the basic set up is still the same.
However, now you can add exceptions for specific users and groups, such as allowing individual students 2 hours to take a test instead
of 1 for ADA accommodations. You also have much more flexibility when it
comes to test results and feedback display options. You can now set your tests to only display the correct answers to students after all
tests have been submitted and graded. Also, you now have the option to allow students
to take the test after the due date should you need to.
Have you ever had a student claim that they took a test but there was nothing in the grade center? Now you can verify their story with the
Test Access Log. The test access log will tell you how long they spent on the test and even if they had technical problems while taking it.
You will notice a slight change in how you grade discussion posts from within the Discussion
Board. The grading view is much simpler but you can
still find the forum statistics here…and to move to another student, simply click here.
Other updates have made managing groups easier and even though Firefox is still the browser of choice, other internet browsers have
improved compatibility. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel by
clicking here. In the next few months we will be releasing detailed Blackboard Training Videos that will help bring your teaching to the next
level. This is also a great way to stay informed on resolutions to any major technical issue that arises.
Of course, you can always visit Brandman.edu/CII to view our training schedule.
Click here to go there now. And Lastly, Each school has an experienced,
Blackboard Certified, academic technology specialist. They are eager to resolve any technical issue you encounter.
On behalf of all of us at the CII, thanks for watching and happy holidays!