Blackboard News and Updates
Blackboard Version 8.0

• When are we moving to Blackboard 8.0?
• What does this upgrade mean for Faculty?
• What does this upgrade mean for Students?
• Where can I see the new version in action?
• Why Upgrade?
• What is Blackboard 8?
• Where can I get more information about the new version?
• What are the new features as compared to the “old” ones in Blackboard?
• Will there be training and when?

When are we moving to Blackboard 8.0?

We will upgrade to the new version during the first week in January of the Winter Break 2008/09, specifically January 7th between the hours of 6  and 8 a.m.

What does this upgrade mean for Faculty?

Faculty will benefit with the discussion board enhancements for swap window and expand window thread panes and tree/list views. There are also new Self and Peer Assessment capabilities, Early Warning System features, and more efficiency tools such as the ability to easily email announcements.

Faculty will also benefit from the efficiency of the new gradebook called the Grade Center. Faculty will be able to access several training opportunities, from drop in, to organized sessions, to video tutorials so that they can take advantage of the new features and manage the new Grade Center effectively.

What does this upgrade mean for Students?

Other than adjusting to a few small cosmetic changes, students should be able to seamlessly move from version 7.3 to 8 without any significant additional training. Support documentation through the web site for Blackboard will focus on the most significant areas of change, such as the Discussion Board functionality. However, these changes are minimal and will improve usability overall.

Where can I see the new version in action?

Log onto http://bbtest.drake.edu

Click on User Login and enter the user name and password that you normally use for Blackboard.

NOTE: The URL at the top of your browser tells you that you are in the test environment, not the “real” Blackboard server.

Why Upgrade?

Simply put, upgrades are part of every software program, and are intended to provide new functionality based on instructor and student feedback. Also of significant importance is that upgrades offer solutions to current issues and problems with the software. The question is not "should we upgrade", but more accurately, "when is our next upgrade".

The Blackboard environment is an enterprise system with high priority here at Drake. There are many important factors and reasons that upgrading is important. Upgrades provide the opportunity to enhance, improve, address issues, and solve problems that currently exist with one of the key teaching and learning systems we have on campus. A few key reasons to upgrade to Bb 8 are as follows:

1. There are over 150 bug fixes in Blackboard 8. Many of these bugs have been reported by faculty and create unnecessary end user frustration when there is a solution available. Specifically, one important bug fix is related to potential gradebook data loss when copying discussion boards across courses.
   
2. A brand new feature allows for faculty to create a set of Early Warning System detection rules to better manage and monitor student performance. This includes the ability to send blind copy emails to advisors, tutors, or other academic support personnel.
   
3. A brand new gradebook called the Grade Center allows for: more efficient and effective gradebook entry, the ability to drop the lowest score (which has been requested since 1999), and the capability for faculty to "freeze" the name columns for easier gradebook management for courses with a large number of assignments and assessments.
   
4. A brand new Self and Peer Assessment tool is available in Bb 8. This new tool provides enhanced teaching capabilities for faculty.
   
5. Enhanced discussion board workflow provides a better user interface for faculty and students. In Bb 8, users can view the entire threads on one page and also to subscribe to a forum which will send an email when a new post is created.
   
6. Java1.6 is supported in the Bb 8, which powers the Collaboration tools. Java 1.6 comes with new computers.
   

What is Blackboard 8?

Blackboard 8 is the latest release of the Academic Suite.

This release:

1. Builds on the student engagement tools in earlier releases
2. Improves the performance of the software
3. Enhances the discussion board and gradebook to make it easier to use,
4. Brings new features such as self assessment and peer review features to build student engagement.

Faculty members will be able to more effectively manage grades using the brand new Blackboard Grade Center, which is a completely redesigned gradebook. Integrated plagiarism deterrence software (Blackboard SafeAssign) and social bookmarking tools (Blackboard Scholar) are also included.

In addition to more than 150 bug fixes and adding major new functionality, numerous enhancements were implemented based on client feedback. The following list describes a few of the KEY teaching and learning advancements that are available in Bb 8:

    * A brand new gradebook called the GRADE CENTER.

 Instructors can: enter scores much more efficiently, select from a dual display of gradebook data, access audit/grade history changes, provide gradebook comments, freeze names for easier scrolling, upload multiple columns at once, build custom views, drop lowest scores, provide more effective comments, print progress reports, and easily email students right from the gradebook. This brand new, easy-to-use gradebook increases instructor efficiency and enables new customization, powerful analysis, and flexibility capabilities.

    * Several DISCUSSION BOARD user interface, navigation, and feature                                                            enhancements.

Originally introduced in 7.3, the new discussion board enhancements provide: enhanced workflow, faster navigation, better collection views, forum level subscription, reply with quote, tagging, and the ability to mark messages read or unread. It's much easier to act on information more quickly and navigate more efficiently with streamlined discussion board.

    * A brand new EARLY WARNING SYSTEM feature.

Originally introduced in 7.2, this new feature allows instructors to proactively measure, monitor, and communicate student performance with students, advisors, and other academic support personnel. Combined with the new Grade Center, Performance Dashboard, and Course Statistics, monitoring student engagement and enhancing student retention is more effective.

    * A brand new SELF AND PEER ASSESSMENT tool.

This new feature allows instructors to give students more individualized feedback, as well as to focus on critical thinking skills. Self-assessment tools give students better insight as to what the evaluation criteria is and help build critical thinking skills, as well as promote active learning. Peer assessment tools give students the opportunity to provide constructive feedback to their peers and help faculty easily manage group assignments.

    * Blackboard SCHOLAR included.

Scholar provides self-directed research and student contributions to course resource collections. It allows students and faculty to share resources, develop relationships, and collaborate across institutions across the globe.

    * Blackboard SAFEASSIGN included.

 Plagiarism prevention tools help instructors detect plagiarism, protect the originality of work and educate students on proper citation and attribution.

    * WHAT'S NEW is now available.

The What's New feature was originally introduced in 7.1. However, it was unable to be used since the performance of the tool impacted the response time of the server. With Bb 8, the module can be loaded asynchronously so that the My Bb page loads much more quickly for students and instructors. The What's New tool is an effective way for students and faculty to increase awareness of new content, gradebook, discussion, and announcements items that have been posted in their courses.

    * EMAIL ANNOUNCEMENTS is a new feature.

This allows instructors to easily create an announcement and also email their students with 1 action. This improves communication with students and is especially helpful in critical and timely messages.

Where can I get more information about the new version?

More information about Grade Center can be found at: http://www.blackboard.com/release8/video_2.html

Getting Started with the Grade Center (pdf)

Video Tutorials can be found at the following links:

Determining Grades and Exemptions

Analyzing Grades

Customizing the Grade Center

Self and Peer Assessment

What are the new features as compared to the “old” ones in Blackboard?

Will there be training and when?

Yes, there will be training. Documentation and written materials will be available on the Instructional Technology web site at http://www.drake.edu/it/instructional by clicking on the link called Professional Development and Training.

There will also be hands-on workshops conducted during the week before classes begin for faculty who are back on campus and wish to have early training. Other workshops will be announced via the Announcements and through the OIT Services channel in blueVIEW.

For more information, please contact Peggy Steinbronn.