Using Blackboard 9.1

The UO will upgrade our Blackboard system to "Blackboard Learn" version 9.1 on Dec 21-22, 2010.  Version 9.1 makes many "under the hood" changes and resolves a large number of significant bugs. Luckily, though, it's not a big change from the user's perspective.

The change to Blackboard 9.0 that occurred 15 months ago (August 2009) was a much larger change for users.  For more information about that change see "Using Blackboard 9."

BB 9.1 for instructors

We have prepared a fairly short document for instructors, plus Blackboard Inc. has several useful documents.  See

• UO Blackboard 9.1 Upgrade Notes for Instructors (RECOMMENDED)
• Understanding the Change from Blackboard Learn 9.0 to 9.1
• Blackboard Learn Release 9.1 Instructor Guide

Among the most noticeable changes are:

• reorganization of the action buttons for adding content to Content Areas.  "Create Item" has become "Build Content > Item."
• control panel reorganization.  Grade Center is now a separate item rather than part of "Evaluation."
• improved browser support for Safari 5
• a variety of enhancements to the grade center
• many new features, including
  • a new filesystem containing files uploaded as images and attachments
  • mashups
  • wikis

Instructors interested in learning more about the new system may be interested in attending a brief workshop:

• Fri, Dec 3, 2010, 1pm-1:50pm, Proctor 42 classroom (Knight Library 42)
• Wed, Jan 5, 2011 1pm-1:50pm, Edmiston Classroom (Knight Library 144)
• Thu, Jan 6, 2011, 1pm-1:50pm, Edmiston Classroom (Knight 144)
• Fri, Jan 7, 2011, 1pm-1:50pm, Edmiston Classroom (Knight 144)

If you can't attend, you can of course get assistance and training from CMET Consulting.

BB 9.1 for students (and others users)

The visual appearance of Blackboard has changed slightly,  However, most students should see only minor functional changes to Bb 9.1.

Safari browser now works

We believe that most of the problems that plagued Safari have now been fixed.

Submitting online assignments

If your instructor uses Blackboard to accept term papers, there's probably a link to the Assignment (with an icon like the one  on the right).  To submit your assignment, click Attach file: BROWSE TO LOCAL FILE to include your term paper.  After you have selected the file you want to attach you will not need to click an additional "Attach File".

Visual Text Box Editor

When you add text in a discussion board, blog, or wiki there are now a few new options.  You can still embed a file (displayed as a link in the text), display an image, or embed controls for multimedia content.  Now in addition you can insert the code to display what Blackboard calls a "mashup" -- a link to material on flickr, slideshare, or youtube.

Wikis

Blackboard now has wikis in addition to blogs and journals.  Your instructor may decide to use one in your class.

And more...

For more information about Blackboard 9.1, see for instance:

• Blackboard Learn Version 9.1 User Guide (html)
• Blackboard 9 student guide -- a YouTube video from Teesside U in Britain

Try googling "blackboard 9.1 student guide" for more resources from other universities.