Thursday, December 15, 2011

End of Semester Tips

From Sandy...

Good afternoon faculty. Many of you are preparing for spring before you leave for the holidays so here are a few reminders for you.

1. Course Copy -

a. Make sure all content/links work in the course before copying to new semester.
b. When copying or exporting/importing courses to the new semester and receiving the email confirmation, wait another 10 minutes or so before going in to check content.
c. When using the course copy option, make sure you choose the option to include course files and links.
d. Be courteous of courses still in progress and only perform course copies, exports/imports and archives during off hours (8 pm - 8 am EST)

Full step-by-step instructions can be found at http://kctcs.edu/Faculty_and_Staff/eSupport/Training/Manage_Your_Course/Beginning_Semester.aspx

2. Course Availability – It is the instructor’s responsibility to open the course to students. You can do this at any time prior to the course start date. To make your course available to students:

a. From the Control Panel go to Customization then to Properties
b. On the Properties page, change the Course Availability option to Yes and submit the page.
c. Your course is now open to students

NOTE: You should not change the options under Course Duration. Doing so will remove the course from students Blackboard page. This setting should remain on Continuous.

3. Test Student Account – It is a good practice to login to Blackboard with your student account to ensure the course is functioning from the student side as you intended. You should also remove your student account from previous semester courses to ensure correct functionality.

a. One area to especially check is the My Grades area for students to make sure the Grade Book is displaying with the correct items in an organized manner to the students.
b. Also check to make sure course instructions are clearly stated to help students navigate the content and activities of the course as needed.
c. Instructors can now add and remove their test student accounts at any time. Instructions for doing this can be found at: http://elearning.kctcs.edu:80/bbcswebdav/xid-31234655_4 .

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Need more help?

Be sure to check out the Known Issues (located in Blackboard) for KCTCS common problems http://elearning.kctcs.edu/modules/_204_1/KnownIssues.pdf

All Blackboard functional questions, technical support, and performance issues are best resolved by calling the helpdesk or filing a ticket on our help desk site - http://d2.parature.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=8158

When filing your ticket, it is very important to capture as much detail as possible in order for either Bb Support or eLearning Services to troubleshoot. Helpful details include screenshots, student id, course id, navigation path, error messages, etc.
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Feature Reminders – KCTCS Online is running Blackboard 9.1 with service pack 3 (no change from last year). Below are some of the highlighted features and things to be aware of. Please take the time to review them.

>>Pronto IM
Pronto has been updated by Blackboard to Blackboard Instant Messenger (BIM). The first time you login to Pronto, you will be prompted to update to BIM. Inside Blackboard though, it is still referenced as Pronto, Blackboard has not updated terminology yet.


>>Paste from Word
As many of you are aware, pasting from Word can cause serious issues with your content. You may now use the Paste from Word feature located in the mash-ups area of the Text Box editor (last button on third line of tools). This will allow you to copy and paste into Blackboard from Word without formatting problems.

>>SoftChalk Score Center and new version
SoftChalk 7 is now available and can be downloaded from Blackboard. It now has an option to get Lesson activities and scores into Blackboard's grade center without using SCORM. This new feature is called Score Center. For more information about this tool, watch the archive on this feature here: http://kctcslive.wimba.com/launcher.cgi?room=_kctcs_s__85560_1_750406_2011_0513_1305_34

>>Browsers
While updated versions of Internet Explorer (9) and Firefox (4) are both available to the general public, please be aware that these versions are still in process of being tested for certification/compatibility with Blackboard and ARE NOT currently supported. To ensure you are using a Blackboard certified or compatible browser, please visit KCTCS browser information page located at: http://elearning.kctcs.edu/bbcswebdav/institution/Blackboard/SupportedBrowsersLearn9.1.pdf

>>Adaptive Release
Instructors can now set Adaptive Release rules using a calculated column. Categories for each item in the Grade Center appear in the Select a Grade Center column drop-down list.

>>Announcements
New Announcements now appear directly below a repositionable bar. Priority Announcements can be moved above the bar so they always appear first in the list. Students do not see the bar.

>>Early Warning System
Instructors can now set Early Warning System rules using a calculated column. Categories for each item in the Grade Center appear in the Select a Grade Center column drop-down list.

>>Assessments
Instructors now have the ability to view question numbers while building and editing assessments. Questions can be referenced by number throughout the assessment and can be used to sequence questions in an assessment.

>>Grade Center
Several features in the Grade Center have been enhanced to improve communication between the instructor and students and make navigation easier.

>>>Feedback and Comments
To augment the existing ability to download columns from the Grade Center and grade offline, Instructors can now include comments in the download. Comments can be added or edited offline, and are associated with the grade when the column information is uploaded to the Grade Center.

>>>Text Editor Features
The full features of the Text Editor are now available for Feedback to Users and Grading Notes from the Grade Details page and within the Grade Center grid. The Text Editor can also be used for feedback on Tests, Assignments, Group Assignments, Blogs, Wikis, Journals, and posts to the Discussion Board. Incorporating all the features of the Text Editor allows Instructors to leverage the full range of functions for formatting text and adding external links, attachments, images, Mashups, and multimedia to Feedback and Grading Notes.

>>>Students Viewing Feedback
Students are able to view the Feedback added using the Text Editor on their My Grades page.

>>>Needs Grading Page
Instructors can access assignment and test attempts that need grading from a new Needs Grading page accessed in the Grade Center section of the Control Panel. On the Needs Grading page, instructors can view how many attempts are ready for grading and sort and filter the items. Attempts are placed in a queue for easy navigation among items when grading or reviewing. Once an attempt is graded, it no longer appears on the Needs Grading page.

>>>Smart Views
Smart Views added as Favorites appear as an indented list in the Grade Center section of the Control Panel.

>>>Column Delete Alert
When groups with graded Blogs, Journals, Wikis, or Discussion Boards are deleted, an alert appears prompting the instructor to save or delete the corresponding Grade Center columns. Managing columns for groups becomes part of the same process as deleting groups.

>>Text Editor
The symbol font is removed from the Text Editor and a symbol picker has been added.


Happy Holidays and we'll see you in January.

eLearning Services
KCTCS Online Hello Faculty! Are you ready for the holiday break? Here are a few Blackboard reminders to wrap up your course before you go.

1. Report official grades to Peoplesoft. Blackboard does not transfer grades to Peoplesoft.

2. Download and save your grade book.
a. From the Grade Center click the Work Offline button and select Download.
b. Leave the defaults and click the Submit button.
c. Click the Download button to save the file to your computer. The file can be opened with Excel.

3. Archive your course. An archive preserves all course content and student work in a course. Faculty are responsible for their own archives.
a. From Packages and Utilities (Control Panel) click Export/Archive Course
b. Click the Archive button
c. Select the options needed and click Submit
d. You will receive an email when it is complete.
e. Go back to the Export/Archive area to download the Archive. Click the file to save it to your computer.

More information can be found at http://kctcs.edu/Faculty_and_Staff/eSupport/Training/Manage_Your_Course/End_of_Semester.aspx

Need more help?

All Blackboard functional questions, technical support, and performance issues are best resolved by calling the helpdesk or filing a ticket on our help desk site - http://d2.parature.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=8158

When filing your ticket, it is very important to capture as much detail as possible in order for either Bb Support or eLearning Services to troubleshoot. Helpful details include screenshots, student id, course id, navigation path, error messages, etc.

You may also be able to troubleshoot for students using your Test Student account. Instructor instructions for using the Add Test Student tool can be found at http://elearning.kctcs.edu:80/bbcswebdav/xid-31234655_4

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Bb Exemplary Course Program

From Paige:


Once again eLearning Services wants to recognize great courses KCTCS faculty have developed at each college. Please encourage faculty to submit their course(s) to the Blackboard Exemplary Course program.  The 2012 Blackboard Catalyst Awards is now OPEN for submissions. Submissions are due February 29, 2012.

Benefits for participating in the Blackboard Exemplary Program include:

·         Learn course design best practices to improve the engagement, collaboration, assessment and learner support within your own courses
·         Develop a fresh perspective by seeing how other instructors and designers from your discipline or area of interest are developing their courses
·         Apply lessons learned from the Exemplary Course Rubric to your own courses or those you are helping to develop
·         Receive detailed feedback on your own course development on the best practices you are employing or areas in which it can be improved
·         Gain professional development experience and recognition for your accomplishments and participation in the program

Blackboard will notify the winners in early May and recognize them at BbWorld 2012 in New Orleans, LA. Winners will receive paid registration to BbWorld 2012.

To learn more about the 2012 Exemplary Course Program or to submit a course, visit http://www.blackboard.com/platforms/learn/resources/community-programs/meet-your-peers/catalyst-awards.aspx

You will find information on how to:

·         Volunteer to be a reviewer
·         Download the Exemplary Course Rubric and Submit a Course for consideration
·         Explore best practices and past winning courses
·         Learn about how to participate in the 2012 Exemplary Course Program

eLearning Services will be sending information out to all faculty but appreciate you encouraging them to submit their courses.

Monday, December 5, 2011

OpenClass Learning Environment

From Paige Brooks-Jeffiers:
We wanted to again provide the opportunity for your innovative-thinking faculty to participate in the Pearson’s OpenClass Learning Environment pilot this spring as a part of our Design Project Partnership. On ground (web enhanced) courses are preferred. This allows the faculty to help guide the student with the different platform and to gather student feedback on the system. Fully online courses would be accepted if faculty are relatively tech savvy and ok with change as this product may be updated with new features and functionality at any time.  More about OpenClass:  http://www.joinopenclass.com/open/view/t1
Interested in participating?  Let Paige now.  Also send an email to Clovis Perry.