Bb Learn Self-Support Functions Moving

The Blackboard Learn Self-Service tool will be shut down as of February 16th, 2017. Its functions are moving to new, streamlined locations.

 

Where Do I Manage my Bb Learn Enrollments?

You can now provide users access directly from within the course or organization itself, provided you are a course instructor or organization leader.

Managing your Blackboard Learn Course & Organization Enrollments (print instructions)

Video How To: (1 minute)

https://cdnapisec.kaltura.com/p/670832/sp/67083200/embedIframeJs/uiconf_id/29182902/partner_id/670832?iframeembed=true&playerId=kaltura_player&entry_id=0_otrn43b5&flashvars%5BstreamerType%5D=auto&flashvars%5BlocalizationCode%5D=en&flashvars%5BleadWithHTML5%5D=true&flashvars%5BsideBarContainer.plugin%5D=true&flashvars%5BsideBarContainer.position%5D=left&flashvars%5BsideBarContainer.clickToClose%5D=true&flashvars%5Bchapters.plugin%5D=true&flashvars%5Bchapters.layout%5D=vertical&flashvars%5Bchapters.thumbnailRotator%5D=false&flashvars%5BstreamSelector.plugin%5D=true&flashvars%5BEmbedPlayer.SpinnerTarget%5D=videoHolder&flashvars%5BdualScreen.plugin%5D=true&&wid=0_bs7b14q7

Where Do I Create Prep Areas?

By default, each Blackboard Learn Faculty user has 5 prep areas. If you want additional prep areas, or you want to delete existing prep areas, you must submit a support request using the links below.

Additional Prep Area:

https://support.csuchico.edu/TDClient/Requests/ServiceDet?ID=17085

Delete Prep Area

https://support.csuchico.edu/TDClient/Requests/ServiceDet?ID=17083

Remodel Course:

https://support.csuchico.edu/TDClient/Requests/ServiceDet?ID=15873

 

 

Bb Learn’s new bugs – Jan. 2017

Faculty, by now you have seen the new interface for Bb Learn and are preparing your courses for the spring semester 2017. If you have not yet noticed, there are a couple of bugs that you may not like. One is how you can “drag and drop” to reorder elements on a content page. It is not working as designed and we have complained loudly to Blackboard to fix it. Remedies are in progress and will be deployed as soon as ready. The Technology and Learning Program folks can help you now!

See image below or come in for a visit, the basement of Meriam Library, room 003.

 

Another bug is how the Gradebook does not fill the width of your computer screen. This is quite annoying. We are going to manipulate that setting so that it will fill the screen.

Please make note of any other bugs you see and let us know so that we can pass them on to the Blackboard developers. Call us at 898-6167 or email TLP at tlp@csuchio.edu, and let us know.

We are very happy that this new version meets accessibility requirements better than before. Your students will appreciate that, too!

Links to Lynda.com are fixed within Bb Learn!

CSU. Chico Faculty:  using Lynda.com tutorials is a great source of help to our students. Earlier this fall the internal links to Lynda.com tutorials were not working properly, and we shared with you a work-around. The issue has been repaired, and now the shortcut links work great! If you need any assistance with this, don’t hesitate to contact the Technology and Learning Program (or TLP). We are located in the basement of Meriam Library, room 003. Come visit us, or call x6167, or email tlp@csuchico.edu. We are here to serve you and help simplify instructional activities for your students.

 

Voice Tools are no longer supported by Blackboard Learn

The Technology and Learning Program (TLP) and Distributed Learning Technologies (DLT) want to inform our Chico State faculty about a couple important changes that will affect you and your students’ workflow this semester, 2016.

Blackboard Learn is constantly working to upgrade their system and in this case to remove Java related tools, Mostly this is a GOOD Thing. But Voice Tools are no long going to be available for use.

This includes:

• Voice Authoring
• Voice Board
• Voice Email
• Voice Podcaster
• Voice Presentation

Blackboard will not support these tools past August 31, 2016 which is the official end of life. Most of the use cases here may be covered by Kaltura or Blackboard Collaborate Ultra. Please contact TLP for a consultation with one of our talented Instructional Designers (ITCs) for assistance.

Distributed Learning Technologies (DLT) and TLP

Distributed Learning Technologies (or DLT) is the unsung hero behind Blackboard Learn, Bb Collaborate, and so many other technologies we use in teaching our students today at CSU, Chico.

TLP focuses on how to use the tools; DLT ensures those tools are up and running.

Check out their website and their webpage for service interruptions, where you can stay up-to-date on any interruptions in campus technology services.

They are a silent but “heavy-lifting partner.” 

They provide behind the scenes technical support for the Learning Management System (Blackboard Learn) and our distance learning service, Bb Collaborate. They also extend the functionality of our learning management system through  “building blocks” or “plug-in” services; such as publisher content, Kaltura Streaming Media Server, Turnitin, etc.

Manager, David Rowe has focused heavily on standardizing systems support and providing enhanced application stability.  Before this role, Dave was the Chico’s Data Warehouse Lead for a few years after moving back to Chico from Humboldt State University. Working with Dave are Miroslav Lulic (team lead), Thomas Somma, and Robert Utter.

The LMS Advisory Board (team) is comprised of DLT and TLP and also are joined by: Classroom Services, and IT Support Services. In the spirit of transparency with the campus community all of our weekly meeting notes are published online. We are proud of this strong partnership and are pleased to be working with such dedicated individuals.

Register for Bb Learn workshops using DTS

TLP has moved our training registration to the campus-wide, training system called DTS.

DTS enables all staff, faculty and student employees to:

• View a central, campus-wide training calendar.
• Register for courses.
• Track enrollments and professional development.

To Access DTS

1. From your browser, navigate to www.csuchico.edu/training.

Note: You must have pop-ups enabled.
TLP has found that Internet Explorer and Safari seem to be the least problematic.

2. Click Login to DTS.

 Note: DTS uses your State Employee ID, which is issued from the Chancellor’s office. If you are not able to login, submit a ticket with ITSS.

To  register for Blackboard Learn and other TLP workshops

1. Click Schedule.

2. Select a course that works with your time frame.

3. Click Register.

If you want to see all of the workshops offered by TLP, you can access the Course Catalog tab in DTS, or for a more reader-friendly version, go to the TLP web site and click Workshops on the left menu.

 

 

 

 

Bb Collaborate Ultra Soft-Release

New version of Collaborate with easier setup!

Soft-release available beginning August 20, 2015

Blackboard recently released Bb Collaborate “Ultra,” a streamlined version of Bb Collaborate that runs directly in your browser without any need to install Java or use a separate launcher. So far, users have almost unanimously preferred the new experience, but instructors who rely on breakout rooms, plan management, or certain other features should continue to use the “classic” version for now.

The new tool is enabled on a course-by-course basis and will offer the following enhancements:

• No Java plug-in
• Thoroughly redesigned for a modern user experience
• Higher-quality
• High definition audio and video
• Application sharing
• Integration with BB Student Mobile (now available in Google Play and the iTunes Store)

Blackboard has put together some helpful guides:

• Collaborating with Collaborate (video)
• Sharing microphone and webcam
• Sharing other content

How can I use it?
After August 20, 2015, we can enable Collaborate Ultra on a course-by-course basis. You can switch over some, or all, of your courses by submitting a TeamDynamic service request.

In the meantime, we will enable Collaborate Ultra in all “prep areas,” so that you can get a preview.

Why a soft release?
The new experience does not yet support every feature that’s offered in the classic version. So far, users have almost unanimously preferred the new experience, but instructors who rely on breakout rooms, plan management, or certain other features may continue to use the classic version for now.

TLP is working to create a new workshop/tutorial to assist those faculty who wish to use the Bb Collaborate Ultra version. Please have patience as it was just introduced to us, too!! Keep visiting our TLP website for announcements on the right side of our homepage.

 

Bb Learn will be down Thurs., July 16, 2015 for upgrade to Kaltura

Bb Learn will be down on Thursday, July 16, 2015 – 5:00AM to 8:00AM.

 

Bb Learn and sharing video with Kaltura

 

The Kaltura Application Framework (KAF) is an extensible, feature rich, UI based configurable framework that streamlines the integration of Kaltura’s rich media capabilities into different publishing applications. The framework is constructed of modules that provide a packaged workflow and functionalities that can be easily embedded in another application as an iFrame, instead of integrating directly with the Kaltura APIs. The framework can decrease the integration time with your application dramatically and allow you to always get up to date new functionality by decoupling the added features from the integration itself. The embedded iFrames are all based on a responsive design to ensure that the integrated pages are displayed properly on any given area.

Benefits include

• Staying current with the vendors development and release cycle
• Small feature changes mitigating impacts to the functional use experience
• Enhanced web-cam upload functionality
• Improved interface with Blackboard Learn
• Additional features and functionality include:
  • Video editing
  • Presentation integration
• Precursor to additional feature sets delivered via new continuous development model

 

Window of downtime for this upgrade: Thursday, July 16, 2015, 5:00AM to 8:00AM.

 

Streamlined the default Bb Learn course template by removing “Notifications”

What changed?

There is no longer a link to the Notifications module page on the default Bb Learn course template automatically created for you at the beginning of the each term/semester.

Why did it change?

• To simplify the default course template since the same information can also be found on the Bb Learn Home page.
• Feedback from faculty indicates the “What’s New” module contained too much distracting information at the beginning of the semester.

Who is impacted?

• Faculty are planning to assemble their course(s) from scratch using the default template.
• Course copy is not impacted. If you have a Notifications page on the previous semester’s course, it will come over during Course Copy.

How can I add the Notifications module page back on my course menu?

1. Select (+) above the course menu, and select Module Page.

2. Enter Notifications as the name.
3. Select Available to Users and click Submit.
4. Click Add Course Module.

5. Click Add next to the modules you want displayed (previously these were My Announcements & What’s New).
6. Click Ok

Aug. 5, 2014 Blackboard Learn Update: Student Preview

What is changing?

This version replaces the old “Student View” with Blackboard’s new “Student Preview.”

Why the change?

The old Student View and its corresponding Demo User were developed by a 3^rd party, and are no longer supported by Blackboard.

How will this impact me?

• The interface to access student preview has changed slightly
• Grade Center shows PreviewUser account instead of Demo User account
• When exiting Preview mode, you must choose to keep or delete your student preview data.
• If you want the same functionality as the old Student View,  choose the option
  “Keep the Preview User and all Data.”
  

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please contact TLP at 530-898-6167.