New Features and Enhancements; Changes and Resolved Issues; Still Unresolved Issues (May, 2012)

Announcements

Select to send an immediate email when creating an announcement. Place a check in "Email Announcment" (yes it does work!)

Grade Center

Needs Grading

Discussion Board; Wikis; Blogs and Journals: Now have the option to "show" in Grade Center's "Needs Grading" view after x number of posts.

New Grade Center menu options

Grade Center column menu now allows instructors to: View Grade History; Access and Edit Test

Tests/Exams/Quizzes

Force Submission Option

When deploying timed tests after selecting Set Timer, turn ON the Auto-Submit option. the test will save and submit automatically when the time expires. Leaving the default OFF the student may continue past the alloted time

Delete a question, change point value of a question, or change which answer is marked correct and Blackboard will re-grade all submitted assessments and provide notification of change

Course Navigation

Task-based navigation from course to course. Use down arrow to the right of the course name "breadcrumb" to navigate to the same location in other courses teach or are a student in.

Interactive Rubrics

 Rubrics can be created and associated with gradable assignmentsand the "rubric" available for viewing

A "clickable" rubric allowing for entry of feedback and ratings 

What has been Resolved:

Export Course / Import Course

The "Fatal Error" that caused export/imports to fail has been resolved

Discussion Board Subscribe Function (Graded Discussion Forums/Threads) 

Subscription emails from a graded discussion forum or thread using the "Subscribe" resolved

Feedback and Comments

Students are now able to see comments for all assignments, tests and Safe Assignments from their My Grades area.

Students are now able to view the full comment feedback. Longer feedback comments are available as a scrollable area and the text does not overlap in the page  

What is Still Unresolved or Under Investigation

Content System

When uploading files to either My Content or Course Content area there is an error when using the Java plug-in.

Use the Single File option (top right button), select the “Choose File” option and select and upload the file.

If you want to upload multiple files create a folder on the local computer and place items in the folder; then zip the folder and upload using the Upload package option.

Safe Assignments: Verifiy Safe Assignments available

Because Blackboard was shut down; upgraded and restarted there may be a need to ensure that existing and new Safe Assignments are available and syncronized with the current course:

If you do not see the Create Assessments; Safe Assignments option

1. Access Customization from the Control Panel; select Tool Availability
2. Scroll down to SafeAssign - make sure there is a checkmark in "available" (first column); the next option Safe Assignment, place a check mark in box to the far right (Available in Content Area)
3. Click Submit

You should now see the option for Safe Assignment under the Create Assessment button along with Test, Survey, Assignment:

If you have Safe Assignments in the course already, make sure to "sync" the Safe Assignment with the course

1. Access Course Tools from the Control Panel; select SafeAssign
2. On the SafeAssign screen, select SafeAssignments (a listing of created Safe Assignments will display)
3. At the top right hand corner click (select) the button icron for "Synchronize this course"