To UMBC Students, Faculty and Staff,

As the semester and year come to a close, we wanted to share highlights from the most recent DoIT News Update. First, as previously announced, UMBC Blackboard will now be hosted by Blackboard itself:

• The ONLY thing that will change is where current UMBC Bb links in and outside of myUMBC are pointing: To Blackboard's Managed Hosting (MH) site instead of one provided by DoIT.
• In fact, faculty can now access the new Managed Hosting (MH) Bb site by logging into my.umbc.edu/go/bbnew to prepare for Winter and Spring courses. | More Info

NOTE: This link will be active through 12/28/14. On 12/29, the myUMBC Bb icon/link and blackboard.umbc.edu will be used to access our new Blackboard system.

• Faculty Can Now Log Into my.umbc.edu/go/bbnew. | More Info
  
  NOTE: This link will be active through 12/28. On 12/29, myUMBC and blackboard.umbc.edu will be used to access our new Blackboard system.
  
  
• Winter and Spring 2015 Course Shells Were Created on 12/2
• Course content from AY12-13 and AY13-14 has been migrated
• New Features In Blackboard for Winter and Spring 2015
• FYI: DoIT Has Created Printable How-to Instructions for Logging In
  

• January 14 Hybrid Course Design Workshop Open to All Faculty
  
• Winter Technology Training Available for UMBC Faculty
• Online Learning Consortium Offers Free Faculty Training
• Bb SafeAssign Integration Improves for WT2015
• Bb Achievements to Support Competency-Based Learning

• UMBC Establishes Adobe Campus Site Licenses
• Easy & Efficient: Electronic Time Sheets are Live
• UMBC Achieves InCommon Bronze Certification
• Classroom Support of VHS Players to Cease as of June 1, 2017
• DoIT Organizational Leadership Changes
  

DoIT Update is a selection of campus IT news and events emailed 3-4 times a year, typically around the start and end of each Fall and Spring semester. For more information, visit doit.umbc.edu. For IT help, we recommend 1) consulting the FAQs, 2) submitting an RT ticket, or 3) contacting the Technology Support Center located on the Library’s first floor or call 410.455.3838. See also doit.umbc.edu/support/tips.

• Grade Center
• Adaptive Release
• Collaborate
• TechSmith Relay

1. Orientation (5 minutes): A quick overview of what the tool does. If all you want is a demo, come early.
2. Recommendations (10 minutes): 1-2 tips based on our observations from providing faculty support, as well identification of effective practices  and practitioners.
3. Q & A (40 minutes): This is your time. What do you want to know? What's a problem you'd like to solve or a new opportunity you'd like to explore?

• January 7: ENG 025 
  
• January 28: Virtual Session
• February 4: ENG 025 
  
• February 11: Virtual Session
• February 18: ENG 025 
  
• February 25: Virtual Session
• March 4: ENG 025

Please note that these are not formal Blackboard training classes. Additional dates and times may be added as demand warrants.

1:  What is Yik Yak?

Yik Yak is a mobile app that anyone can download and use to post anonymous observations. If you are familiar with Twitter or Facebook, Yik Yak is another social media platform -- without any boundaries or identity affiliation. Participants can upvote what they like, or downvote what they do not like; they can also reply to “yaks” anonymously. Yik Yak utilizes the built-in GPS tracking in mobile technology to filter “yaks” to the user’s location within a 5-mile radius wherever the app is opened. Participants can also “peek” into other Yik Yak communities across the nation.

2: How do students access the app?

Anyone can download Yik Yak from the App Store on iOS devices or the Google Play store on Android devices. It is not available at this time for traditional desktops or laptops. It is a free application with no  requirement for the user to provide personal information.

3: How is the app used?

Yik Yak is used for anonymous posting to share thoughts and opinions on any topic.  This app has become widely popular on college campuses where students are posting opinions about everything from campus events to political issues.

4: How is this app impacting academic integrity on college campuses?

Since this app has become widely popular at college campuses across the country, some students are beginning to post information about assessments and other activities that occur in their courses.

5: How can I prevent the misuse of Yik Yak in my course(s)?    

• Remind students of UMBC’s Honor Code

• Require students to put away their electronic devices during high stakes assessments

• Offer multiple versions of quizzes, exams, etc.
  

• Consider long-form question(s) instead of multiple choice to encourage the application of critical thinking

• Use Yik Yak as a teaching tool.

Example:  Ask an open-ended question in class, and have students post their responses anonymously via Yik Yak. Then have students vote for the response they think best answers the question. Display results on the LCD screen.  

Faculty should not feel obligated to install Yik Yak on their own devices to monitor the stream during exam sessions, but this is also an option. Another option suggested by Stony Brook University (2014) is to display the Yik Yak feed via projector; in doing so, you may discourage some students from using the app.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us as instructionaltechnology@umbc.edu. We look forward to seeing you at the sessions!