To install the latest version of Blackboard, the Division of Information Technology (DoIT) will upgrade UMBC's production Blackboard system from January 2 to 14, 2013. During this time, Winter 2013 Bb courses will run on a separate Bb server and be created by December 1, 2012. After the WT2013 semester is completed (and the SP2013 semester is started), Winter courses will be migrated to the new production Bb server.
In addition to staying current with Bb's latest release which improves UMBC's support, the new version of Bb has a streamlined interface you can try out now:
- Go to coursesites.blackboard.com to create your own free course; or
- Go to this same site to view our UMBC Bb Demo site and browse, self-enroll or login as a student.
- If you want instructor access to the UMBC Bb Demo site, you can do so by submitting an "online learning" request via rt.umbc.edu.
Currently, we are running version 9.1.6 and plan to upgrade to version 9.1.10 (depending on what version is available in October when the Winter server is built). In addition to highlighting new features that will be available, DoIT will attach or post a link to Blackboard's software "release notes" soon after they are available.
DoIT will announce face-to-face and online "Bb Drop In" sessions later in the semester, and will also provide cohort-based training for departments that can assure a minimum of four (4) faculty and/or staff will be present (dates & times TBD). To request cohort training, submit an "online learning" request via rt.umbc.edu.
As always, for on-demand, video-demos, short text tips & answers to UMBC's most frequently asked questions about Blackboard, click on the "Blackboard Help" tab inside UMBC's Blackboard system or visit www.umbc.edu/blackboard/help, which is part of a larger FAQ knowledge base at www.umbc.edu/faq.
