As previously announced the Division of Information Technology (DoIT) will be upgrading UMBC's production Blackboard (Bb) system from January 4 to 14, 2013. During this upgrade period the Bb system will be unavailable to the campus community. All courses and organizations on the current version of Bb will be automatically and seamlessly upgraded to the new version. WT2013 courses will be run on a separate server and will not be affected by the downtime. The winter server has already been upgraded to the new version of Bb.
What Should Bb Instructors/ Leaders Do Prior to the Upgrade?
Bb Instructors or Leaders requiring Bb content (including grades) from previous semesters during the upgrade period should download grades or export course content prior to midnight on January 3, 2013. Once the upgrade begins, all content on the production Bb system will be unavailable.
What New Features Does the Upgrade Include?
The upgrade from Bb Learn version 9.1.6 to version 9.1.9 will improve UMBC's ability to provide Bb support. There are also a variety of new features and enhancements including:
Interested in Taking a Peek?
If you are interested in checking out the new features in Bb Learn 9.1.9 there are several training opportunities available to you. For those of you new to Blackboard, DoIT is teaming up with the Faculty Development Center (FDC) to offer 3 Blackboard: Back to Basics workshops in January, 2013. Additionally DoIT has scheduled a variety of informal Bb Drop-in Sessions (both F2F and Virtual) in December 2012 and January 2013. Finally DoIT will 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.
What Should Bb Instructors/ Leaders Do Prior to the Upgrade?
Bb Instructors or Leaders requiring Bb content (including grades) from previous semesters during the upgrade period should download grades or export course content prior to midnight on January 3, 2013. Once the upgrade begins, all content on the production Bb system will be unavailable.
What New Features Does the Upgrade Include?
The upgrade from Bb Learn version 9.1.6 to version 9.1.9 will improve UMBC's ability to provide Bb support. There are also a variety of new features and enhancements including:
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If you are interested in checking out the new features in Bb Learn 9.1.9 there are several training opportunities available to you. For those of you new to Blackboard, DoIT is teaming up with the Faculty Development Center (FDC) to offer 3 Blackboard: Back to Basics workshops in January, 2013. Additionally DoIT has scheduled a variety of informal Bb Drop-in Sessions (both F2F and Virtual) in December 2012 and January 2013. Finally DoIT will 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.
