| During fall break, University Technology Services and Teaching and Technology Services upgraded Blackboard to Application Pack 2. Supporting systems, including the database operating system, were also upgraded to improve system reliability and response.
Enhancements in this release include:
- Survey and assessment results can now be downloaded as a .csv (comma-delimited) file for additional statistical analysis using third party software such as MS Excel, SAS, or SPSS. The change allows instructors to compare test results across multiple sections of a course and across semesters. To perform this function, from the Gradebook, click on the name of the survey or test item, then select Download Results. (Only results of multiple choice and true/false questions are included in a results download because these questions have a limited set of defined answers.)
- If a connection is lost during a testing session when faculty use tests associated with the one-at-a-time question presentation format, then responses will be saved, not lost.
- Users now have the ability to “nest” discussion boards, chats, and groups in any content area the same way as adding items, tests, or folders. To perform this function, from the control panel of the course, open the content area in which to add one of these tools (such as Assignments). Next, from the Add Content toolbar, pull down the Learning Plugin menu on the right to select Discussion Board, Chat, or Group and follow the on-screen directions to complete the process.
- Internal enhancements were added to improve the speed, function, and reliability of the assessment and survey tools.
Also, changes were made to the My Announcements and My Courses module in this release that will require users to edit preferences for each differently (use the pencil icon in the upper right of the module block). For specific instructions on editing these modules, go to http://uts.sc.edu/ars/handouts/bbissues.shtml.
The recent upgrade will allow testing of the Blackboard Content System. The Content System, when rolled out to campus, will allow instructors to load course content on the Blackboard server and to link to this content from multiple courses; changes may be made directly to the original (master) copy on the server, and updates will be automatically reflected in all courses to which the materials are linked.
The Content Management system also will provide an easy and convenient way to share files with students and colleagues. For a preview of the Blackboard product suite, view tutorials at Blackboard, at www.blackboard.com/viewlets/viewlets.htm .
For questions about Blackboard at USC, call Teaching and Technology Services at 7-6015 or e-mail bbsupport@mailbox.sc.edu.
For more information on Blackboard, go to the Blackboard login screen (https://blackboard.sc.edu) and click on Information for Faculty or Information for
Students.
11/05
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