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Blackboard, Facebook, and iPhone

On March 30, 2009

Have you heard the buzz about Blackboard arriving in the iPhone’s App Store? If not, certainly, you’ve seen the Facebook application, no? The iPhone app installs on your iPhone or iPod Touch and allows you to access assignments, grades, course documents, and more while on the go in a sleek, mobile interface.

Read more about Blackboard Learn on Blackboard’s Teaching and Learning website.

From the Blackboard application’s Facebook page: “You can find out if you have a new assignment, grade, new forum posts, etc., without having to leave Facebook. The Blackboard Learn application also cross-references your courses’ rosters with Facebook to make it easier to connect with your classmates through Facebook.” You can read the press release here.

So, will these platforms be available at UR? Information Services is reviewing the applications and its security features to ensure it meets all UR privacy requirements and ensures students’ confidential information is safe.

Stay tuned.

Blackboard is Available – 10:30 AM Update

By Fred

On March 25, 2009

In Information

Blackboard is now available for service. The problem had been isolated, and we foresee no additional outages.

Again, your browser might not immediately show the updated status (get the working web page) depending on the settings of you browser's cache. For most browsers, you can force it to try to download an updated page by using the Ctrl-R key combination on Windows and Linux or Command-R key combination on a Mac.

For those affected, thank you for your patience and again, forward any questions or concerns to blackboard@richmond.edu .

Blackboard Outage – March 25

By Fred

On March 25, 2009

In Information

Blackboard is unexpectedly unavailable as of approximately 9 AM, March 25. Information Services is investigating the problem and will work to restore service as soon as possible. Updates will be posted to this site.

FYI, once Blackboard is again available, your browser might not immediately show the updated status (get the new page) depending on the settings of you browser’s cache. For most browsers, you can force it to try to download an updated page by using the Ctrl-R key combination on Windows and Linux or Command-R key combination on a Mac.

Please direct any questions or concerns to blackboard@richmond.edu.

For those affected, thank you for your patience.

Disabling the Digital Dropbox

By Jon

On March 19, 2009

In Online Training Materials

Sick and tired of hearing students “save” instead of “submit” their digital dropbox files? With Blackboard 8, you can create assignments, which students submit and can then be accessed from Grade Center, and remove the Digital Dropbox functionality altogether. This eliminates the excuse of, “I thought I sent it to you…” When in actuality, the student saved the assignment but forgot to hit “submit.”

Disabling the Dropbox:

This is rather simple. In the Control Panel under Manage Tools, select Tool Availability. Uncheck the box under Available next to Dropbox.

Creating an Assignment:

In the desired content area, go into Edit Mode. (You can get there from the Control Panel, too.) On the drop-down menu, click +Assignment. Fill out the form fields on the following page, and once you hit Submit, your assignment appears in a column in the Grade Center.

Viewing a Submitted Assignment:

In Grade Center, find the column containing assignments to be graded. When a student has submitted an assignment, you’ll see a white exclamation point surrounded by a green box. Click the down arrow and select Grade Details. When you get to the next screen, under Actions click View Attempt.This screen will let you view the student’s comments and attached files, and will let you provide feedback to the student.

“Grade Center” and “Safari 4 Beta for PC” issues

By Jon

On February 27, 2009

In Information

No need for alarm – it’s not too bad. However, it seems there are some intermittent errors with Apple’s new Safari 4 beta browser for PC and Blackboard 8’s Grade Center. Apparently the javascript engine has been rewritten to make it more fast and efficient with AJAX apps (like Grade Center). For those of you noticing improper loading, misaligned tables and/or missing graphics – have no alarm, you can always use Mozilla Firefox or Internet Explorer and everything will work just fine! Stay tuned on planned bug fixes from Apple.

Note to all Mac users of Safari 4 beta: Fortunately this notice does not affect you.