Blackboard is very flexible in the types of files it can store and in the ways that they can be named, but there are certain characters that Blackboard cannot handle. If a file name contains any of these illegal characters and the file is uploaded to Blackboard, any subsequent attempt to open that file will result in an HTTP Status 404 error or a completely blank page. These characters are: ?, #, / and \
Take a look at this comprehensive resource on Blackboard 8’s Grade Center. Thirty-two FAQs detail everything from rearranging your Grade Center items to weighting grades by item and category. This guide tells you how to do what you did in BB7 in the new version in an easy-to-read format. Check it out, and comment on the tip that was most useful to you!
One of UR’s own SCS distance-education professors, Paula Gordon, writes about the positive pedagogical impact of a course management system, particularly Blackboard. I thought this piece might be particularly interesting for UR faculty, particularly those who haven’t yet dived in to the more advanced functionality of Blackboard or another LMS, to read.
Gary Friesen, Directory of Academic Technology at Taylor University created and compiled a great collection of Grade Center tutorials that are available to guests on TU’s Blackboard website. If you’re new to the Grade Center, these tutorials will have you up and running in no time! Take a look at his tutorials here.
Once logged in as a guest, click Grade Center 8.0 on the left colum. Be sure to have Windows Media Player or VLC Player on your Mac installed to see the videos (theyre in .wmv format).
[Update as of 3/13/2010: Access is denied when trying to view these videos – no confirmation yet if they will be back online]
Here is the list of workshops we will be providing for Blackboard 8 during the week of January 5-9. All workshops will be in the TLC Training Room 320 of Boatwright Library. Registration is not required. Please feel free to bring your own laptop computer.
- Tuesday, January 6
- Blackboard Basics – 10 – 11 AM
- Changes in Blackboard – 11 AM – noon
- Grade Center – 1 – 2 PM
- Wimba Voice – 2 – 3 PM
- Discussion Board – 3 – 4 PM
- Wednesday, January 7
- Changes in Blackboard – 9 – 10 AM
- Wimba Voice – 10 – 11 AM
- Walk-in Assistance – 11 AM – noon
- Thursday, January 8
- Grade Center – 9 – 10 AM
- Discussion Board – 10 – 11 AM
- Walk-in Assistance – 11 AM – noon
- Friday, January 9
- Walk-in Assistance – 9 AM – noon
Please note that more training will be available throughout the semester, but we wanted to provide this first list since they come so soon after holiday week.
If you have any questions, please send an email to blackboard@richmond.edu .