DoIt will be upgrading Blackboard to the new version 8.0 in mid January 2009 in preparation for the spring semester. Among other things, the new version includes a completely redesigned grade book that allows instructors to drop the lowest of several grades, email students when they fall below a certain pre-determined standard, and the ability to divide the grade book based on class sections if several are included in the same course shell.
As a result of these major changes, DoIT is offering workshops that will introduce the new grade book features and give faculty a chance to work with them. Faculty are encouraged to sign up for the workshops by going to the Blackboard training page.