UMBC Blackboard Update
January 2002

UMBC Blackboard Update is for students, faculty and staff using Blackboard at UMBC. If you have questions or suggestions, please contact John Fritz at 410.455.6596 or fritz@umbc.edu. For more
information on using Blackboard at UMBC--including the new UMBC Blackboard Users Group--visit http://www.umbc.edu/blackboard.

SUMMARY

1. UMBC Blackboard Server Status
2. New: "How To" Helpsheets
3. 1/17 Winter TLT Fair & PT Faculty Orientation
4. In Class Blackboard Demos for Spring 2002
5. Requests to "Batch Enroll" Your Blackboard Course
6. Results of the Fall 2001 Blackboard Users Survey
7. Teaching Online With Blackboard

DETAILS

1. UMBC Blackboard Server Status

By now, you've probably realized that the new server installation went well on December 19, and that email is back up. Suffice it to say that the new machine is much more robust, but if you're curious about the technical specifications, click here. Many thanks to UMBC Blackboard system administrator Dave Freeman for a lot of hard work and long hours.

2. New: "How To" Helpsheets

The "Using Blackboard at UMBC" site has been updated with new "How To" helpsheets. Topics include "Linking a Blackboard course in myUMBC," "Logging In," "Enrolling," and "Changing Your Blackboard Email Address." Blackboard users should also check out the many support resources available on Blackboard's own site. These and the UMBC-specific helpsheets above are available at http://www.umbc.edu/blackboard.

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3. 1/17 Winter TLT Fair & PT Faculty Orientation

Want to see how your colleagues are using technology in their classes? Then check out UMBC's Winter Teaching, Learning & Technology Fair on Thursday, January 17. While the Blackboard workshops are full, there will be a special poster session with virtual exhibits prepared by recipients of the FaCT mini-grant program, at 2:30 p.m. in the ECS Atrium. Also, part-time faculty are invited to a 5:30 p.m. reception followed by a 6 p.m. orientation in the UC Ballroom Lounge. The TLT Fair is sponsored by the Office of Information Technology and the Faculty Development Center. For more information on the day's events and to register online, visit http://www.umbc.edu/tltfair.

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4. In Class Blackboard Demos for Spring 2002

Are you interested in having a Blackboard trainer come to your classroom and demonstrate how to log into and use Blackboard? If so, submit an OIT Work Order request at least one week before you would like the demo, and we will contact you to schedule a date. Note: Instructors are responsible for arranging a computer, projector and internet connection for the demo. To do so, contact Audio Visual Services at 410.455.2461.

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5. Requests to "Batch Enroll" Your Blackboard Course

While myUMBC and Blackboard use the same UMBC userid and password, there is currently no way to automate enrollment from myUMBC into Blackboard--though we're working on it! For now, students either have to "self-enroll" (if the instructor has enabled this feature in the Blackboard course) or the instructor has to enroll students individually. To help during the hectic start of semester, OIT is offering a one-time, batch enrollment of students into a corresponding Blackboard course site if the total enrollment is greater than 50. To request this, faculty should use the OIT Work Order form and provide the following:

• Instructor's UMBC email address
• Course ID of an existing Blackboard course (e.g., ENGL100_0101_SP2002)
• Title of an existing Blackboard course (e.g., "English Composition")

OIT staff will download the corresponding class list from myUMBC, batch enroll students in the existing Blackboard course, and notify the course's instructor(s) by email when the job is done. Afterwards, faculty are responsible for updating the Blackboard course enrollment by adding or dropping students individually. If you do not currently have a Blackboard course, visit http://www.umbc.edu/blackboard.

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6. Results of the Fall 2001 Blackboard Users Survey

Many thanks to the more than 70 users who completed the Fall 2001 Blackboard Users Survey at the end of the semester. Results are now available in the Blackboard Users Group (BUG) "Community" site inside the Blackboard course environment. BUG is open to anyone, but you must enroll to use interactive features like the discussion board and future surveys. To learn more about BUG, visit http://www.umbc.edu/blackboard.

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7. Teaching Online With Blackboard

If you weren't able to attend one of OIT's Blackboard Faculty Training workshops this month, you might be interested two online courses provided by Onlinelearning.net, in conjunction with Blackboard.com:

• Introduction to Teaching with Blackboard is an instructor-led, four-week course that simulates an online classroom, allowing participants to master the basics of the Blackboard platform while giving them first-hand experience as online learners.
• Teaching Online with Blackboard is geared toward those individuals with prior Blackboard software experience. This course explores the teaching issues and the classroom management aspects of using Blackboard, including approaches to effectively organizing student activities online.
• To learn more, visit http://resources.blackboard.com/scholar/general/pages/olnclasses/OLNClasses.htm.

NOTE: To receive a $100 discount on one of the two courses above, use UMBC's special "CREN" code (ZBCRN) when you register. This discount is made possible by UMBC's membership in CREN. For more information on this discount, click here.

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