What’s New in Blackboard?  

As the use of Blackboard increases at the University of Findlay, new and important features are being added to meet the needs of our faculty, staff and students.  During the summer of 2004, Atomic Learning was introduced.  Atomic Learning provides the University with a vast resource for learning the use of most proprietary software available.  We have also made available the new Content System for online storage and the sharing of electronic documents as described below.   

Beginning in the fall of 2005, campus organizations such as Campus Compact, the International Students Office and Career Services will begin posting their news and announcements in Blackboard under the Campus Announcements tab.  Through the features of Blackboard, users will be able to control which announcements they see both under the Campus Announcements tab and the My UF Online tab.  Additional content and tools are also available for use under these tabs.  

Coming soon will be the integration of online library resources into the Blackboard system.  This feature will allow the University to extend its resources to all UF students, especially those who are taking distance learning courses through Blackboard.  

For additional Blackboard resources, check out the links below:


UF Online - An Instructor's Guide to Blackboard:  Just getting started in Blackboard or need a quick reference resource? All of the basic Blackboard features are documented in a new condensed “Instructor’s Guide to Blackboard.” A hard copy can be picked up at the TLTC.



UF Online - A Student's Guide to Blackboard:  This guide provides the basic knowledge needed to get started in the Blackboard course system. We encourage faculty to direct their students to this website before online classes start. Download a printable pamphlet (PDF file).

An Introduction to Blackboard:  The ATS team also created an online tutorial "Introduction to Blackboard" to help your students get ready for a Blackboard course. You can direct your students to view this tutorial at http://tltc.findlay.edu/onlinesupport/BB_Tutorial/Bb.htm


Content System

Virtual hard drive, e-Reserves, and e-Portfolios are some of the latest features offered in the new Blackboard Content System. Blackboard’s Content System works as a centralized file management system which allows both instructors and students to access, organize and distribute course materials easily. Instructors are able to share or re-use a single file for multiple courses through the content system. One of the biggest advantages of the content system is allowing users to access the documents from anywhere at any time.

e-Portfolio allows students and faculty members to collect, store, and organize electronic elements/documentations of their academic and professional progress. Users are able to present and share information online with anyone who has access to the Internet worldwide.

Advantages:

• Single place to store all files
• Easy organizing
• Multiple files upload/download
• Easy file sharing between users/courses
• Time-saving
• Virtual Hard Drive Management
• Step-by-step e-Portfolio creation

UF Online - A Student's Guide to the Content System:   This guide provides the basic knowledge needed to begin using the Content System in Blackboard. We encourage all faculty to direct their students to this website as a guide to the Content System. Download a printable pamphlet (PDF file).

Things to come:

The e-Reserves feature provides librarians the level of control to manage copyrighted reserve reading materials. e-Reserves also enables the integration of electronic reserve resources into online courses. Instructors and students will be able to utilize e-Reserves to conduct research or access materials by logging into Blackboard in place of other e-Reserves systems.