** NOTE: This section will be updated regularly. Please check back for latest updates**

Newly added

13-11-09: Tutorials updated - new Grade Centre tutorials added
12-11-09: Known Issues updated
12-11-09: New Quick questions (short answers) added to Blackboard Help area
30-10-09: Downloadable manuals for Blackboard 9, Turnitin and Wimba added to Resources page
29-10-09: Information on Known Issues added
28-10-09: New How to pages added
23-10-09: New Tutorials added to Tutorials page, including tutorial for Screen-reader users

 

UQ is upgrading to Blackboard 9, or Blackboard Learn as it is known, commencing with Summer Semester 2009.

There are some quite significant changes in this new version of Blackboard, which brings with it a Web 2.0 style interface including drag & drop repositioning of content items on the Welcome page and the Course Menu. The Groups tool has also been significantly expanded. Another welcome change is the removal of the 'OK' receipt page - which makes for a lot less clicks. In addition, the new version of Blackboard is more accessible with support for screen readers and assistive technologies.

Summer Semester lecturers are now being invited to apply for their Summer Semester courses, which will be run in Blackboard 9 on the Staging server. You should apply in the normal way (via the Staff Tab from your Blackboard Welcome page) and you will be sent details of how to access your new course soon after.

To assist lecturers familiarise themselves with the new version, we have been offering the opportunity to staff to view a current (or last) semester course in a Blackboard 9 test bed site, so you can become familiar with the new version, and provide feedback. Please email your course details to the upgrade team if you would like to take up this offer.

"Just been using this new version, seems simpler and more obvious, I look forward to working with it in 2010." - UQ lecturer after trialling his course on the Test Server

 


Blackboard 9 training

A 'What's New in Blackboard 9' course has been developed and has been running since October to staff with preference going to those who have a Summer Semester course. The last course this year is on 25th November at St Lucia. Details are available on the Staff Development website.

This course will be offered again in January-February 2010 prior to Semester 1.