Blackboard R7 provides a variety of enhancements to better engage students and assist instructors in managing their courses. Some enhancements include:

• A new course menu option is available. Users can now select "detail view" in the left hand frame of any course to replace the standard button/text list with an expandable course map providing direct access to every item in the course.
• Review status provides feedback to the instructor to ensure that a content item has been read.
• The adaptive release feature allows the instructor to create learning paths through course content and activities. Single or multiple roles can be created based on availability, review status, individual user or group, or gradebook item (attempt, score).
• The new "performance dashboard" tool provides a quick view of student activity and performance in the course. Items displayed for each student include: last time logged on, time since last log on, number of items reviewed, adaptive release statistics, grades, and discussion board statistics.
• Enhancements to student assessment include multiple attempts, support for extra credit questions, grade book null option, self-assessment options, and new question formats.
•  A simple export/import facility allows for faculty to share tests and quizzes. Once imported into another course, the user can make changes appropriate for use in the new course.
•  Numerous enhancements have been made to the discussion boards. Faculty can now moderate discussion boards and have the ability to grade forums or threads, as well as peer review threads. Users can save posts as drafts allowing for work on post to continue you over more than one Blackboard session. Users can also subscribe to an email notification whenever a new post is added to a thread (feature must be enabled when thread creation).
• International language support is now available. The Blackboard interface appears in the new language. Course content appears in the language it was entered in.

 

 

A number of training and support options are available:

• Quick start guides and instructor tutorials (flash movies) are available under the Bb References tab above.
•  Blackboard support is provided by UCS Helpdesk via email (helpdesk@bsu.edu) or phone (765-285-1517 or toll-free 866-771-3276).
•  Hands-on training is provided by University Libraries' Technology Training Support Services unit. The schedule is available on their site. They can also be reached by email (techtrain@bsu.edu) or phone (765-285-5902).