Blackboard Next Generation (Version 9.1)

Introduction to New Features Coming Summer 2011

Blackboard at NIU

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Blackboard

• Learning management system acquired by NIU in 2000, available campus-wide for teaching since 2002

• Used for range of activities from posting course materials to teaching online

• In fall 2010, 97% of NIU students and 75% of faculty use Blackboard for 50% of course sections

More details: www.niu.edu/blackboard

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Use of Blackboard by (individual) Students

02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 100

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

Spring Summer Fall

Year

No.

of S

tude

nts

Usage % for fall ‘10 with 23,795 enrolled is 96.8% of total number of students

23,040

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Use of Blackboard by (individual) Faculty/Staff/TAs to Teach

02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 100

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

Spring Summer Fall

Year

No.

of F

acul

ty

Usage % for fall ‘10 with 1,761* faculty/instructors/TA/teaching staff is 74.96%

*1,761 includes only those providing direct instruction

1,320

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Number of Credit Course Sections in Blackboard

02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 100

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

Spring Summer Fall

Year

No.

of C

ours

e Se

ction

s

Usage % for fall ‘10 with 5,106* sections is 49.23%*No. of course sections including thesis, dissertation, and independent studies is 5,106

2,514

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Number of Course Enrollments in Blackboard

02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 100

10,00020,00030,00040,00050,00060,00070,00080,00090,000

100,000

Spring Summer Fall

Year

No.

of C

ours

e En

rollm

ents

Students enrolled in several courses that use Blackboard in a semester3.6 course sections on Blackboard/student

87,687

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Current Blackboard Version(Release 8.0)

Current Blackboard Version (Release 8.0)

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Blackboard 8.0

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Control Panel

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Edit View

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Blackboard Next Generation (Release 9.1)

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Blackboard Next Generation

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Most significant upgrade of Blackboard to date

Redesigned Faculty Interface

Contextual editing requiring fewer clicks!

Faculty features have been reorganized and as a result

faculty workflow will be streamlined

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New Features and Changes in Blackboard Next Generation

(Release 9.1)

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Major New Features Coming in Blackboard NG

• Redesigned faculty interface

• Blogs• Wikis• Journals• ePortfolios• Learning Modules

• Lesson Plans• Mashups• Notifications• New Group Features• Workflows• iTunesU• Blackboard Mobile

Learn

Listing of all 80+ new features available at www.niu.edu/blackboard/ng

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Blackboard Mobile Learn

Apps for accessing course content & activities on iPod, iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry, Android

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Mobile Learn on iPad

Customized version of Mobile Learn App specifically for tablet size and features

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Brief Demonstration

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Features Removed

• Digital Drop Box: replaced by more robust Assignment Tool

• Student Homepages: replaced by new blogs tool

• Electric Blackboard: replaced by new Journals tool

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Upgrade to Blackboard NG

• Blackboard NG released in fall 2009• Blackboard will not continue to support current version (8.0)

after 2011• NIU’s upgrade to Blackboard NG planned for May 2011

(Memorial Day weekend)• FacDev and ITS staff began testing NG in summer 2010 to

ensure all the features and interfaces work properly, and identify quirks

• FacDev staff are working on developing new workshops and documentation for NG

• Upgrade will not impact course materials, it will impact only user interface

• Students won’t see a drastic difference21

Workshops Scheduled

• 40 workshops currently scheduled for Spring & Summer 2011:– 10 preview sessions prior to upgrade– 8 hands-on workshops for new users– 10 “tune-up” workshops for experienced users– 2 “boot camp” days of in-depth advanced sessions – open lab sessions every day of the first week of

summer and fall semesters for individual assistance

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Preparing for The Upgrade

• Become aware of the new features that are coming

• Watch for announcements of workshops from Faculty Development – Preview sessions beginning after Spring Break– Hands-on sessions April-July

• Attend a workshop in Spring or Summer – don’t wait until August!

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More Information

niu.edu/blackboard/ng

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