Download - Blackboard 9 at city college norwich
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Summer Blackboard Projectsat City College NorwichSummer Blackboard Projectsat City College NorwichChris BoonChris Boon
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Summer Blackboard Projectsat City College NorwichSummer Blackboard Projectsat City College Norwich
• What is Blackboard 9?• Moving the content• Preparing for the upgrade – users and design• Preparing for the upgrade – technical• Preparing for the upgrade – project management• Upgrade week• Load balancing• Blackboard Course Creator• User feedback and lessons learnt
• What is Blackboard 9?• Moving the content• Preparing for the upgrade – users and design• Preparing for the upgrade – technical• Preparing for the upgrade – project management• Upgrade week• Load balancing• Blackboard Course Creator• User feedback and lessons learnt
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Summer Blackboard Projectsat City College NorwichSummer Blackboard Projectsat City College Norwich
• What is Blackboard 9?• Moving the content• Preparing for the upgrade – users and design• Preparing for the upgrade – technical• Preparing for the upgrade – project management• Upgrade week• Load balancing• Blackboard Course Creator• User feedback and lessons learnt
• What is Blackboard 9?• Moving the content• Preparing for the upgrade – users and design• Preparing for the upgrade – technical• Preparing for the upgrade – project management• Upgrade week• Load balancing• Blackboard Course Creator• User feedback and lessons learnt
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Blackboard NGBlackboard NG
• Multi-release project• Improved interface• Extra functionality
– Mash-ups– Context menus– Improved Group functions– Ajax drag-and-drop of modules
• Multi-release project• Improved interface• Extra functionality
– Mash-ups– Context menus– Improved Group functions– Ajax drag-and-drop of modules
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Blackboard 9.0Blackboard 9.0
• First release of Blackboard NG• Deployed by some ‘early adopters’• Bugs and reliability issues
• First release of Blackboard NG• Deployed by some ‘early adopters’• Bugs and reliability issues
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Blackboard 9.1Blackboard 9.1
• Much improved QA• More features• Installed at CCN
• Much improved QA• More features• Installed at CCN
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Summer Blackboard Projectsat City College NorwichSummer Blackboard Projectsat City College Norwich
• What is Blackboard 9?• Moving the content• Preparing for the upgrade – users and design• Preparing for the upgrade – technical• Preparing for the upgrade – project management• Upgrade week• Load balancing• Blackboard Course Creator• User feedback and lessons learnt
• What is Blackboard 9?• Moving the content• Preparing for the upgrade – users and design• Preparing for the upgrade – technical• Preparing for the upgrade – project management• Upgrade week• Load balancing• Blackboard Course Creator• User feedback and lessons learnt
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Hardware configurationHardware configuration
Application Server
Database Server
ContentServer
Share on SAN
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Content - maintenanceContent - maintenance
• Two days maintenance at Whitsun half term• Stopped services• Data copied from old content server to SAN• Set permissions on new share• Started services• Completed successfully although took 12
hours to copy• No difference from users’ perspective
• Two days maintenance at Whitsun half term• Stopped services• Data copied from old content server to SAN• Set permissions on new share• Started services• Completed successfully although took 12
hours to copy• No difference from users’ perspective
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Summer Blackboard Projectsat City College NorwichSummer Blackboard Projectsat City College Norwich
• What is Blackboard 9?• Moving the content• Preparing for the upgrade – users and design• Preparing for the upgrade – technical• Preparing for the upgrade – project management• Upgrade week• Load balancing• Blackboard Course Creator• User feedback and lessons learnt
• What is Blackboard 9?• Moving the content• Preparing for the upgrade – users and design• Preparing for the upgrade – technical• Preparing for the upgrade – project management• Upgrade week• Load balancing• Blackboard Course Creator• User feedback and lessons learnt
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SandboxSandbox
• Installed copy of Blackboard 9.1– Learn about product– Plan the design– Staff training
• Installed copy of Blackboard 9.1– Learn about product– Plan the design– Staff training
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ConsultationConsultation
• Student focus group from Level 1 to HE• Staff focus groups and informal
conversations• Regular meetings with Head of
Communications
• Student focus group from Level 1 to HE• Staff focus groups and informal
conversations• Regular meetings with Head of
Communications
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Suggestions from Focus GroupsSuggestions from Focus Groups
• Link to library catalogue from Home tab• Add more images on the Home tab• Add more dynamic content such as updates
from Twitter accounts• Increase line spacing on the Useful Links panel• Changes to colour and design for accessibility• Improve resources for HE students• Make ILP more prominent
• Link to library catalogue from Home tab• Add more images on the Home tab• Add more dynamic content such as updates
from Twitter accounts• Increase line spacing on the Useful Links panel• Changes to colour and design for accessibility• Improve resources for HE students• Make ILP more prominent
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Managing the suggestionsManaging the suggestions
• Balancing the needs and suggestions from everyone:– Students from all Schools– Students from all levels– Teachers– Support staff
• Required change of mind set – users’ perspective instead of technical
• Balancing the needs and suggestions from everyone:– Students from all Schools– Students from all levels– Teachers– Support staff
• Required change of mind set – users’ perspective instead of technical
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Summer Blackboard Projectsat City College NorwichSummer Blackboard Projectsat City College Norwich
• What is Blackboard 9?• Moving the content• Preparing for the upgrade – users and design• Preparing for the upgrade – technical• Preparing for the upgrade – project management• Upgrade week• Load balancing• Blackboard Course Creator• User feedback and lessons learnt
• What is Blackboard 9?• Moving the content• Preparing for the upgrade – users and design• Preparing for the upgrade – technical• Preparing for the upgrade – project management• Upgrade week• Load balancing• Blackboard Course Creator• User feedback and lessons learnt
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Testing the upgradeTesting the upgrade
• Clone of live systemusing VMWare
• Clone of live systemusing VMWare
Application Server
Database Server
Share on SAN
Application Server
Database Server
Share on SAN
Physical Virtual
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Upgrade processUpgrade process
• Blackboard Release Notes – Upgrade Route:– Blackboard 8.0 SP4– Blackboard 8.0 SP5– Upgrade Java to 1.6– Blackboard 8.0 SP6– Blackboard Learn 9.1 SP1
• Blackboard Release Notes – Upgrade Route:– Blackboard 8.0 SP4– Blackboard 8.0 SP5– Upgrade Java to 1.6– Blackboard 8.0 SP6– Blackboard Learn 9.1 SP1
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Testing the upgradeTesting the upgrade
Blackboard 8 SP4 Take Snapshot
Blackboard 8 SP5
Upgrade Java to 1.6
Blackboard 8 SP6
Blackboard 9.1 SP1
Take Snapshot
Blackboard 9.1 SP1
Scripts from Bb support
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Summer Blackboard Projectsat City College NorwichSummer Blackboard Projectsat City College Norwich
• What is Blackboard 9?• Moving the content• Preparing for the upgrade – users and design• Preparing for the upgrade – technical• Preparing for the upgrade – project management• Upgrade week• Load balancing• Blackboard Course Creator• User feedback and lessons learnt
• What is Blackboard 9?• Moving the content• Preparing for the upgrade – users and design• Preparing for the upgrade – technical• Preparing for the upgrade – project management• Upgrade week• Load balancing• Blackboard Course Creator• User feedback and lessons learnt
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Project MeetingsProject Meetings
• Fortnightly meetings• Management support• Guests invited where appropriate e.g.
hardware team• Clear actions from meetings
• Fortnightly meetings• Management support• Guests invited where appropriate e.g.
hardware team• Clear actions from meetings
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Summer Blackboard Projectsat City College NorwichSummer Blackboard Projectsat City College Norwich
• What is Blackboard 9?• Moving the content• Preparing for the upgrade – users and design• Preparing for the upgrade – technical• Preparing for the upgrade – project management• Upgrade week• Load balancing• Blackboard Course Creator• User feedback and lessons learnt
• What is Blackboard 9?• Moving the content• Preparing for the upgrade – users and design• Preparing for the upgrade – technical• Preparing for the upgrade – project management• Upgrade week• Load balancing• Blackboard Course Creator• User feedback and lessons learnt
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Upgrade PlansUpgrade Plans
• Everything was planned for upgrade week– NO decisions should be needed during week
• List of tasks ready for technical upgrade• Design prototype for layout and user interface• Took pressure off during upgrade week
• Everything was planned for upgrade week– NO decisions should be needed during week
• List of tasks ready for technical upgrade• Design prototype for layout and user interface• Took pressure off during upgrade week
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Upgrade PlansUpgrade Plans
• MondayMove to new virtual application server
• TuesdayPerform upgrade
• Wednesday-FridayMake live system look like Sandbox and fix bugs
• MondayMove to new virtual application server
• TuesdayPerform upgrade
• Wednesday-FridayMake live system look like Sandbox and fix bugs
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Hardware configurationHardware configuration
Application Server
Database Server
Share on SAN
Virtual Application
Server
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Actual Upgrade WeekActual Upgrade Week
• MondayMove to new virtual application serverandPerform upgrade
• Tuesday-FridayMake live system look like Sandbox and fix bugs
• Why?• Excellent help from Blackboard Support• Upgrade process very well planned
• MondayMove to new virtual application serverandPerform upgrade
• Tuesday-FridayMake live system look like Sandbox and fix bugs
• Why?• Excellent help from Blackboard Support• Upgrade process very well planned
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Summer Blackboard Projectsat City College NorwichSummer Blackboard Projectsat City College Norwich
• What is Blackboard 9?• Moving the content• Preparing for the upgrade – users and design• Preparing for the upgrade – technical• Preparing for the upgrade – project management• Upgrade week• Load balancing• Blackboard Course Creator• User feedback and lessons learnt
• What is Blackboard 9?• Moving the content• Preparing for the upgrade – users and design• Preparing for the upgrade – technical• Preparing for the upgrade – project management• Upgrade week• Load balancing• Blackboard Course Creator• User feedback and lessons learnt
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Hardware configurationHardware configuration
Database Server
Share on SAN
Virtual Application
Server
Virtual Application
ServerNode 2
Virtual Application
ServerNode 1
Load Balancer
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Load BalancingLoad Balancing
• Using Microsoft ISA Server• Not officially supported but does work• Successfully used by other institutions• Some scheduled tasks only run on one node• Node identification labels added
• Using Microsoft ISA Server• Not officially supported but does work• Successfully used by other institutions• Some scheduled tasks only run on one node• Node identification labels added
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Summer Blackboard Projectsat City College NorwichSummer Blackboard Projectsat City College Norwich
• What is Blackboard 9?• Moving the content• Preparing for the upgrade – users and design• Preparing for the upgrade – technical• Preparing for the upgrade – project management• Upgrade week• Load balancing• Blackboard Course Creator• User feedback and lessons learnt
• What is Blackboard 9?• Moving the content• Preparing for the upgrade – users and design• Preparing for the upgrade – technical• Preparing for the upgrade – project management• Upgrade week• Load balancing• Blackboard Course Creator• User feedback and lessons learnt
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BCC – The ProblemBCC – The Problem
• There are too many courses on Blackboard• This causes confusion for staff and students• Only about 10% of courses are used• The course names are often confusing• Courses are not linked to Schools
• There are too many courses on Blackboard• This causes confusion for staff and students• Only about 10% of courses are used• The course names are often confusing• Courses are not linked to Schools
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BCC – Previous ConfigurationBCC – Previous Configuration
• Direct connection between EBS and Blackboard
• Every course (Q, U, M) in EBS creates a course in Blackboard
• Direct connection between EBS and Blackboard
• Every course (Q, U, M) in EBS creates a course in Blackboard
MISEBS
VLEBlackboard
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BCC – Previous ConfigurationBCC – Previous Configuration
• Produces numerous courses in Blackboard for each course taughte.g.
• Q NVQ BasketWeaving• Q NVQ BasketWeaving Group A• Q NVQ BasketWeaving Group B• Q NVQ BasketWeaving P/T• Q NVQ BasketWeaving F/T
• Produces numerous courses in Blackboard for each course taughte.g.
• Q NVQ BasketWeaving• Q NVQ BasketWeaving Group A• Q NVQ BasketWeaving Group B• Q NVQ BasketWeaving P/T• Q NVQ BasketWeaving F/T
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BCC – The VisionBCC – The Vision
• Middleware between MIS and VLE• Middleware between MIS and VLE
MISEBS
VLEBlackboard
Middleware
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BCC – The RequirementsBCC – The Requirements
• Ability to design course structures from timetables or course codes
• Must be flexible for all scenarios• Must be very simple to use
• Ability to design course structures from timetables or course codes
• Must be flexible for all scenarios• Must be very simple to use
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Summer Blackboard Projectsat City College NorwichSummer Blackboard Projectsat City College Norwich
• What is Blackboard 9?• Moving the content• Preparing for the upgrade – users and design• Preparing for the upgrade – technical• Preparing for the upgrade – project management• Upgrade week• Load balancing• Blackboard Course Creator• User feedback and lessons learnt
• What is Blackboard 9?• Moving the content• Preparing for the upgrade – users and design• Preparing for the upgrade – technical• Preparing for the upgrade – project management• Upgrade week• Load balancing• Blackboard Course Creator• User feedback and lessons learnt
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User Feedback – User InterfaceUser Feedback – User Interface
• Positive reaction to new colours and interface• Users liked ability to customise Home tab• No major problems finding resources• Slower than hoped, particularly in IE7
• Positive reaction to new colours and interface• Users liked ability to customise Home tab• No major problems finding resources• Slower than hoped, particularly in IE7
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User Feedback – BCCUser Feedback – BCC
• Very simple to use• Most staff use it without the need for face-to-face
training• Increased the use of Blackboard• Much clearer to see where Blackboard is and
isn’t used
• Very simple to use• Most staff use it without the need for face-to-face
training• Increased the use of Blackboard• Much clearer to see where Blackboard is and
isn’t used
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Lessons LearntLessons Learnt
• Planning, planning, planning• Test system is essential• Engaging with users vital• Some unexpected issues will always arise
– New application server wouldn’t start– External access problem with SSL
• Safety net needed for these issues• Business Continuity – users still need resources
during maintenance windows• Can never do too much testing!
• Planning, planning, planning• Test system is essential• Engaging with users vital• Some unexpected issues will always arise
– New application server wouldn’t start– External access problem with SSL
• Safety net needed for these issues• Business Continuity – users still need resources
during maintenance windows• Can never do too much testing!
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Chris [email protected]