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
23,040
Usage % for fall ‘10 with 23,795 enrolled is 96.8% of total number of students
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Use of Blackboard by (individual)
Faculty/Staff/TAs to Teach
1,320
Usage % for fall ‘10 with 1,761* faculty/instructors/TA/teaching staff is 74.96%
*1,761 includes only those providing direct instruction
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Number of Credit Course Sections
in Blackboard
2,514
Usage % for fall ‘10 with 5,106* sections is 49.23%
*No. of course sections including thesis, dissertation, and independent studies is 5,106
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Number of Course Enrollments in
Blackboard
87,687
Students enrolled in several courses that use Blackboard in a semester
3.6 course sections on Blackboard/student
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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
Most significant upgrade of Blackboard to date
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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
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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 difference
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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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