Submission to the
CSU Center for Distributed Learning
2003/2004 TIGERS Grant Proposal
Training and Support Materials
for Blackboard Version 6.1
Proposal Category
Package
Proposal Team and Supervisors
Matt Dessem, Faculty Training & Support Coordinator, CSU Long Beach
562-982-2118 mdessem@csulb.edu fax 562-985-5915
Supervisor: , Instructional Technology Manager
Tonia Malone, Information Technology Consultant, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
805-756-6336 tmalone@calpoly.edu fax 805-756-7149
Supervisor: Marsha Epstein, Coordinator, USS-Training/AMSPEC
Project Description
Blackboard is an online course delivery and management system that allows instructors to create course web sites
and incorporate learning materials from word processing, audio and video, spreadsheets, and presentation files
without ever learning HTML. Currently eighteen CSU campuses license the Blackboard software. The Blackboard
Company is releasing Version 6.1 of its Learning Management software in summer. The upgrade to version 6.0
added a substantial number of features and changes to the existing tools. Only one CSU campus (SF) has upgraded
to Blackboard version 6.0. Since the release of version 6.0, Blackboard and their users have been experiencing many
software errors. At the Blackboard Users Conference, Matt Pattiski assured the attendees that version 6.1 would fix
all the current software issues and it would be released by summer. If Blackboard releases version 6.1 as promised,
many of the Blackboard campuses will be upgrading to version 6.1 this summer. This will require these campuses to
change their training and support materials. Creation of new training materials is a time-consuming process, and due
to the late release date, some campuses may not be able complete the process before the start of the fall semester.
If awarded, the TIGERS grant will provide two Blackboard System Administrators and trainers the means to update
the current Blackboard 6.0 Training and Support Materials (located on CATS MERLOT) and make them available
to all CSU campuses. The current materials cover three main areas: Tutorials, What's New, and FAQs, for both
faculty and students. Although this resource has received great reviews, I believe that it would be beneficial to all if
they were updated to reflect changes from version 6.0 to 6.1 as well as reviewing the files to update the style. As
hard as we tried to keep the same language in all 138 files, there are variations in the style from each of the four
developers that should be modified by one technical writer.
The cost of the grant would be minimal in relation to the combined savings for the eighteen campuses. Not only is
this project fiscally responsible, but it would also foster communication and community between campuses, an
added and highly beneficial outcome. The completed support files will replace those currently on the CATS
MERLOT site between May 23rd to August 1st so that each campus could download and modify them before fall
classes begin.
Note: The planned upgrade to Version 6.1 is contingent on the stability of the first release, which Blackboard has
determined will be sometime in "early summer." The creation of the training materials will be relevant whether or
not campuses choose to go to the new version in Fall 2003 or wait until Spring 2004.
Project Timeline
The timeline is contingent upon the release date of Version 6.1. Cal Poly and Long Beach have access to a
Blackboard test environment where Version 6.1 would be installed. Updating the files to improve the flow and style
can begin right away. Once Version 6.1 is installed on the test server, we can begin researching changes in the
application.
Review and Update Language - May - June
Review all files and modify all files to reflect a similar style.
Provide documents to other Blackboard Administrators/Trainers for review.
Send files to Long Beach for placement on their web server.
Review and Update for Version 6.1 - June - August
• Review Version 6.1 for changes.
• Have other Blackboard Trainers/Trainers review.
• Send files to Long Beach to place on their web server.
TIGERS Grant Proposal - Blackboard Version 6.1 Training and Support
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Responsibilities
Long Beach:
• Provide the web server, maintain site, upload files
• Review files for 2nd expert opinion
Cal Poly:
• Research and development
• Project management and assessment
Deliverables
The project will be broken up into three sections for review and update.
Section One
Tutorials and Job Aids for Students
• Logging into Blackboard
• My University page
• Finding Support
• Moving around the course site
• Communication Tools
• Student Tools
• Technical Issues
What's New and FAQ’s for Students
•
•
A list and description of new or updated features
An extensive list of frequently asked questions, common trouble areas, and troubleshooting tips.
Section Two
Tutorials and Job Aids for Faculty
• Getting Started
• Content Areas
• Course Tools
• Test Manager (new)
• Survey Manager (new)
• Pool Manager (updated)
• Gradebook (greatly updated)
• Course Options
• Course Design (updated)
• Settings (updated)
Section Three
What's New and FAQ's for Faculty
•
•
A list and description of new or updated features
An extensive list of frequently asked questions, common trouble areas, and troubleshooting tips
TIGERS Grant Proposal - Blackboard Version 6.1 Training and Support
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Budget
TIGERS Funded
Research and Development
Student Technical
Writer
Hours
Cost per hour
Participants
Total
240
$10
$2,400
$2,400
Total Grant Request
$2,400
Matching Funds
Participant
Hours
Cost per hour
Total
Matt Dessem
69
$28
$1,932
Tonia Malone
69
$28
$1,932
Total Matching Funds
$3,864
TIGERS Grant Proposal - Blackboard Version 6.1 Training and Support
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Biography of Team Members
Matt Dessem, CSU Long Beach, Faculty Training and Support Coordinator
Matt has a B.A. in English and has been working in instructional technology since 2000, first for Sylvan Learning
and then for CSU Long Beach. He helps maintain BeachBoard (CSULB’s Blackboard server), and helps to run
Inspired InSite, the Faculty Learning Center. His responsibilities include administering the BeachBoard system,
creating support web sites and collateral material for BeachBoard, training faculty on BeachBoard and instructional
technology, designing new training sessions, and assessing faculty technology needs.
Tonia Malone, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Instructional Technology Consultant.
Tonia has a Bachelors Degree in Graphic Communication and has been employed by Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
since August 1994. Initially hired to support faculty in courseware development, Tonia has been administrating the
Blackboard system since its inception in 1999. Her responsibilities include Blackboard system administration,,
creating and maintaining the Bb support site, and creating, maintaining and delivering training materials to faculty
and staff. She is also responsible for working with other campus entities to ensure that the Blackboard System meets
the strategic goals for the Cal Poly campus as a whole. She has obtained a Certificate in Online Teaching &
Learning, and recently led a project to develop over eleven fully online courses.
TIGERS Grant Proposal - Blackboard Version 6.1 Training and Support
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Team Member and Supervisor Signatures
, CSU Long Beach
, CSU Long Beach
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
Tonia Malone, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
_____________________________________
Marsha Epstein, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
_____________________________________
TIGERS Grant Proposal - Blackboard Version 6.1 Training and Support
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