Blackboard Learn: New Features

Anu Sharma

Senior Learning & Technology AdviserLearning Technology Team (LTT)

Blackboard Learn

• An “upgrade” from the existing ‘Blackboard WebCT Vista’ (u-Link) platform

• Communication & marketing:• Highlighting new features• Responding to user requirements (“You said… Blackboard

Learn delivers”)

You said... Blackboard Learn delivers...

“We require an attractive user-friendly system”

The breadcrumb navigation in the content management module has been

updated to improve usability

Web 2.0 user experience creates and delivers effective content with an

intuitive, easy-to-use interface

You said... Blackboard Learn delivers...

“We need an improved grading facility”

The new grade centre now has a more useable table layout

You don’t need to access the grade centre to enter marks as these can be entered directly

in the assessment item. Some assignment grading can now be achieved anonymously.

You said... Blackboard Learn delivers...

“We want a platform that is Web 2.0 & social networking compatible”

You can deliver more engaging course content in a convenient and powerful way by searching, finding, and inserting in a few clicks

You can now use the Blackboard Learn ‘Mashup Tool’ to embed rich media learning content using Web 2.0 resources from YouTube, SlideShare, and

Flickr

Blackboard has added an accessible wrap around the YouTube player to make it

accessible to everyone.

You said... Blackboard Learn delivers...

“We want good layout possibilities within sections”

• Learning Modules offer a simple and intuitive means for academics to organise and structure course content with hierarchical organisation so students can navigate through content in a logical, sequential way.

• Overall, it is a great tool for both designers and students because it offers new ways to structure and navigate content.

You said... Blackboard Learn delivers...

“We want a conferencing facility linked into the VLE”

• Elluminate has produced a Building Block to launch a synchronous session using Elluminate Live! directly from Blackboard Learn.

• The Elluminate Building Block allows users of the Blackboard Learning System – Enterprise, to create and launch Elluminate Live! sessions or recordings.

You said... Blackboard Learn delivers...

“We want e-Mail notification of discussion postings”

The Blackboard Connect platform is fully integrated and provides students the alerts and notifications they need to

better manage academic priorities and course deadlines.

Blackboard Upgrade Center

http://www.blackboard.com/Sites/UpgradeCenter/

Brunel VLE Upgrade Blog

• Keep up to date via the Brunel Blackboard Upgrade Project Blog:

http://www.brunelblackboardupgrade.wordpress.com

http://brunelblackboardupgrade.wordpress.com/