Towson University is pleased to announce the upgrade to version 6 of the Blackboard learning environment. During the summer months we will be setting up the new Blackboard learning system and enhancing the functionality to include many of the features our faculty have been requesting. Some of these features include:
– Integration of user accounts with existing TowsonU and Tiger accounts
Faculty and students will use the same username and password for Blackboard that they use for their e-mail and other administrative and network services.
– Faster and more robust hardware
Online activity within Blackboard will be enhanced with faster hardware
– Re-usable content / more intuitive content organization
Faculty can copy and move content within a course site AND copy and move content freely among other courses. Content can be managed through folders within any area of the course.
– Enhanced grade book, assessment manager and Virtual Classroom
Many new features in Blackboard version 6 offer faculty increased flexibility and more instructional options for managing your course and facilitating better communication and collaboration within your course site.
Given the timeline for this upgrade, CIAT has refrained from offering scheduled Blackboard training workshops for faculty new to Blackboard until the new system is in place. If you are interested in getting started using our existing version of Blackboard and would prefer not to wait until the new system is operational, our staff is available to assist with one-on-one sessions to get you started. Additional resources for faculty using Blackboard can be found at {http://facultyonline.towson.edu}.
Full descriptions of the new and enhanced features of Blackboard can be found at the Behind the Blackboard Web site:{http://behind.blackboard.com}.
Faculty can download the full instructor manual for version 6 at {http://behind.blackboard.com/docs/r6/instructor/bbls_rel6_instructor.pdf} or the “What’s New and Different for Instructors in the Blackboard Learning System (Release 6)” at {http://behind.blackboard.com/docs/r6/instructor/whatsnew_instructors.pdf}.
If you would like more information on using Blackboard please contact Patricia Payne (x4-6198) or Audrey Cutler (x4-5028). Subsequent announcements will be posted in the Daily Digest as the timeline for the new Blackboard installation progresses.
