Check out the best that Blackboard has to offer

The winners of Blackboard's 2013 Exemplary Course Program have posted their course tours in a common YouTube channel.  

You should spend a few minutes to check out how the best online classes function, and see exactly what Blackboard is capable of!

2013 Exemplary Course Winning Course Tours

If you have a professor who has an amazing Blackboard course experience, make sure to urge them to submit their course to the Blackboard Exemplary Course Program. The 2014 ECP deadline is February 17, so make sure to remind them soon!

Student Tech Buzz 1/27-1/31

Student Tech Buzz 1/27-1/31

This Semester, Pay Attention to your Blackboard Calendar As we ease our way into this semester, the first rounds of tests and assignments are beginning to come due. Courses that utilize Blackboard heavily will most likely have due dates associated with their assignments and examinations.  What this means for you as a student user is that your Blackboard Calendar will automatically populate with your course's due dates so you never get caught unaware. Keep in mind that if your professor does not utilize Blackboard enough to create and deploy assignments within Blackboard your course's calendar will not automatically populate with this information. For more information about Blackboard Calendars read this IC Tech Blog entry Expanding the Content Editor Get ready to revisit the fundamentals, as we take a look at one of the most basic tasks that can dramatically increase your overall Blackboard experience. In the top right corner of the Content Editor (The text editor that appears anytime you are filling out information within Blackboard) there is a double chevron that you can click that gives you two additional rows of formatting options. Once you have expanded the Content Editor for the first time, make sure to spend a few moments exploring to see exactly what you have been missing all of this time. Take a look at the left side image to see exactly where to expand the Content Editor! Line Spacing in the Content Editor Getting the exact Line spacing in the Blackboard Content Editor that you desire is incredible easy and intuitive.  In fact, it is much easier than most SU Bb users imagine. When you hit a hard return (hitting "Enter") Blackboard's Content Editor defaults by double spacing.  If you desire a single space between your lines just hit Shift+Enter and your text will be separated by a single space.

Expand the Content Editor and See What Options Are Available to You

The Blackboard Content Editor is used by virtually all Blackboard users. Knowing how to use it properly is critical to your success with regards to specific tools that Blackboard makes available for professors to utilize to improve the overall quality of their courses. 

After traveling around SU for awhile know, I have noticed that a few people did not understand how to expand the content editor, and thus, I was inspired to write a blog about it. 

To expand the content editor is to release its full potential. If you're wondering how to get to some more advanced formatting options, or media input options make sure to click the double chevron in the top right corner of the content editor. 

 

SafeAssign Submissions and Cookie Requirements

Within Blackboard Learn, there are some tools (such as SafeAssign) that are external to the Blb system.

In order to access these tools, you may need to override some web browser settings to allow for “third-party cookies”.

Mac OS X:
Chrome:

  1.  Go to Chrome Preferences [ ⌘ , ]
  2.  Scroll down to the Privacy section
  3.  Press “Content Settings”
  4.  UNCHECK "Block third-party cookies and site data”.
  5.  Press Done.
  6.  Close the Settings tab.

Firefox:

  1.  Go to Firefox Preferences [ ⌘ , ]
  2.  Go to the Privacy panel.
  3.  Select Firefox will: to Use custom settings for history
  4.  Check the box for Accept cookies from sites
  5.  And Always for Accept third-party cookies.
  6.  Close the Preferences window.

Safari:

  1.  Go to Safari Preferences [ ⌘ , ]
  2.  Go to the Privacy panel.
  3.  In “Block cookies and other website data”, select Never.
  4.  Close the Preferences window.

Windows:

Chrome:

  1.  Go to Chrome Settings in the Customize and control Google Chrome menu.
  2.  Click “Show advanced settings…"
  3.  Scroll down to the Privacy section
  4.  Press “Content Settings”
  5.  UNCHECK "Block third-party cookies and site data”.
  6.  Press Done.
  7.  Close the Settings tab.

Firefox:

  1.  At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Firefox button and then select Options.
  2.  Go to the Privacy panel.
  3.  Select Firefox will: to Use custom settings for history
  4.  Check the box for Accept cookies from sites
  5.  And Always for Accept third-party cookies.
  6.  Press OK to close the Options window.

Internet Explorer:

  1.  Go to Internet Options, either through Internet Explorer or the Windows Control Panel.
  2.  Go to the Privacy panel.
  3.  Press the Advanced button.
  4.  Check the box for “Override automatic cookie handling”.
  5.  Select “Accept” for Third-party cookies.
  6.  Press OK.
  7.  Press OK to close the Internet Options window.

Devon's Weekly Technology Tips & Tricks

 

Good Morning Everyone,

I hope that you all enjoyed the brief respite of warmth that we had this weekend!  This week I've got a much-welcomed update to Google Drive, 100 Drive Tips & Tricks and some great general tech tips from a David Pogue Ted talk.  If you have questions about anything, please don't hesitate to ask.
Have a great week!

SU Tips and Tricks

Google Drive Activity Stream A recent update to Google Drive has provided a quick way to see updates to shared files in Google Drive.  The new activity stream shows you when changes have been made to documents that you share as well as those that are shared with you!  This is a great way to see at a glance what documents have been edited as well as who edited them.  If you would like to learn more, click the link!

Top Ten Time-Saving Tech Tips Former NY Times technology writer, David Pougue, gave this 5 minute speech at Ted almost a year ago.  The tips he shared are just as relevant today as they were then!  Take a quick five minute break and do yourself a favor...watch this video!  You are sure to find something that will make your day a little easier!

100 Google Drive Tips Google Drive is one of the more versatile tools that we have as a part of our Google Apps for Education.  The use cases for staff, faculty and students is almost limitless!  If you have been wanting to start using this great tool for your work or in the classroom, this list is a great place to start!

A Quick Bb Content Editor Pro Tip: Shift+Enter to Single Sapce

Most of the time Blackboard information is lengthy, but not today!  Today is a beautiful, cold, and Friday! I have a simple tip that just might make formatting information in your Bb Content Editor a pinch nicer for you the next time you use it.

Have you noticed that Bb's content editor double spaces when you hit enter?

You might not always want text to look like this.

Feat not!  There is a simple way to single space.

If you would like a single space there is a simple solution! Just hit Shift+Enter, and you can single space until your heart is content!

Blackboard Better!

This semester, we want all SU Bb users to be on the same page with regards to Blackboard.  Sure, 100% perfect Blackboard usage does not happen over night, but you have to have goals, right?

Before throwing your arms in the air in frustration make sure you exercise your available avenues of SU specific Bb information!  First keep in mind that IC sends Technology Liaison, Tristan Plummer, out among the SU community every single day!  You can catch him at a convenient location near you, and he'll always try to help. Just look up the Traveling Bb Support Schedule.

How do you look up the Traveling Bb Support Schedule? SU has its very own Blackboard information page that contains a wealth of Blackboard for whatever information you may be seeking. That sounds like an amazing place to check! Once you visit Su.edu/bb you shouldn't have any issues finding your way.  By the way, there is a ton of information that can probably solve whatever questions you may have!

 Many of you have already created work orders, and that is fantastic!  With work orders, help is always going to be on the way.  If something with Blackboard does not seem to be working properly (keep in mind, if you have issues with the content of a course, you must speak with your professor), or you just need help, you can create a work order and as soon as time permits a tech will assist you.
Work orders can be accessed a few different ways, but probably the most convenient way is to go to the "Tech Support" tab in Blackboard and click the "Web Help Desk" button on the Help Desk sub tab.

IMPORTANT - Campus Closure Policy - IMPORTANT

As you know, we are opening at noon today.  Always keeping safety at the forefront, we strive to make the best decision we can for the institution as a whole, but we recognize that situations will vary among individual students, faculty, and staff.  Please keep in mind that in keeping with our campus closure policy, people need to make their own decisions about whether it is safe to travel.  Our policy states this as follows:

"Shenandoah's residential population makes it imperative that the campus be closed only in the most severe circumstances.  Therefore, most of the time, the university will remain open and all classes will be held even when weather is inclement.

Student attendance when classes are not canceled

Students should make their own decisions whether to risk driving in snow, ice or other severe weather conditions.  All work in such cases can be made up as long as faculty members are promptly notified and the work is completed in a timely fashion  In cases where extensive class time is missed due to weather, make-up classes may be arranged.

Faculty canceling specific classes

In those rare instances when classes are held university-wide but a faculty member cannot get to class, that faculty member should work out a means of notifying his/her students.  Radio announcements will not be made for individual professors or programs.

 

Staff who cannot report to work

Staff who cannot reach campus, or those who feel they must leave before an official closing, should work with their supervisors to ensure that required work is accomplished.  This may mean making up time at a later date or taking personal leave."

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

 

Adrienne G. Bloss, PhD

Vice President for Academic Affairs

Shenandoah University

1460 University Drive

Winchester, VA  22601

540-665-4525

Emergency Alerts Comes to Bb Top Frame Tabs

Nestled right between the "Administrative and "Faculty, Staff, Student Orgs" tabs is a brand new tab called "Emergency Alerts."  We have decided to put Emergency Alerts as a top-frame tab because it is really important! Don't be left out in the cold, or caught unaware of a campus wide emergency! Sign-up today!

Student Tech Buzz 1/20-1/24

Techwinkle, your SU Traveling Bb Support Moose!   This cute little moose finally has a name worthy of the support it provides around campus!  After running the contest for over a month, Techwinkle is ready to rock SU with some of the most accessible Bb support that SU provides! Don't forget to follow Techwinkle on twitter (@techwinkle) for up-to-date information about Traveling Bb Support here at SU. Now that Techwinkle has a name, it mentioned a new goal, "Let's all learn to Blackboard better!" Thank you to all of the 150+ Bb users who participated in this contest from start to finish! Make sure to stop by and visit Techwinkle and his companion, Tristan Plummer, at Traveling Bb Support:   Bb Traveling Schedule: Mondays: Ruebush 11-12p Tuesday: Shingleton 10-11a, Brandt 12-2p, Gregory 2:30-3:30p Wednesday: Cork 11-1p, HPB 1:30-5p Thursday: NVC 9-12p 1st & 3rd Weeks, Shingleton 2-3p,3 HHH 3:30-4:30p Friday: Bowman 12-1p, MOB II 1-3p   Something seems strange in a Bb Course?  Don't panic! Putting together a well coordinated and organized Bb course is time consuming and requires a lot of focus. If you notice something is amiss with some of the content within your course, contact your professor. You must speak to your professor if the issue is content related because professors are 100% in control of the content within their course.  Here are a few examples of issues that can rarely occur: A link is broken A menu item is taking you to an area that does not match its description An assignment on the syllabus does not seem to be available when specified Keep in mind, if you are having any Bb issues that are not content related, you should fill out a work order, or stop by and visit Traveling Bb Support (click the Traveling Support Schedule link on the left side for the schedule).

Remember to Sign Up for Emergency Alerts and Update Your Opt-Out Date!   Were you that diligent student who braved the icy blasts to show up on time just to find out that SU was closed yesterday (1/21)? Don't worry. Nobody saw you.  I think I have a worthwhile solution that will enable you to stay comfortable and safe the next time there is a delay or cancellation. Sign up for Emergency Alerts! Keep in mind that Emergency Alerts can potentially save you from dealing with more than just bad weather. To sign up for Emergency Alerts, just log into Blackboard, click the community tab, fill out the required fields, and hit submit! If you have already signed up for Emergency Alerts, but are no longer receiving them, it is probably because your "Opt-Out" date has expired, log into E2Campus and update your "Opt-Out" date. Once again you should be receiving Emergency Alerts.

Exploring the "Community" tab in Bb!

It has come to my attention that not all SU Bb users explore Blackboard like the great Venetian explorer Marco Polo explored the Far East.  If you have a few spare moments, explore Bb! You will be surprised at how much valuable information you have access to within a few clicks.

One of the most informative areas within our SU Bb environment is the "Communities Tab."

Here's the "Community" tab breakdown (in order as they appear):

• Emergency Alerts- Signing up for Emergency Alerts should be a no-brainer.  You can receive potentially life saving information simply by checking your text messages.  Right now is a particularly relevant time to sign up for Emergency Alerts as it looks like we might be getting yet another snow storm which could potentially cause delays or cancellations (1/20). 

• WEPA- Wireless Printing made easy.  Most of you have probably already encountered the WEPA stations located across campus.  Follow the directions on this sub-tab to start printing your documents to a convenient WEPA location near you.  

• Hornet Dollars- The SU currency used around campus to purchase most of the things you need here at SU are called "Hornet Dollars."  Why convert real dollars into SU Hornet Dollars?  There are many reasons, but I'll give you one that is particularly compelling for parents.  Due to the fact that Hornet Dollars are limited in what they can purchase, parents often times will find that giving their children access to Hornet Dollars is a safer route to insure that their money is being spent on something related to school.  I mean... Not like any of you would consider spending money on something else, right?

•  Dining Services- Information about Dining Plans, Locations & Menus, Dining News, Catering Services, Events & Promotions, and a lot of other information related to the available food options here at Shenandoah University.  Make sure to visit this sub-tab often for up to date information about your dining experience!

•  Internships- Looking for an internship?  That's awesome. You've come to the right place. You don't eve need to leave Blackboard!  Yes, that's right, your Bb environment might be able to assist in your future employment. The steps under the Internship are very simple.  You need to upload or build a resume, some some preferences, assess your skills, and then you're ready to search and apply for positions!  

•  Bookstore- Want to see what is available at the SU Bookstore without braving the icy blasts that are associated with this frigid winter?  I can't blame you.  Just visit this sub-tab to see what SU Apparel, Gifts, Supplies, Technology, and of course books are available.

•  Athletics-  The sub-tab for those trying to access information about SU athletics.  Don't forget to support your favorite sports, and as always, "Go Hornets!"

• Spiritual Life-  Spiritual Life and our campus go together like wonder break, and everything else that make up a delicious sandwich.  In fact, I think it is probably safe to say that a majority of our SU community identifies as spiritual.  We, as a university, represent all faiths, and the spiritual life sub-tab is a great place for you to go if you are spiritually inclined.  Make use of all the information here to help you on your spiritual journey.

Devon's Monday Tips & Tricks!

Good Morning Everyone, Hope that you all had a great weekend!  This week I have an update to Chrome that is amazing as well as some Excel tips and how to print Google Forms!  If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask!

SU Tips and Tricks

Chrome Just Got Even Cooler! Noisy tabs, the bane of any tab junkies existence, just got their papers served!  The latest version of Chrome now displays an icon on any tab that is making a noise.  Now, when you have 25 tabs open and one of them starts playing a video/advertisement, it is easy to pick it out and shut it down!  Want to learn more? Click the link for the full post.

20 Ways to Paste in Excel Did you know that there are twenty different ways that you can paste information into an Excel spreadsheet?  Well neither did I before taking a look at this great article.  This list provides you with an explanation of when you would use each of these different pasting techniques.

Google Forms Print Beautifully If you have used Google Forms, you know how handy this online survey tool can be in the workplace.  Did you know that you can also print your forms in a very nice looking offline format? Your questions print off and look just like they should.  Drop down menus appear as lists and text based answers are listed with lines for writing.  The formatting just works!  The next time you need to create an offline survey, don't forget that Google Forms will work for that too!  Click the link to see a picture of the formatting in action!

Where Devon will Be This Week
Monday - Bowman Building
11:00 - 1:00 - Room 212
Wednesday - Cork Street -
11:00 - 1:00 - Room 142
Thursday - Wilkins Building -
9:30 - 11:30 - Conference Room
Halpin-Harrison Hall
2:30 - 4:30 - Room 140
Friday - HPB -
11 - 1 - In Front of the Library

Is Work Order Anxiety keeping you from receiving help?

Work Order Anxiety is the third largest cause of panic attacks in Fredrick County (preceded by Apple Blossom and a lack of delicious sliders from the Snow White Grill).  Okay, so I just made that up, but I think that a lot of SU users see advice to fill out a work order and suddenly, images of  thick red tape, turbid bureaucracy, and endless desks of employees stamping "NOT TODAY, BUB" in giant red letters on the top of request forms, begin to conjure in their minds.

"NOOOO." Cried Shelby, as she reads an email asking her to fill out a work order.

These are misconceived notions!  In fact, work orders are completed quite fast, and are designed to slice right through red tape like a samurai masterfully cutting through a medium sized sheet of metal.

To dispel your worries. I want you to understand exactly why you should be excited to fill out work orders.  Beyond all else, I want you, the user, to be in the know about how work order support works around here!

"What happens after my work order is submitted?"

There is no council that convenes in Rivendell, Neo does not need Morpheus to risk the  Nebuchadnezzar by spending too much time at broadcast depth, and the IC department doesn't need to hear an amazing speech about saving humanity for us to know what to do!

Once you submit a work order, the head of whatever group you are trying to receive help from will distribute your ticket to the best possible person to assist you.  The correspondence you have with your tech can all be referenced and tracked so that the tech is held accountable for her/his work.  That being said, once you fill out a work order, there is no chance for your ticket to get lost in the "Mark as Read" confusion of an email inbox.  Also, keep in mind that should you send somebody an email asking for help, and then that person gets sick, nobody else will be able to help you!  With work orders, if I am assigned a ticket, and then I get sick, the ticket can be reassigned to the next person to ensure timely delivery of support!

I know that explanation seems simple, but in truth, the work order system is simple!  When you submit a work order, the biggest piece of information you need to know is that help is on the way!

workorder.su.edu

Blackboard Inc. Aquires MyEdu - News Alert

MyEdu has created a successful, free set of student-focused tools that are used by millions of students to find the best path to a degree and build their first “professional profile” that will connect them to job and internship opportunities.

MyEdu allows students to map out their personal education plan while simultaneously building a unique profile that showcases academic skills and course experiences. Through corporate partnerships, MyEdu shares these profiles with employers who can easily find qualified, interested students for open positions. MyEdu is used by over 50 percent of the students at the University of Texas System. 

Blackboard (Bb) Inc. has changed their focus from what faculty needs to learner needs and student success and providing relevant, user-friendly tools that help the students and communities they serve in critical areas.

In the short term, Bb will keep MyEdu free to students. In the longer term, they plan to integrate MyEdu’s products into the Bb Learn system we use at SU today to create a more holistic experience for students.
 
You can learn more about this Bb News Alert by clicking here. You can learn more about MyEdu by going to https://www.myedu.com/.

Have a good day,
IC Bb Support Staff

JAVA Advisory for Bb Learn Users

Certain features in Blackboard Learn rely on Java to work. Oracle is expected to release a client-side Java update (Java Update 7u51) on Tuesday, January 14, that will negatively impact three Blackboard tools:  
(1) Lightweight Chat
(2) Virtual Classroom
(3) the ability to upload multiple files into Blackboard Learn course files.

This update contains security requirements that require changes to Blackboard Learn. Blackboard is currently making the necessary fixes and plans to release the fixes to SU around January 21.

What should you do in the meantime? 

• If you do not install this latest client-side update of Java (Java Update 7u51), you will not encounter issues.
• If you have already installed Java Update 7u51, you can roll back to a previous version of the client-side Java to restore use of those impacted items. If it is not, you can download the previous version.
• If you do not use the three Blackboard Learn tools listed, installing the client-side Java Update 7u51 should not have any negative impact on your user experience in Blackboard Learn.

If you use these three tools and have applied the update, please be advise you may have problems.  If you have additional questions please visit the Help Desk or submit an online help ticket at workorders.su.edu

Journals, Blogs, Discussion Boards, and Wikis. What's the difference?

You're three days into classes, and for many of you that might mean that you are starting to be responsible for your first Journal, Blog, Discussion Board, or Wiki entries.  Depending on the course, you might have to do some sort of vicious combination of all four!

But do you, as a student user, know the difference?  Do you know what differentiates one tool from another? 

Ehm, Blackboard class is now in session, let's review:

• Journals:  The Journal tool is primarily designed so that students can communicate directly with the instructor in a well organized and consistent format.  The principle idea, is that your words are not subject to the view of your peers, and thus you can express your thoughts, ideas, deeply held beliefs, and experiences without the worry of social retribution.  Keep in mind though, that Journals can be opened up for public view (so the rest of the class can see).

• Blogs: Blogging has become a part of day-to-day "tech culture" that is common in 2014; however, some do not use, or read, blogs particularly frequently.  Blogs are a space for you to write in such a way that the public may view your information.  With a quick google search you can find blogs on just about any topic (no, just because you read it on the internet does not make it true). Inside of your Blackboard your professor can assign blogs, which are areas for you to write information that your peers can read and comment on.  This is designed so that your positions and opinions on a given topic can be expanded, flushed out, and then your peers can comment about their opinions on your work. 

• Discussion Boards:  If I was a professor and I was introducing a pretty hot topic in a lecture to my students, you can bet I would follow that topic with a discussion board.  Discussion boards can be phenomenally interesting because you are getting the back and forth comments and dialogue between students about a specified topic. Keep in mind, netique is important with Discussion Boards, as these quick correspondences can occasionally spiral out of control.

• Wikis: Though wikis tend to be used less than the three tools listed above, that does not mean that the Wikis tool is lacking in usefulness and functionality!  A wiki is a collaborate writing that users and groups come together to compile information to create one work that is both expansive and detailed.  Imagine how much information an entire class who is focused on one particular goal or writing can accomplish! That's the power of the wiki. 

Techwinkle the Traveling Bb Support Moose!

The Traveling Bb Support Moose has had its name revealed in front of an audience in the Ferrari Room! Techwinkle!

Please feel free to add @techwinkle to twitter, as it will begin tweeting about some of the latest information about your SU Blackboard environment!

Today's ceremony went off without a hitch, and had a pretty good turn-out. The snacks were plentiful, the prizes were awesome, and the goodies were abundant. However, it wasn't strictly a day of moose-play, Blackboard Inc. sent down a usability team to gather some information from our SU students who will ultimately contribute in making future Blackboard pieces as user friendly as possible!

Word on the street is that Techwinkle, has a new goal:  To have all SU Blackboard users using Blackboard better!

Devon's Monday Tips & Tricks for January 13, 2014

Good Morning Everyone,

I hope that you all had a relaxing and productive weekend!  This week I've got an awesome iPad/iPhone calendar app, some quick keyboard shortcuts to save you time on your Mac as well as.... the Bb Moose naming ceremony! Have a great week!

You can find Devon this week at:
Monday - Bowman Building
11:00 - 12:00 - Room 212
Wednesday - Cork Street
11:00 - 1:00 - Conference Room
Thursday - Wilkins / HHH -
11:00 - 1:00 - Conference Room
2:00 - 4:00 - HHH 140

SU Tips and Tricks

Sunrise Calendar App Now on Ipad One of the most beautiful calendar apps for iPhone has finally made its way to iPad.  Sunrise provides a great interface that is powerful and simplistic at the same time.  The app also pulls in relevant information from LinkedIn, Google Maps for directions, Facebook and the weather!  If you haven't yet found a calendar app on your iPad that you enjoy, give this one a try!  Links above will take you to iTunes.

13 Mac Shortcuts to Make You More Productive

Everyone loves shortcuts.  Whether it is while driving or while working, shortcuts can make our lives a little bit simpler!  This short video from Business Insider provides a quick rundown of 13 shortcuts you can use with your MacBook to make your workflow a little easier!  Check out the link for the video!

 

The Wait is Over...The Moose Will Be Named! That's right folks.  This Monday (Today!) from 12:30-2, there will be a huge celebration located in the Brandt Student Center Ferrari Room for the Naming of the Moose Ceremony!  There will be prizes galore, munchies and more!  Make sure you are there to be a part of this historical occasion!  Click the link for a full rundown of the proceedings.

After the Ceremony!

At the Naming the Moose ceremony you will, hopefully, have a blast, wolf down a few delicious snacks, receive an awesome goodie or two, and witness a surprise so incredibly interesting that you will be amazed that the IC Department could pull it off! 

After the ceremony, make sure to stick around and speak with some of the interesting folks from Blackboard Inc. who have decided to attend!

here are the positions of the Blackboard Inc. employees that will be in attendance:

• A documentation writer
• A developer
• A user designer
• A representative from the UX (Usability) team

These representatives want to speak to all SU users (Faculty, Staff, Student) about their experiences with Blackboard!  The information that you give them will be some of the ideas that they take with them when they continue to develop Blackboard in the future.

Oh, and word on the street is that the Blackboard Inc. team may be bringing a few special Blackboard goodies of their own!

"Celebration!" Cries the Moose

The SU's Traveling Blackboard Support Moose has lowered its adorable shoulders and thrown back its gloriously fuzzy antlers to cry-out one simple message, "Celebration!"

What is the cause of all of this very moosey celebrating?  Well... The story is as old as time itself; however, the abridged version is as follows:

"When the great moose-prints of time began to march ever forward, and the first rack of powerful moose-antlers were formed from the same particles that were forged in the belly of stars, the first moose began to roam through space and time itself.  After eons of interstellar moose-travel, a moose, found a planet that happened to have pristine virgin forests and somewhat comfortable moss. After moments of debate, the moose decided this was a suitable home for moose-kind.  That moose, came to be known as, "that big animal in the woods."  For decades the moose enjoyed the shelter that the forest provided, but it always yearned to be called something more.  Over time, the yearning for a proper noun to associate itself with a public identity became a compulsion so strong that the moose learned the local language and asked, "Hey folks, could you please name me something.  I'd really appreciate a good name."  And so the people named the moose, "Gordon." After that, the moose summoned all of his strength and shouted towards the stars to all moose far and wide that he, in fact, had been given a proper name. It was that day that from then on all moose celebrate when one of their own are bestowed a name."

- Moose Lore Compendium page 1,337 article 2. (The contents of which may or may not be rooted in reality)

Now that you know one of the most secret and interesting facts about deep moose-lore, it should be imminently clear why the IC Department Bb Team is proud to announce that our very own SU Traveling Blackboard Support Moose has found its name!

Come celebrate with the SU Traveling Blackboard Support Moose at the moment it discovers its proper name!

• Monday, January 13th
• Ferrari Room
• 12:30pm-2:00pm (Naming Ceremony and prize handing out starts at 12:30pm and will finish by 12:45pm)
• 12:45pm-2pm (socializing, snack eating, goodies distribution, a few surprised that will leave you wondering, "Did that just happen at SU?", and Bb Support/Bb Usability Labs provided by Blackboard Inc.'s UX Team, The Center for Teaching and Learning, and the IC Department's Bb Team)

Please feel free to stay as long as you would like, but leave whenever you must!

A message from BLACKBOARD COLLABORATE SUPPORT

Blackboard customers and partners,

First, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Mark Strassman and I am the Senior Vice President of Product and Industry Management at Blackboard. My team is responsible for the centralized management our company’s full product portfolio. We help ensure product roadmaps and strategies are aligned and that we are leveraging the full strength of our portfolio in a way that maps our products better to how you use them every day.

I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge that over the past few days many of you have been experiencing slowness in our Web conferencing service. I speak for our entire organization when I apologize for any frustration you have felt.

Maintenance was performed in conjunction with bringing up our new North America datacenter resulting in an impact to your service. While intermittent service interruptions are typical of major system conversions, rest assured that through this implementation, we will be even better positioned to provide you with the high-quality service you deserve and to drive greater improvements over the long-term.

The system is currently stable and accommodating peak traffic loads.  The complete investigation of the situation is ongoing and I will continue to openly share information as needed on the root cause and additional safeguards we are putting into place to ensure this does not happen again.  Our team is working diligently to monitor and test the system in order to quickly detect and respond to anything new that might be discovered or reported.

We are also aware that the customer communication process used to notify you of this type of maintenance may not have effectively reached all stakeholders prior to the maintenance window on January 4^th.

I want to assure you that we are fully dedicated to providing you with a Web conferencing service that you can rely on and a responsive customer support experience to address any issues that you or your end users encounter. We recently restructured our organization to centralize all Blackboard products and technical services into a single unit to help us anticipate and respond to your needs more effectively and improve our cloud delivery. Our new and improved datacenter is part of this update. It has an infrastructure that is designed specifically to support student and institutional success and we are excited to provide you with an enhanced cloud environment.

We take our responsibility to facilitate the best education experience possible very seriously and I thank you for your patience. If you have any questions or want to provide feedback directly related to this topic, please feel free to contact me directly at mark.strassman@blackboard.com.

Thank you,

Mark Strassman

Senior Vice President, Product and Industry Management, Blackboard

Student Tech Buzz 1/6-1/10   To those of you who are traveling back to SU, please make sure your travels are safe and warm. Naming the Moose, the Ceremony   The name for the SU Traveling Blackboard Moose has been found, but there is one more important task to complete before the name is revealed!  A Celebration! On Monday, January 13th from 12:30pm-2pm there will be a huge celebration in the Ferrari room! Make sure to stop by and watch the revealing of the name, and then stay for quality snacks, goodies, and a wild amount of Blackboard support for all users. I can't reveal the entire surprise, but let me just say, this is going to be a big deal! Don't miss out! Let's start this semester off by having a great time, eating lots of snacks, receiving some cool goodies, and learning how to use Blackboard better. When:  Monday, January 13, 2014  12:30pm-12:45pm for the naming ceremony 12:45-2pm for snacks, socializing, Blackboard Support, and Usability Labs (provided by Blackboard Inc.'s UX Team, The Center for Teaching and Learning, and the IC Department's Bb Team) You are not required to stay for any amount of time once you come to the event.  Where: Ferrari Room, Brandt Student Center   Help Has Arrived! Did you know that students will be able to access all kinds of help directly through their Blackboard courses just by exploring the available menu items? Let's breakdown the types of help you can receive from the two tabs that are highlighted in the image: Technology Training- When you click on this tab, you will be brought to Atomic Learning.  Atomic Learning is a place that SU users can go to access all kinds of information about software that you may be using at this university. Help & Support-  The one-stop-shop for all of your campus help needs.  If you need information about the services that exist to you as a student, this is going to be an excellent resource for you.  Click Help & Support to read more about all of the information that is contained with the Help & Support menu item Keep in mind, professors have the ability to hide/delete these menu items as they choose.

Blackboard's New Terms of Service for Profile and Social Features   Blackboard will now request that you agree to terms of service before allowing you to access your Blackboard Profile and Social features. Once you click "I have read these terms and agree to them and am at least 13 years of age." And hit "Agree" you will receive a verification email at the email address you provide on the next screen. This semester, we would love our Bb users to continue to use Blackboard's Profile and Social tools in new and exciting ways, so make sure to log on, read the terms of service, and agree to them!