Preview of New Features in Blackboard Learn 9.1 SP 12/14

April 21, 2014 By Jason Rhode Leave a Comment

The 2014 Blackboard update at NIU to Blackboard Learn 9.1 Service Pack 14 delivers helpful enhancements to existing tools and a few exciting new tools. For example, the new test exception feature makes it easier to adjust test settings for individual students, group management is quicker, and the inline grading side-bar is added to additional tools like blogs and discussions. The new Quick Links button makes it easier to navigate Blackboard with a screen reader, the new Achievements tool adds the ability to recognize students with badges and certificates, and the new Date Management feature helps update availability and due dates after performing a course copy. To prepare for the anticipated update, watch this preview offered 4/18/14 to learn more about these (and more!) enhancements and features.

For complete details about NIU’s planned upgrade to Blackboard 9.1 Service Pack 12/14 during Summer 2014, visit niu.edu/blackboard/upgrade

For archives of other online workshops offered by NIU Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center, visit our YouTube channel. Follow Jason Rhode on Twitter @jrhode

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SARA: Navigating State Authorization Amidst Emerging Reciprocity

April 17, 2014 By Jason Rhode Leave a Comment

SARA: Navigating State Authorization Amidst Emerging Reciprocity - April 2014 Webinar

In this 4/15/14 webinar Jenny Parks, director of the Midwestern State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement, and other experts in this field presented information for institutions navigating the complex landscape of state authorization. Topics included the history and current state of federal involvement in the process, ways to organize institutional data and oversight for state authorization, a discussion of “good faith” efforts, the facets of state authorization that will and will not be addressed by SARA (state authorization reciprocity agreement), and an update on the status of SARA across the nation.

slides | slides notes | webinar archive

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The Upcoming Higher Education Act Reauthorization: Why the e-Learning Community Should Pay Attention

April 16, 2014 By Jason Rhode Leave a Comment

I recently attended this fantastic WCET webcast, The Upcoming Higher Education Act Reauthorization: Why the e-Learning Community Should Pay Attention in which a moderated panel will began with a brief history of past HEA reauthorizations and then turn to a conversation among policy experts about what to expect, when to expect it, and how to engage.

Anyone involved in the administration or support of distance education or interested in federal policies that impact higher education will find this webcast of value. The chat log, presentation slides, and recorded webcast are all available.

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Ready, Set, Record: Being Present and Engaging Students Online Using YouTube

April 10, 2014 By Jason Rhode Leave a Comment

Ready, Set, Record

Thu, 4/10/14, 10:10-11:00am
Lone Star C4

During this session at the 7th Annual International Symposium on Emerging Technologies for Online Learning, learn about one instructor’s use of YouTube’s free and easy-to-use features for recording, editing, captioning, and embedding video into his online course. An overview of the steps for recording, editing, captioning, video in YouTube were provided as well as examples shared for various approaches for seamlessly incorporating video into any online course. While the session featured the integrated “video anywhere” YouTube features in Blackboard, the principles provided will be applicable to an online course in any learning management system. A summary of feedback survey results from students regarding their experiences with video in the course was shared as well as lessons learned by the instructor for those wishing to follow the same suggested steps for incorporating video in their own course. Participants had the opportunity to ask questions throughout the session and see first-hand a demo by the instructor of how the video was seamlessly incorporated into the LMS. Accompanying slides are available here and links included in slides shared below.

Resource Links

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#unet4online Spark Session: Incorporating mobile technologies into the online learning environment

April 9, 2014 By Jason Rhode Leave a Comment

Unconference UnRodeo

Wed, 4/9/14, 10:30am
Unconference Lounge, Exhibit Hall

Let’s talk during this unconference spark session at ET4Online about incorporating mobile technologies into the online learning environment. How does the online learning environment change when participants all have mobile devices (and expect to use them 🙂 See findings of recent study by Chen & Denoyelles (2013) at http://www.educause.edu/ero/article/exploring-students-mobile-learning-practices-higher-education for background on student preferences for mobile.

What strategies can we incorporate in the design and delivery of online courses to make them mobile-inclusive? How can we actively engage students online using their mobile devices? Join us at the Unconference Lounge in the Exhibit Hall and bring your ideas!

We’ll take notes in the Google Doc here as well as tweet our shared ideas and takeaways using hashtag #unet4online

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