End of the Semester Checklist

The end of the spring semester is here! Here's a cool and handy checklist that you can mark off with what you should do at the end of any semester:

Have you archived your course?

Have you saved a version of your grade center?

Saved a version of your grade center?

Moved your content to BB2?

MAY and SUMMER 2013 Online Courses are in Blackboard 2!

Just a Reminder! 

Blackboard is getting a much needed makeover this summer. While our primary environment is getting all dolled up, the May Mini Term and all Summer courses will be held in a separate environment: Blackboard 2 (https://bb2.uhd.edu/). 

To ensure that you are in the right place, you may want to visit the UHD Blackboard Information page (http://www.uhd.edu/blackboard/) and select the log-in button. The correct log-in screen should look like this:

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Blackboard Support at 713.221.2786.

Please spread the word!

Gradebook Issues with IE 10

There is an bug that can occur between IE 10 and the Grade Center inside of Blackboard Learn. The bug will make the Gradebook disappear, your columns and grades will still be there, but you will not be able to see them.

The current solution is to switch to Firefox or Chrome browsers.

The 2013 UHD Technology & Learning Conference is HERE! Register Today!

We are planning a terrific conference this year for UHD faculty, staff, and students! Presentations and poster sessions will focus on the use of technology in the following areas:

• Technology that can be used to enhance and support learning;
• Faculty/student or staff/student co presentations or poster sessions;
• Professional sessions for students on technology or applications that would be found in the workplace or help them to transition to a job or graduate school;
• Presentations or poster sessions on the use of social media and other applications such as podcasting, blogging, etc. which enhance learning and engage students;
• Use of technology to support high impact learning;
• Emerging technology.

The conference will be held Wednesday and Thursday, April 24 & 25, 2013. Be sure to mark your calendar to attend (it's free!) and register now! We look forward to seeing you there!

Register
Sessions
Overview
Poster Sessions
Sponsors

Powerpoint and Youtube Compatibility Issue

At the time of this writing there seems to be an issue with embedding Youtube videos into Powerpoint. It is recommended that you link to the video rather than copy and paste the embed code from Youtube.com. Embedding the video into Powerpoint will not play it.


UPDATE: Follow the instructions on this video as a work around for the current issue with youtube and powerpoint.

Slideshare Presentations

The current Mashup tool for inserting Slideshare Presentations is having API issues, so it is non-responsive.  But this does not mean that you can no longer insert Slideshare presentations into your class. Here are six steps on how to insert a Slideshare Presentation into Blackboard.

1. Create an item

2. Turn on HTML editor

3. Visit Slideshare; find the presentation you would like to use.

4. Click on embed and click copy.

5. Switch back to Blackboard Learn; paste the HTML code into the text field, click Submit.

6. Preview the presentation inside Blackboard.

Add Banner Image to Your Class

In continuing with the topic of customization, buttons are not the only thing that can be changed about your class.

Click on Customization.

 

1. Click on Teaching Style. It will open a list of options, scroll down to section 6 to upload banner.

2.  Click on Browse My Computer to find the image you want to upload. The recommended measurement for a banner is: 1000 px X 200-250 px.

3. Once you find the image, select the image and click open. The file will be attached. You can click Do not attach, if you clicked the wrong file.

4. When you have selected the right file and it has been attached to Blackboard. Scroll down to section 7 and click submit.

5. After clicking submit, you will be taken to the customization tab. It show a message in green saying: "Success: Course Style updated."

6. Go to the homepage to see the new banner that your students will see when they visit your course.

Note: Make sure to use an image that will meet the recommended measurements.

Customizing Buttons

 Change the color of your course buttons and help students immediately recognize your course.

  

The options for button colors are separated into patterns, striped, and solid colors. You are also able to select whether the buttons have squared, rounder corners or round buttons.

1.       Go to Control Panel below the words "Course Management".  In the Control Panel à Customization à Teaching Style section.

2.       Section  choose color pattern or text/buttons

3. When you find a style and color that meets the desired look of your course. Scroll down and click Submit.

4. Let us look at the difference: