Instructional Technology News – August 15, 2022

• August 15th, 2022
• in -Instructional Technology News, Announcements

Welcome to the Fall 2022 Semester 

The Center for Instructional Technology (CIT) welcomes you back for the Fall 2022 semester. Below are a few resources to help you and your students get prepared for classes. 

The Center for Instructional Technology exists to help with your instructional technology and accessibility needs. We provide training, support, workshops, and consultations for UA’s instructional technologies which include Blackboard Learn, Blackboard Collaborate Ultra, Flip (formerly Flipgrid), Gradescope, Hypothesis, Panopto, People.ua.edu websites, Respondus, Turnitin, PointSolutions responseware (formerly Turning Tech TurningPoint clickers) and Zoom.  

Learn more about each of these technologies on our website. Some noteworthy items to bring to your attention: 

Blackboard Learn 

• Instructors and students can now add personal pronouns in Blackboard Learn: https://cit.ua.edu/personal-pronouns-in-blackboard-learn/. 
• Blackboard Learn course term names have changed: https://cit.ua.edu/blackboard-learn-course-term-names-changed/. 
• Blackboard Instructor app support ends, download the Blackboard app – https://cit.ua.edu/blackboard-instructor-app-support-ending/. 
• Instructors may now explore Blackboard Learn Ultra Course View. Learn more and apply to participate in the pilot: Blackboard Learn Ultra Course Pilot. 
• Resources for Getting Started in Blackboard. 

Turnitin 

• Creating Turnitin assignments in Blackboard Learn is now under “Build Content” and no longer under “Assessments.”  
• PeerMark assignments no longer automatically generate or populate Blackboard grade center columns.  
• Resources about 2022 Turnitin changes. 

Panopto 

Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) generated captions are now automatically generated and available for editing and importing for Panopto videos. Accurate captions enhance learning and ensure access for all. Be sure to review and edit captions for accuracy. 

Tool name changes 

• Flipgrid is now called Flip. No changes to access or use. 
• Turning Tech’s Turning Point clickers and mobile response tools are now owned by Echo360 and called PointSolutions. No changes to access or use, but we are still updating tutorial resources to reflect the new name. 

Please let us help! 

We’re here to help. You can reach us at cit@ua.edu or 205-348-3532. Join us at an upcoming webinar or schedule a consultation with us.  

Classroom Support 

Most classrooms across campus are supported by OIT’s Audio Visual Solutions (AVS) team. Use the classroom help phone (Dial 2) to reach the AVS help desk for immediate help with classroom technology. You can also contact AVS at 205-348-3453 or email avsolutions@ua.edu. 

Support for Informational Technology needs 

Visit oit.ua.edu for more information about IT services including email, internet, account access, and more. You can also reach us at the IT Service Desk itservicedesk@ua.edu or 205-348-5555, we are here to help.  

About blackboard-instructors@listserv.ua.edu: 

CIT uses this list to communicate essential information about instructional technology updates and resources. All members of the UA community who are currently instructors in Banner or Blackboard Learn are subscribed to the listserv. Messages are sent at the most weekly unless a service interruption or ongoing issue merits more frequent communications. 

Want more updates from us? Subscribe to our news updates and follow us on Facebook and YouTube. 

Instructional Technology News – August 1, 2022

• August 1st, 2022
• in -Instructional Technology News

Hello instructors,

This is Melissa from The Center for Instructional Technology with a fresh batch of instructional technology news and tips. The fall semester’s approach brings new subscribers to this list – welcome aboard! Your colleagues in The Center for Instructional Technology provide training, support, workshops, webinars, and consultations for UA’s instructional technologies and technology accessibility. Submit a help request or join us at an upcoming webinar.

Blackboard Learn

Personal Pronouns in Blackboard Learn

UA students and instructors can now specify their personal pronouns and have them appear to other users in Blackboard Learn. Pronouns will appear to other users in various locations of interactive tools, group activities, and name lists. If you do not want others to see your pronouns, select “Not Applicable” from Personal Pronoun menu in myBama. Additional information and steps for making pronoun selections: Personal Pronouns in Blackboard Learn

Blackboard to End Support of Instructor App

CIT has learned that support for the Blackboard Instructor iOS and Android apps will end in September 2022. Instructors, Assistants, and Graders should download the Blackboard app for iOS or Android. More on our website: Blackboard Instructor app support ending, download the Blackboard app

Blackboard Learn Course Term Names Changed

Blackboard Learn course terms are used to define the beginning and end of a period of study. The course term defines where a course appears on the Courses page. Here you can also select a term from the dropdown menu to move between past, current, and upcoming courses. CIT recently revised the course term names to display text labels rather than term codes (e.g., 2022 Spring instead of 202210 and 2022 Fall instead of 202240). Here’s our official announcement: Blackboard Learn course term names changed

Turnitin

Turnitin has discontinued support for gradable peer review assignments. While Turnitin does still have PeerMark capabilities, peer reviews no longer have their own grade columns. For gradable peer review, instructors might explore Flip, Blackboard Learn’s peer assessment tool, or adjust grading practices in Turnitin.

More news from CIT and OIT

• Blackboard Collaborate Scheduled Maintenance – August 11– Version 22.14 release is on its way
• Upcoming OIT Events – Including a virtual intro to Microsoft Bookings, great for office hour scheduling
• Box to End Support for Box Capture App – Transition to the Box Mobile app with Capture Mode
• Simulated Phishing – OIT to begin sending simulated phishing emails this fall

A personal note

This is my last Instructional Technology News message, as I am departing CIT for a new role with an accessibility non-profit. I’m ever so grateful for CIT and OIT colleagues and for the opportunities I’ve had to work with many of you during my time at UA! Finding creative and effective ways to use technology for teaching and learning remains a passion of mine, and I would love to stay connected on Twitter or LinkedIn. I wish you all a great fall semester. If you need to get in touch with CIT, please submit a help request.

Blackboard Learn course term names changed

• July 29th, 2022
• in Announcements

Blackboard Learn course terms are used to define the beginning and end of a period of study. The course term defines where a course appears on the Courses page. Here you can also select a term from the dropdown menu to move between past, current, and upcoming courses. CIT recently revised the course term names to display text labels rather than term codes (e.g., 2022 Spring instead of 202210 and 2022 Fall instead of 202240).

Blackboard Instructor app support ending, download the Blackboard app

• July 29th, 2022
• in Announcements

CIT has learned that support for the Blackboard Instructor iOS and Android apps will end in September 2022. Instructors, Assistants, and Graders should download the Blackboard app for iOS or Android.

More from Blackboard:

Unified Blackboard App
Blackboard Learn SaaS, Blackboard Learn 9.1
Ultra Experience, Original Experience
Ultra Course View, Original Course View
Impact: Instructors, Assistants, and Graders

In the past we had two separate mobile apps: the Blackboard App and the Blackboard Instructor App. The two apps caused confusion for many instructors. They did not realize that they needed to use a different app to manage their courses.

With this release, we are consolidating to a single app for both instructors and students. The user experience will change based on the user’s role within a course. Instructors can use the updated Blackboard app for both Original and Ultra courses.

Action needed: Support for the Blackboard Instructor iOS and Android apps ends in September 2022. Instructors, Assistants, and Graders should download the Blackboard app for iOS or Android.

For administrators: There are no configurations needed. We encourage admins to notify instructors of the need to download a different app.

Real-time information about Blackboard status, as well as updates about scheduled maintenance and past incidents, is available on the Blackboard status page.

Personal Pronouns in Blackboard Learn

• July 29th, 2022
• in Announcements

UA students and instructors can now display personal pronouns in Blackboard Learn. A recent Blackboard Learn update introduced the ability for users to specify their personal pronouns in myBama and have them appear to other users in various locations in Blackboard Learn.

To display pronouns in Blackboard Learn:

1. Log in to myBama with your myBama username and password.
2. Students: Search for and select View/Update Personal Information (or select Update Personal Information from the Student tab). Employees: Search for and select Employee Profile then select More Personal Information.
3. Choose Edit to edit the Personal Details section.
4. Choose your pronoun from the Personal Pronoun drop down menu.
5. Select Update.

If you have already specified a pronoun in myBama, you may need to make and save a change to your Personal Information in myBama in order to now display the pronoun in Blackboard Learn. To “push” the change to Blackboard Learn, you may change your pronoun to Not Applicable, update to apply the change, then make your actual pronoun selection and update again.

Your pronouns will appear to other users. In your courses, they will display in various locations of interactive tools, group activities, and name lists. If you do not want others to see your pronouns, select Not Applicable from the Personal Pronoun drop down menu, then select Update.

Additional information about pronoun presentation in Blackboard Learn:

• How do I display my personal pronoun in Blackboard? – CIT Knowledge Base
• Profile (Ultra Course View) – Lists locations where users can see other users’ pronouns in Ultra Base Navigation and in courses using Ultra Course View. The Profile is where UA users should go to quickly determine if they are sharing a pronoun in Blackboard Learn.
• Original Course View: If a user has pronoun or pronunciation information, it is displayed on a profile card. Selecting any avatar icon in Original Course View displays the profile card. All avatars are selectable in user lists, course tools, and grading workflows.

Known Issue: Turnitin Submissions created in Word for Windows may not generate Similarity Reports

• July 14th, 2022
• in Known Issues

Known Issue: Blackboard Learn equation rendering

• July 12th, 2022
• in Known Issues

Update 7/19/22: This issue is ongoing and affects tests being given through Respondus Lockdown Browser. Respondus Lockdown Browser displays content nearly identical to Google Chrome.

While this issue is being resolved, tests with math equations should not require Respondus Lockdown Browser. For more test security options, view our Knowledge Base article: Testing Tips for Instructors

When taking or editing a test, students and instructors may encounter Blackboard Learn “freezing” or incorrectly displaying math equations. This issue appears to affect Chrome. While issue is being resolved, please use Firefox.

Real-time information about Blackboard status, as well as updates about scheduled maintenance and past incidents, is available on the Blackboard status page.

Instructional Technology News – July 7, 2022

• July 7th, 2022
• in -Instructional Technology News

Hello instructors,

I hope you’re enjoying the summer! This is Melissa from The Center for Instructional Technology with some instructional technology news and tips. There is much to share this time, and I encourage you to visit the links to learn more.

Blackboard Learn

Anthology Completes Merger with Blackboard, No Changes for UA Users

Blackboard’s parent company has merged with another edtech company, Anthology. The newly merged organization will be called Anthology with the Blackboard name continuing as part of its portfolio. There are no anticipated changes for UA users. More from Anthology: Anthology Completes Merger with Blackboard, Launches Next Chapter in EdTech

Blackboard Term Duration & Course Availability Update

We are working on some behind-the-scenes changes to Blackboard’s course settings in an effort to provide a better user experience. Moving forward, courses will not have default course availability dates associated with their term. This means that courses will not become available/unavailable on a preset date unless manually set by the instructor or department.

If you need courses to become available/unavailable on a certain date, view the Course Properties section of this article in our knowledge base: How do I set course availability in Blackboard?

Blackboard Learn Ultra Course View Update – Fall 2022 live course pilot

UA instructors now have the opportunity to explore Blackboard Learn Ultra Course View. Ultra Course View offers a simple, modern, intuitive, and consistent interface across devices and a simpler, more streamlined experience for instructors and students. Learn more about Ultra Course View and apply to participate in UA’s Ultra Course View pilot: Blackboard Learn Ultra Course Pilot

CIT began piloting practice or developmental Ultra Course View courses in Spring 2022 and invites instructors to begin exploring by requesting an Ultra Course View practice course: Blackboard Learn Ultra Course Request

During the Fall 2022 semester, we hope to pilot 20 live course sections using Ultra Course View. Instructors interested in teaching with Ultra Course View this Fall should submit a request via the CIT portal: Blackboard Learn Ultra LIVE Course Pilot Request. CIT will help you determine whether your course meets participation requirements. Any course offered though UA Online (part of a fully online program offered through the College of Continuing Studies) is not eligible for the live course pilot.

Following the pilot period, instructors will be able to choose whether to use Original Course View or Ultra Course View for live courses. Pilot feedback will inform the timeline, along with feature and third-party tool availability.

Flip

Flipgrid is now Flip! Flip is the same product but with a new name and a new look. CIT resources will be updated with the new name. More from Flip: Learn about Flip

Turnitin

Known Issue: Turnitin Max Points must be greater than zero

Turnitin assignments must have at least one point assigned for Max Points during set up. 0/0, or any score out of 0 points, will continue to display as Needs Grading in the Blackboard grade center. Other errors may occur when the Turnitin assignment grade appears in the Blackboard grade center, including inaccurate scores.

Turnitin Scheduled Maintenance – July 8

Turnitin will have a scheduled system maintenance July 8, 2022 from 6:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. (July 9) CDT. Due to the maintenance, Turnitin will be unavailable between those times.

More news from CIT and OIT

• Blackboard Collaborate Scheduled Maintenance – July 14 – Version 22.12 release is on its way
• Panopto Scheduled Maintenance and Mandatory Client Upgrade – Panopto for Windows, Panopto for Mac and Remote Recorder upgrade July 21
• Panopto: June 2022 Update Brings New Features and Improvements – Editing and accessibility enhancements, AI-powered Smart Chapters, and more improvements, fixes, behaviors, and settings changes
• Updates from the Gradescope Team – August Workshop Series, product updates, and community spotlights
• Upcoming OIT Events – We’re particularly excited about the Build a Portfolio with Adobe Portfolio session on July 27
• ArcGIS Pro Version 3 – Changes are coming! See OIT’s recommendations.
• OIT Security to Install Microsoft Defender – OIT is transitioning campus machines from McAfee antivirus to Microsoft Defender

We’re here to help

As you can see, a lot is happening this summer to improve and enhance your instructional technology experience. As you begin to prepare for fall, please remember that your colleagues in The Center for Instructional Technology provide training, support, workshops, webinars, and consultations for UA’s instructional technologies and technology accessibility. Submit a help request or join us at an upcoming webinar.

Want more updates from CIT?  Subscribe to our news updates and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Turnitin Scheduled Maintenance – July 8

• July 6th, 2022
• in Announcements

Turnitin will have a scheduled system maintenance July 8, 2022 from 6:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. (July 9) CDT. Due to the maintenance, Turnitin will be unavailable between those times.

Real-time information about Turnitin status, as well as updates about scheduled maintenance and past incidents, is available on the Turnitin status page.

Blackboard Learn Ultra Course View Update – Fall 2022 live course pilot

• July 6th, 2022
• in Announcements

UA instructors now have the opportunity to explore Blackboard Learn Ultra Course View. Ultra Course View offers a simple, modern, intuitive, and consistent interface across devices and a simpler, more streamlined experience for instructors and students. Learn more about Ultra Course View and apply to participate in UA’s Ultra Course View pilot: Blackboard Learn Ultra Course Pilot

CIT began piloting practice or developmental Ultra Course View courses in Spring 2022 and invites instructors to begin exploring by requesting an Ultra Course View practice course: Blackboard Learn Ultra Course Request

During the Fall 2022 semester, we hope to pilot 20 live course sections using Ultra Course View. Instructors interested in teaching with Ultra Course View this Fall should submit a request via the CIT portal: Blackboard Learn Ultra LIVE Course Pilot Request. CIT will help you determine whether your course meets participation requirements. Any course offered though UA Online (part of a fully online program offered through the College of Continuing Studies) is not eligible for the live course pilot.

Following the pilot period, instructors will be able to choose whether to use Original Course View or Ultra Course View for live courses. Pilot feedback will inform the timeline, along with feature and third-party tool availability.