Update 3:20pm – Issue resolved. Load balancer restarted and service resumed.
For some users, the Blackboard Learn course list in myBama is not loading courses. To access Blackboard Learn courses from myBama, select More at the top of the screen and choose Blackboard. Users can also log in to Blackboard Learn directly at ualearn.blackboard.com using myBama credentials.
An upcoming security change, a few maintenance items, and tech reminders to share this week.
Zoom Security Changes
Beginning Sept. 27, Zoom will require that all meetings have a passcode or a waiting room enabled. Meetings that do not have a passcode or waiting room enabled will automatically be applied a waiting room. Waiting rooms can be customized to fit the need and audience for your meeting. For more information, visit the Zoom Support website.
VoiceThread Maintenance
VoiceThread will be performing a database upgrade and maintenance on Saturday, Sept. 19 from 4am – 5am. VoiceThread will not be offline, but tools may be slow to load during this maintenance window.
myBama Maintenance
myBama will be also undergo a database upgrade Saturday, Sept. 19 from 6am until 1pm. myBama will be unavailable during the maintenance window; however, Blackboard Learn will continue to be available by direct access – ualearn.blackboard.com.
Virtual Learning Spaces
If students need a space away from their residence to attend an online class, encourage them to visit one of UA’s 60+ virtual learning spaces. These spaces are designated areas where students can attend online class meetings while on campus.
Lockdown Browser Info for Students
Lockdown Browser is a tool new to many UA students. Consider sharing CIT’s Lockdown Browser Information with your students. A few reminders for students:
Follow CIT on YouTube
In recent weeks we’ve added several tutorial videos to our YouTube channel. Check out Testing Tips for Instructors, as well as Blackboard Basics for Students.
On Saturday, Sept. 19, myBama will be unavailable from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. for scheduled database maintenance. Banner, Blackboard, DegreeWorks and other applications will remain available. More information is available on the OIT Status Page.
Windows 10S is not a compatible operating system with LockDown Browser, nor can LockDown Browser be obtained via the Windows App Store. At present, support for Windows 10 S Mode isn’t on the roadmap for LockDown Browser. Full Respondus Support Article
Compatible Operating Systems
Windows: 10, 8, 7. Windows 10S is not a compatible operating system.
Mac: macOS 10.12 to 10.15
iOS: 11.0+ (iPad only).
Beginning Sept. 27, Zoom will require that all meetings have a passcode or a waiting room enabled. Meetings that do not have a passcode or waiting room enabled will automatically be applied a waiting room. Waiting rooms can be customized to fit the need and audience for your meeting. For more information, visit the Zoom Support website.
VoiceThread will be performing a database upgrade and maintenance on Saturday, Sept. 19 from 4am – 5pm. VoiceThread will not be offline, but tools may be slow to load during this maintenance window.
September is here – time to start planning for your first course assessment of the semester! The CIT has prepared content for each course delivery mode regarding best practices for online exams and assessments. Meet our tools that can help you as you prepare your first assessment.
Testing Tools:
Blackboard Tests
Instructors can use Blackboard Learn to create, administer, and grade exams and quizzes, all online. Visit cit.ua.edu/blackboard for detailed tutorials.
Respondus Lockdown Browser
Respondus Lockdown Browser allows instructors to require students use a pared-down, secure web browser to take an exam (not available for Chromebooks). Students can download Lockdown Browser from the My Institution page in Blackboard or on the OIT software page. Instructors must enable Lockdown Browser from the Course Tools menu.
Respondus Monitor
The Respondus Monitor option in Lockdown Browser uses a student’s webcam to automatically scan for irregular or suspicious test-taking activity and flag possible issues for instructors to review. Think of Respondus as a virtual alternative to an in-person testing monitor.
Exam Accommodations
If you have students who receive ODS accommodations that include extended time on tests, these steps from Blackboard walk you through adding test exceptions. Additionally, the Office of Disability Services provides information on testing accommodations at UA. Check out ods.ua.edu for more information.
Testing Tips
Tests aren’t new, but taking tests online can be new territory for many students. Share our Testing Tips with your students.
Additional Learning Space/Tech News:
Virtual Learning Spaces
UA has designated more than 60 classrooms and meeting rooms as virtual learning spaces – areas where students can attend online class meetings while on campus. Please share this with your students as an alternative location to attend an online class.
Student WIFI Connectivity
OIT is performing upgrades in several residence halls to improve wireless connectivity. If you encounter a student experiencing WIFI connectivity issues in their on-campus residence, please direct them to the IT Service Desk (205-348-5555 or itsd@ua.edu). *Note – the IT Service Desk is separate from the CIT. However, each are units within the Office of Information Technology.
We’re one week in to our new methods of teaching. CIT has a few resources to share as you continue to develop best practices for your course.
Contingency Planning
As we saw this week with a Zoom web server issue, outages occur. Although we strive to do everything in our power to prevent outages, please know that alternative technologies are available! For example, Blackboard Collaborate Ultra is an ideal tool to host a class meeting if Zoom is unavailable. Review all of our technologies, and see what they can do, in our Tool Comparison Chart.
Along with technology backups, consider having an instructor backup. Are your course materials available so that someone else could pick them up and teach your class? Consider having a backup instructor available with access to your course materials.
Blackboard Learn Basics for Students and Instructors
Students and instructors are depending on Blackboard Learn now more than ever before. Blackboard Learn serves as your course home page for most necessary materials. Review the CIT YouTube channel to see Blackboard best practices for both students and instructors. Learn how navigate and use Blackboard like a pro.
Check the CIT website for Common Tips
For example, if you use Panopto in the Safari browser, you may have noticed a login redirect loop. We’ve got a work-around that can help.
As always, we’re here to help. Contact us at cit@ua.edu, and remember, all UA instructors can contact Panopto Supportdirectly for help with Panopto, support@panopto.com.
When using Safari, Blackboard pages with embedded Panopto content may redirect to the Panopto login page, preventing access to the Blackboard course. To avoid this, click on Safari in the tool bar > click on Preferences > select Privacy. Uncheck the box that says Website Tracking: Prevent cross-site tracking.
Update, Monday, Aug. 24: On Aug. 19, 2020 at 8:04pm, a Blackboard Learn database query caused high load on the database and resulted in a service interruption. Database servers were restarted, and service was resumed by 8:50pm. Measures have been put in place by Blackboard to prevent future database service interruptions.
Original Post, Wednesday, Aug. 19: UA experienced a Blackboard Learn outage Wednesday, Aug. 19 from 8:07pm – 9:12pm. The outage occurred at the Blackboard Learn data center. More information regarding the root cause of this outage will be posted here on the CIT website as it becomes available. We apologize for the inconvenience.
