Blackboard 6 App Pack 3

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Blackboard 6 App Pack 3

• Thanks to the Educational Technology Center at
  Duquesne University for providing the content for
  this presentation.

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Agenda

• What is an application pack?
• What are the new features in Bb 6.3?
• Exploring the features
• Demonstration
• Training opportunities
• Questions?

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What is an Application Pack?

• Application packs are periodic upgrades from
  Blackboard which incorporate bug fixes and some
  new functionality.

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New Features

• Whats New Module
• Advanced Course Menu
• Advanced Assessment Questions
• New Gradebook Option
• Syllabus Builder
• Review Status
• Adaptive Release
• Performance Dashboard

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Whats New Module

• This module alerts all users of any key changes
  or updates since the last time they logged in.
• Examples include
• New content items
• New assignments and assessments
• New discussion board postings

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Whats New Module

• This will display all courses that the user is
  enrolled in which are available on Blackboard
• Information is automatically updated once per
  day, but a refresh button is available
• The module can be minimized for users with
  multiple course sites until it is needed
• Displays what information has not been reviewed
  along with the dates and times they were added

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Whats New Module

• As the user clicks through the new areas, the
  values in the Whats New Module will be reduced
  when the module is refreshed

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Advanced Course Design Menu Options

• If enabled by the instructor, users can toggle
  between the default Course Menu view and the
  Detail view
• Separates commonly used tools from the content
  area
• New "Detail View" allows users to expand and
  collapse the Course Menu
• Resize the menu frame to view longer names for
  Content areas
• "Refresh" option shows content added during
  current session
• Detail View displays a clickable link to each
  item in the course
• New "Remote Control" feature of Course Map

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Advanced Course Design Menu Options
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Enhanced Question Options in Application Pack 3
Include

• Calculated Contains a formula with a number of
  variables. The correct answer can be a specific
  value or a range of values.
• Calculated Numeric Response Resembles a
  fill-in-the-blank question except a number is
  entered to complete the statement. The correct
  answer can be a specific number or within a range
  of numbers.
• File Response Uploaded files are used to respond
  to the question.
• Hot Spot A specific point on an image is used to
  indicate the answer.
• Fill in Multiple Blanks Multiple responses are
  inserted into a sentence or paragraph.

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Enhanced Question Options in Application Pack 3
Include

• Jumbled Sentence A sentence with a number of
  variables within it.
• Opinion Scale / Likert A rating scale used to
  measure attitudes or reactions.
• Short Answer Similar to Essay questions answer
  length is limited.
• Either / Or A statement with a pre-defined
  choice of two answers.
• Quiz Bowl An answer appears the users uses a
  who, what, or where question to respond.

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Enhancements to Student Test Taking

• New features that enhance the students
  experience with assessments in Blackboard include
  a variety of additions that make the test taking
  experience more stable. These include
• Question Completion Status bar which displays
  where the student is in the test and which
  questions they have completed and saved.
• In the take test all at once mode, there is now a
  save button after each individual question
  instead of just one save button at the end of the
  test.
• A clearer confirmation of completion at the end
  of the assessment to ensure that the student is
  aware that the test has been completed and
  submitted.

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New Gradebook Option

• While most of the gradebook items and options are
  unchanged, one enhancement is to allow for
  uncompleted, ungraded or "null" grades
• A quick change to the options of the "Total"
  field give students a "Running Total"
•  A great way to allow for Extra Credit -- rewards
  the go-getters, does not punish others
• Before and after shots of a gradebook with this
  option enabled for an extra credit item

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New Gradebook Option
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Syllabus Builder

• The Syllabus Builder guides the Instructor
  through a very simple process for building a
  syllabus without knowledge of HTML. 
• The tool automatically generates lesson
  shells and the Instructor either chooses a
  pre-formatted style or creates a new one.

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Review Status

• Content items include a setting that allows
  students to mark those items as Reviewed.
• The User Progress or Performance Dashboard pages
  report which students have reviewed the content
  item.

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Adaptive Release

• Content does not always apply to all users, so
  instructors can
• Display content to users for a limited of time
• Display content only after users meet
  predetermined requirement (mastery learning)
• Display content only after users fail to meet
  predetermined requirements (supplementary
  learning)
• Display content to specific audience (individuals
  or groups)

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Adaptive Release

• Create custom learning paths through course
  content and activities by setting criteria to
  release any of the items below
• All Content Items (pdfs, office files, urls)
• Discussion Board
• Assessments Surveys
• Assignment Module

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Adaptive Release

• Criteria for Adaptive Release Rules include
• date/time
• specific individuals/users
• group membership
• grade on a particular test or an assignment in
  the gradebook

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Performance Dashboard

• Allows instructors to see key information and
  outcomes for all course users.
• The Performance Dashboard displays the last time
  each user logged in, their course role, Adaptive
  Release criteria, Review Status for content
  items, and grades.
• Instructors can sort the information by multiple
  criteria.

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Questions???

• Will these new features change the way Blackboard
  works?
• No. Youll see some new options but Blackboard
  will still work the way it used to.
• Do I have to use the new features?
• No. These are OPTIONAL features.
• When will Blackboard 6.3 be available?
• The update is scheduled for 530 to 1030 pm,
  Friday, December 16, 2005.
• Where can I learn more about App Pack 3 features?
• See the Instructor Manual.
• Attend a Blackboard seminar http//www.ohio.edu/t
  echnology/training/blackboard.cfm
• Contact Joy Bi at bi_at_ohio.edu or 740-597-2704.