Why are we moving from Blackboard 7.3?
Version 7.3 is no longer supported by Blackboard and parts of it are incompatible with some newer Web browsers and with the supplemental materials offered by textbook publishers.

Why are we moving to Blackboard 9.1?
Blackboard 9.1 is the latest version that is stable.

What will happen to my course sites?
Nothing will happen right away. Eventually, they will disappear, but you have ample time to archive or export your content from Blackboard 7.3 and import what you want into Blackboard 9.1.

What will happen to my organization sites?
Your organization sites will be exported from 7.3 and imported into 9.1 by OIT. This will include both the framework of your organization site and all of its content.

How will students view the change?
Most of the difference for student users will be in the look and feel of the interface. They are unlikely to notice any difference in functionality.

When will I have access to Blackboard 9.1?
You already do. Faculty and staff access began on April 4, 2011.

What is the timeline for the transition?
Course shells for Summer 1, Summer 2, and Fall 2011 will be available on April 5, 2011. Course shells for Spring, 2012 will be available in October, 2011. As soon as a course shell is available, you can move content into the shell and then develop the course more fully.

When will I move?
If you are teaching Summer 1, Summer 2, and/or Fall, 2011, you can move now. If you are not teaching a course in which you use Blackboard until Spring, 2012, you will be able to move content into that course shell in October, 2011.

How do I prepare for the change?
You can prepare by first getting to know Blackboard 9.1 and then making some informed decisions about what content you will export from 7.3 and import into 9.1.

What training will be required?
Training is not required, but it is highly recommended. Blackboard 9.1 has several differences that can be confusing for a first-time user, or someone who does not spend time with this type of technology on a daily basis.

What will happen to current Blackboard 7.3 course support?
Blackboard 7.3 will remain active after the 9.1 launch, but it will have a new web address. The URL http://blackboard.rider.edu  will point to Blackboard 9.1 and the URL http://blackboard-old.rider.edu  will point to Blackboard 7.3.

Can students and faculty get back into Blackboard 7.3 course content after Blackboard 9.1 becomes the default course management platform?
Faculty will be able to get back to Blackboard 7.3, but students will not be able to return to 7.3 after the completion of the Spring, 2011 semester.

Where can faculty get more information?
There is a resource page for Blackboard 9.1 at this URL: http://rider.edu/blackboard .  This site provides links to video tutorials, registration for training in several different delivery modes, and general information.

Should I use “Export” or “Archive” to save the content of my courses in Blackboard 7.3?
Exporting a course does not copy student interactions. If you desire to replicate your course as it was before students added any content, then use “Export.” If you want to keep a record of all student interactions in that course, then use “Archive.” Regardless of which method you use to get content out of Blackboard, the only way you can access the content is by importing it back into Blackboard. If you want to view content that is in an archived course, but do not want to impact an active course, you will need to make arrangements with OIT to import your archived course into a Sandbox, i.e., a test space that is not connected to an actual course with registered students.

If we are getting more space in Blackboard 9.1, can we now upload movies there?
No. Blackboard is not a streaming server.  ShareStream is the streaming server that Rider uses to stream rich media (e.g. audio and video files).  Students can access ShareStream content by going through Blackboard.

Can students receive Blackboard announcements into their smart phones?
Students cannot receive Blackboard announcements via text messages. However any student with a mobile Web browser is able to access any course announcements by navigating through the Web site.

Now that Blackboard 9 has Blogs and Wikis, does that mean I can’t use WordPress, Blogspot, and PBWorks as I have been using?
Not at all. Blackboard 9.1 will allow you to embed your blog or any other Web-based content into your course just like 7.3 did. However, Blackboard 9.1 allows you to create similar experiences within the system itself. While not supported by OIT, external blogs, wikis, and media hosting sites are still fully compatible with Blackboard 9.1.

Can I still embed YouTube videos in Blackboard 9.1?
Yes, Blackboard supports a variety of embedded formats, including YouTube frames.

My textbook comes with Course Cartridges for Blackboard. What exactly are they and how would I use them?
A Course Cartridge is a pre-created set of materials designed by the book publisher. They can include assignments, or test questions, for example. Importing them is similar to importing a course export or archive. For more information please contact the OIT Helpdesk at ext. 3000.

My textbook comes with a rich collection of resources on the Web, including quizzes, PowerPoint, and banks of test questions. Can I or should I connect students to these resources through Blackboard, or are there good reasons to make the connection directly from student to publisher’s resources and not include Blackboard in that loop?
Blackboard can be considered a “landing page” or gathering point. If you would like a comprehensive list of links to those resources in one space that the students have access to, Blackboard is a great solution. If you do not wish to go through the set up process that would link your Blackboard course site to those materials, there is no need to.

I never found the synchronous connectivity in Blackboard 7.3 to be very effective. Is Blackboard 9.1 any better in that regard, and, if so, should I use that instead of Wimba?
No. The synchronous connectivity tools that are native to Blackboard are not as full-featured or robust as Wimba. So, for your synchronous connectivity, your best bets are the Wimba classroom that can be created and used inside of Blackboard or Wimba Pronto, a downloadable client that provides an experience very similar to Skype except that it includes additional features, such as application sharing.

I like to use Track Changes in Word documents and sometimes I even add voice annotations as ways to respond to student work. Does Blackboard 9.1 offer anything better as a way to respond to student work?
No. Blackboard does not have a built-in editor with notation options.

I want students to start building ePortfolios that will grow over their 4-year career in our major. Does Blackboard 9.1 offer anything to support that?
No. A separate system, such as, TaskStream is required.

I have used “clickers” such as SharePoint and also have had students use text messaging to respond to polls in real time in the classroom. Does Blackboard 9.1 have any such features?
No a third party application is required.

If I put rich media up into ShareStream, can I link it to part of my Bb course site other than the Tools/ShareStream approach, because that seems rather cumbersome.  I’d like to put the link to the media directly into the page that has instructions for viewing, and the response I’d like them to post in the Discussion Board. Or, I’d like to embed a player for the media directly into the Discussion Board forum as I can with YouTube videos. Can I do that with ShareStream?
There is a solution for this, but it requires the faculty member to designate their media for the public folder. ShareStream requires a second LDAP authentication in order to access the media on Sharestream’s server. Without accessing ShareStream through normal channels, that LDAP authentication does not take place and will result in the video/audio not playing. However, placing media in the designated “public folder” will allow the faculty member to place a link into any spot on Blackboard. This should not be done with any copyrighted material since it eliminates all password protection and security on the media.

Can somebody from an OIT staff member teach my student to use basic and advanced features of Blackboard 9.1, or is that something that I have to do?
An OIT staff member can teach your students to use basic and advanced features of Blackboard 9.1. Please call the helpdesk at ext. 3000 to arrange an appointment.

Can students and faculty get back into Blackboard 7.3 course content after Blackboard 9.1 becomes the default course management platform?
Faculty will be able to get back to Blackboard 7.3, but students will not be able to return to 7.3 after the completion of the Spring 2011 semester.