Blackboard 7.3 Implementation
11 December 2007
Who: Faculty & Staff
What: Blackboard 7.3 Implementation
When: Spring 2008
Overview
- UNCG will be moving to a *NEW* version of Blackboard (7.3) for the Spring 2008 semester. This upgrade is being done at the recommendation of Blackboard, Inc to address ongoing known problems in Blackboard 7.0.
- The new version of Blackboard will be "live" for the entire UNCG community on December 20, 2007.
- For course instructors, details are provided below to assist you with developing your courses in the new version of Blackboard.
- Leaders of organizations in Blackboard will receive further communications explaining when your organization content will be moved. For now, please continue to utilize Blackboard to serve your organization as normal.
- You can get an advanced look at the new version by attending "What's new in Blackboard 7.3" training offered by the Teaching and Learning Center.
Key Points for Course Instructors
- We will begin our transition to Blackboard version 7.3 on November 1, 2007.
- Starting on November 1, 2007, your Spring 2008 courses will become available on the new version of Blackboard located at http://prduncgbb.uncg.edu. At that time, these courses will be available for your development work, and will not be accessible to students. Use your Novell username/password to login. (When you visit http://prduncgbb.uncg.edu, you will receive a certificate error, it is OK to proceed to the website. You will only receive this error until December 20, 2007.)
- The URL (web address) http://prduncgbb.uncg.edu is temporary and will change to http://blackboard.uncg.edu on December 20, 2007 when Blackboard 7.3 goes "live" for the UNCG community.
- Courses from Fall 2005 to Fall 2007 will not automatically be transferred to the new version of Blackboard, but they will remain accessible on the current (7.0) version of Blackboard until December 31, 2008. ( Note: The URL to access old courses will change on December 20th - you will be notified of this new URL in December.)
- Please visit the Blackboard UPGRADE tab in the current version of Blackboard for the latest news and updates regarding the Blackboard 7.3 implementation AND for information on the new features and changes in Blackboard version 7.3.
- Please contact the University Teaching and Learning Center (via email at bbemail@uncg.edu ), or your unit's Instructional Technology Consultant (ITC) to have Fall 2005 to Fall 2007 course content moved to the new server. Allow up to 2 weeks for course content to be moved. Or, you may move the course content yourself with the instructions found under the Bb Upgrade tab in the current version of Blackboard.
- The University Teaching and Learning Center is offering a "What's new in Blackboard 7.3" workshop available to any faculty/staff who would like to attend.
- NOTE TO iSCHOOL & WINTER SESSION INSTRUCTORS: if you are an iSchool or Winter Session instructor, you will receive further communications regarding how these changes will affect your courses and students.
If you have questions or need more information, please contact 6-TECH at (336) 256-TECH (8324).