Blackboard Learn SP8
Current version: Blackboard Learn - Course Delivery - Enterprise License (9.1.82223.0)
Morton College Resources
If you ever need help or would like to schedule a tutoring session for Blackboard, please contact our instructional technologist and Blackboard technical specialists via email at #BBSupport-L1@morton.edu. In addition, help is also available at the library and student help center on campus.
Blackboard 9.1SP8 Upgrade Highlights
The New Interface
Once you login to Blackboard, you will immediately notice the new interface changes. After logging in, you will notice the missing editing icons that allow you to drag-and-drop, and make changes to your course modules. This functionality still exists, but is replaced by a rollover editing. This means that editing icons are visible only when your mouse hovers over the area you wish to edit. Click here to view the video.
My Message Notification
The most needed feature has arrived to our version of Blackboard Learn SP8! Once you login to the Blackboard, you will notice a “My Message” module on the upper left corner of the Blackboard homepage. If you are using “Message” tool (not email) for your course, new unread course messages will be displayed for each of your courses. You can personalize the module settings to allow showing courses in list with or without new unread messages.
Course-to-Course Navigation
You will no longer need to navigate to Blackboard's homepage to move between courses.
Now you can quickly navigate between courses by simply clicking the drop-down menu in the upper left corner of the page next to the course title. Additionally, you will be able to specify where you would like to go in the other course. For example, if you are in one course’s Grade Center, you can jump to the next course’s Grade Center easily to complete your grading tasks. Click here to view the video.
Over 50 different design course themes
Instructors can change the entire look of their course in one click. Changing colors and course styles are available in over 50 different pre-built design themes. Instructors can easily select a theme that would match their preference and help create a visually engaging teaching environment. Faculty can setup their course themes when building their courses using the new set-up wizard, or from the icon 
available within the course area. Applying a theme does not affect course content, and a change in the course theme can be applied at any point in time.
Course Structures
These structures allow you to setup and customize your Course Menu to match the pedagogical needs of a particular course type. Instructors can choose from a wide variety of pre-built course structures from the Control Panel, Customization, then Teaching Styles. Course structures contain course areas, optional sample content, pedagogical information, and instructions to help you design your course. This doesn’t replace your existing course menu items.
Automatic Regrading
Automatic Re-grading enables instructors fix test questions even after students’ submissions attempts. Instructors can change question(s) point value, assign full credit for a question to a student, designating a question as extra credit, change question correct answer, or deleting questions. All students’ grades will automatically be recalculated after processing any of the above items. Click here to view the video.
Interactive Rubrics – Instructors can create rubrics for graded activities (assignments, graded discussions, blogs, wikis, journals). Blackboard rubrics are now interactive, allowing for dynamic entry of feedback and ratings. Rubrics can be imported and exported for use across courses. Click here to learn more about Interactive Rubrics.
Support Resources:
Explore what’s new in SP8! on Blackboard website
Workshops –MIS and Instructional Technologist will be conducting Blackboard workshops in the Fall 2012. Schedule TBA. Please email #BBSupport-L2@morton.edu for any specific workshop topics, and dates you prefer.
For more information or questions about the upgrade, contact Xiaoling Gan, Blackboard Administrator at Xiaoling.Gan@morton.edu or Sean O’Brien, Instructional Technologist at sean.obrien@morton.edu .