Export Import Blackboard

Sadly Course Copy has been replaced by Export/ Import (at least until we can find all the ballooning nested folder sites and fix them). Here's how to do it:

Want a pdf step-by-step?

Posting links to Films on Demand link in Blackboard

Films on Demand is a video site that the MRU library has subscribed to. You can link to videos (or portions of videos) in your Blackboard site. Here's a video on how to do it:

Updating Backboard Announcements

When you first post a Blackboard announcement, it states the date and time it was posted, and goes to the top of the announcements, immediately below the "New announcements appear below this line" bar.

If you edit the announcement and re-post it, the new re-posting date and time will replace the old one (which is now gone forever). If you had checked email students, then it will email again. If you don't want to email students again (because maybe you just edited it to remove a misspelling) then uncheck the email checkbox. HOWEVER, the re-posted announcement will not automatically move to the top. You can manually drag it there though.

If you drag an announcement above the "New announcements appear below this line" bar, it will stay up there. Instructor often use this to make a static welcome message.

No more "remember to click 'save all answers' button every 30 minutes in Blackboard!

The new fix to Blackboard (cumulative patch 11) has a great fix. Students don't have to remember to click 'save all answers' button every 30 minutes during a test!

It used to be that if they didn't click 'save all answers', after 40 minutes, they would lose their session.

Now autosave resets that 40 minutes, and it seems to run every few seconds or so EVEN WHEN YOU'RE NOT ACTIVELY ANSWERING QUESTIONS!

Here's what I tested:

1. I made a 100 question multiple choice test, did some questions. Waited more than 40 minutes (43), answered some more, submitted, and it still graded it properly, saving all my answers.
2. I made a 1 question essay question. Started it. Noticed that the answer was automatically saved. Waited over 40 minutes. Typed some more. Killed the browser, relaunched, my new work was saved. 
3. I began the 1 question essay test with a different test student, but DIDN'T type anything. Waited 45 minutes. Then typed something, submitted the test. It worked, in that it submitted and was able to be graded.

Printing from our old module pages

When printing an entire module from one of our old module pages, first go into the module, then click "print this module".

Safeassign does have the ability to attach a feedback document, but only one

I used to tell people that the current version of Blackboard that we're on (9.1.13) has a Safeassign that doesn't have the same look and feel (and ability to add feedback) like assignments do. And I was wrong. Sort of.

Safessign does have the ability to attach a feedback document, but only one.

If you want to attach more than one, you need to go to the full grade center, click the menu button beside a grade (it must already be inputted to work), quick comment...

Text editor

Then add as many attachments as you like.

Join Google meeting video call instead of Bb chat for office hours

Due to server settings we can't really change, if there is no activity on a Bb chat after 10 minutes, it kicks you out.

Instead, make a Google meeting and invite all the students in the class, and add video call.

Students can click on the meeting (without even accepting it), and Join the meeting if they want to.