Otterbein is preparing to upgrade the campus system, Blackboard, to the latest available version.
According to Tom Wilcox, the senior instructional technologist at the Center for Teaching and Learning, like most colleges and universities, Otterbein periodically updates its learning management system, referred to as LMS.
LMS updates often provide users with new features as well as improvements to the system’s usability, stability and security to ensure students and faculty members the best possible teaching and learning experiences.
The current program in use is Blackboard Learn 9.1, Service Pack 5. A service pack is a collection of updates and fixes applied to the Blackboard Learn 9.1 program.
The current program will still be in use and the upgrade will only change the service pack.
The changeover to Blackboard Learn 9.1 Service Pack 11 will take place May 23.
“In general, service packs are upgraded routinely and do not create substantial changes to the core functionality of the system, but instead primarily improve the system’s security and stability,” Wilcox said. “Some service pack upgrades, such as this one, also provide minor updates to the user’s interface, as well as additional features.”
Richard Ji, a senior actuarial science major said that he rarely uses Blackboard, but that the current program is satisfactory to him. An upgrade is good for students and teachers who use it more frequently, but it will not make a difference to him.
Following the upgrade, Blackboard Learn 9.1 might look somewhat different to experienced users.
Most of the changes are cosmetic, and the core functionality will be preserved. Students and faculty will be provided with a more attractive and contemporary user-interface.
“Users will also have access to three new features, including course-to-course navigation, course structures and course themes and enhanced grading,” Wilcox said.
Senior music business major Leondra James said that she was not aware of the upgrade, but it is a good move if the new program is more user friendly, useful and efficient.
As a college that is also upgrading to Service Pack 11, the University of Missouri-St. Louis’ Blackboard informational site indicates new features such as built-in dictionaries, a find-replace option, an extended list of fonts and better warnings when deleting or moving linked files.
“I heard us Generation Y people like things that are visually attractive and user friendly, so it may bring in some new users who didn’t use it before,” James said.
The Center for Teaching and Learning will be conducting training workshops to update faculty on the new features of the program. These will take place April 16, 18 and 24.
