After approximately two semesters of trial runs, STLCC is ready to launch Blackboard 9.1.
Amicia Ramsey
– Staff Writer –
April showers are bringing more than May flowers to STLCC-Meramec. Blackboard’s educational course site will be updated to Blackboard 9.1 and is scheduled for launch on May 17.
Faculty members were supplied with a beta version of Blackboard 9.1 during the spring semester.
“There won’t be a huge adjustment for students. [It will be more noticeable] for instructors that use the program,” said Lisa Steponavich, senior instructional designer center for teaching and learning.
Stepnovich said the navigation will be easier for faculty. Faculty had to do a lot of clicking around to get to where they wanted to go and now a lot of that has been streamed, she said.
The latest version of Blackboard 9.1 will enhance the system’s course site. Some new features for Blackboard 9.1 will include a tab which will create instant access to the Library archive. However, announcements will be grouped into one category.
“The colors are different so appearance-wise, I think it’s a little more attractive,” Steponavich said.
These new features should transition well for students, according to faculty representatives.
“Instead of getting on the computer, I would just check my phone,” Meramec student Miguel Albarran said.
Another student, Basil Haye, said she will use Blackboard more often in the future once it becomes available on the blackberry.
Users can access this feature by downloading the Blackboard Mobile Learn Application on their phones.
Blackboard 9.1 users can expect new amenities and resources that will help students and faculty navigate through the program.
“Blackboard has created short little tutorials that are a minute or two minutes long that show users how to post discussion boards, assignments and other program purposes,” Steponavich said.
Faculty and staff can view the tutorials at http://ondemand.blackboard.com/students.
