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Blackboard SP 8

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I recently participated in a webinar about Blackboard's service pack 8 (SP8).  There are many interesting features, but one highlighted is the look and feel.  The functions remain the same, with many additional features.

With SP8, you will only see the menu controls when you see them by dragging your mouse over the top bar to access at the top.  Prior, it looked a bit cluncky and with all the arrows to the side it can be very busy.


Also, you can click on the top right to change the designs and colors without having to think about what color schemes match.











A big upgrade comes in the reporting features.  Student activity reporting is something many have been waiting for. You can now run a report on:
  • Measuring utilization and maximize performance
  • Available for admin and instructors
  • Creates a visual reporting in various graphs.
  • Student activity in content areas such as what they are accessing
  • Number of logins
  • Average non-course time
  • Average time in course


 









Student Standards Alignment + Performance
  • You can create and add your own standards   
  •  You can create course performance report aligned to performance goal
  • Student overview can provide you with single course 
  • Course Coverage report can assist with providing content alignment with standards 
  • Full coverage overview is only available to admins
There are more features that really helps target for finding out how a student is doing, but more what a student is doing to answer why to the results of student performance.

The other things were technical for IT Administrators, but it was very interesting how Blackboard is trying to expand how it is used, but why you should use it.

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