« April 2005 | Main | June 2005 »

May 18, 2005

Blackboard Content Management System - Project Update

Blackboard (Bb) Content Management System (CMS) Project Update - April 28, 2005

Roll-out Schedule

February 2005 - Bb performed training for support staff
Bb CMS was installed on the Test System
March 2005 - Bb and Academic Technology (AT) installed the Bb CMS on Production System (not available to users)
April 2005 - Bb and Academic Technology Staff participated in a planning session and which resulted in a detailed task list.

Identified two Phases for roll-out:
Phase I - Store, share and deliver content. Replaces existing functionality of http://vcufiles.vcu.edu.
Phase II - e-Portfolio

Created the following Vision Statement for Bb CMS:

The Blackboard content management system benefits the VCU community by building upon existing knowledge and resources, as well as creating a Web accessible repository that enables collaboration and the sharing of its contents. This initiative moves VCU towards its goal of a networked learning environment with faculty and students at the center.
May 2005 - Sneak-peek Seminars - One hour presentations
Pilot group starts using the system
Training Classes begin
Policy development
June 2005 - Pilot continues Training Classes will be held Policy development
July 2005 - Pilot continues
Training Classes will be held
Policy development
Hardware additions
August 1, 2005 - Bb CMS Phase I - go live to Faculty, Staff and Students
Fall Semester - Pilot testing of e-Portfolio will begin in May but will continue through the Fall Semester
December 31, 2005 - http://vcufiles.vcu.edu will no longer be supported
January 2, 2006 - Bb CMS Phase II - go live to Faculty, Staff and Students

Posted by at 12:14 PM | | Comments (0)

May 12, 2005

Blackboard Organizations for Students

At the May 2005 meeting the Academic Technology Advisory Council approved the following policy.

Blackboard Organizations for Students

POLICY STATEMENT AND PURPOSE:
This policy explains how students can create organizations under Blackboard.

CONTACTS:
AT Help Desk: 828-2227 or help@vcu.edu

DEFINITIONS
Blackboard Organization is an online meeting place for different organizations within the VCU community that would like a space for information sharing, collaboration and communication. Organization members can view information about the organization posted by the organization’s faculty sponsor or delegate, such as Announcements, Calendar events, Discussion Boards and Rosters. The Organizations function the same way as Course Web Sites, except they do not become inactive at the end of each semester.

PROCEDURES
Academic Technology requires that student Blackboard (Bb) Organizations be set up under the ownership of a faculty sponsor. The faculty sponsor will be responsible for the Bb organization content.

The faculty sponsor has two management options for Bb Organizations. The faculty sponsor may choose to control membership and content. Or, the faculty sponsor may choose to delegate membership and content control to a member of the Bb Organization. In doing this, the faculty sponsor remains responsible for oversight of membership and said content. The faculty sponsor is required to request the creation of a Bb Organization and may do so by contacting the AT HelpDesk at 828-2227. The faculty sponsor must train the delegated member or send the member to a Bb user class offered by AT before the Bb Organization is created.

Responsible Office:
Academic Technology

Posted by at 12:53 PM | | Comments (0)