Blackboard Information

A few Blackboard updates for the summer:

1. We are currently using Blackboard Academic Suite 8.0.1. We should be installing some Hotfixes this summer which will resolve some minor issues. As a user, you should not see any differences in the look and feel of the application. The exact date of the minor upgrades will be address later.

2. Blackboard is in the process of updated their web resources by providing up-to-date information on browser and OS requirements, manual, quick references and other tutorials. Most of the resources are available on their web site at The Faculty Support Resource Center.

3. I am excited to be going to the BbWorld 2009 conference at the National Harbor, July 14-16. I attended one of these conferences in Boston about 10 years ago and it was an overwhelming experience. At this conference I hope to get the latest updates from Blackboard, attend workshops from other educators in the field of online education and a chance to meet exhibitors and learn about how they can improve expereince with Blackboard products.

csmdtube

The College of Southern Maryland recently formed a partnership with YouTube to create a video channel under the banner of http://www.youtube.com/csmdtube. More than 100 schools have partnered with YouTube which is owned by Google.com. At csmdtube you will find promotional videos, college events, guest lecturers, course introductions and classroom lectures. Outreach is one of the benefits of Youtube. These videos not only benefit the prospective and current students, but the community and “lifelong learners”.

The DLF is promoting the use of csmdtube in the classroom environment by providing resources and support to faculty. The Department of Distance Learning and Faculty Development (DLF) consider YouTube an integral part of our students’ daily lives and by making csmdube videos available as a part of a course can only stimulate the learning process. This benefits the student as well as making the instructor more comfortable with digital media.

Full and part-time faculty at the College of Southern Maryland are invited to learn more about how you can enhance your class by adding csmdtube by contacting Joel Kinison.