As we near the mid-term, those of us who haven’t yet explored BlackBoard Ultra’s gradebook function will want to do so. The gradebook in Ultra is significantly different from previous iterations—and it takes a bit of getting used to. This is true in terms of how items are weighted or categorized, and in terms of how the gradebook connects to Banner for grade submission.

Please remember that information about this transition, specifically to creating tests and assignments and using the assessment tools and gradebook, can be found on pages 15–18 of this guide. You can find more resources on the BlackBoard learning site, linked to from ITS.

Another area of technology stress that many faculty are encountering, comes with the various changes in and quirks of the LockDown Browser.  There are some excellent reasons to use this technology—and some excellent reasons not to—and I hope we can have some extended campus conversations about those bigger questions as the semester goes on. When faculty do choose to use this tool, though, for whatever reasons, it is especially important to use best practices for building an online exam, as well as best practices for distributing that exam. It can also be helpful to provide students with information tailored to them as the users of LockDown Browser often have questions that faculty might not be readily able to answer.

Remember, too, our Instructional Technology experts are ready to help with your pedagogical needs. The ITS Ticketing System is the best (most efficient, fastest) way to get a request to the team.

— Renee Cramer, Deputy Provost