Upcoming Changes in Blackboard Course Management System

28 February 2005 � Starting with semesters beginning May 3 (May, Marathons A, G and J), JSU's Blackboard Course Management system will have two important and much anticipated changes.

First, Blackboard will be integrated with the student information system. The following are some of the important changes we anticipate as a result of integration:

• Every course section in the registration system will have an automatically created corresponding new Blackboard course shell for each semester. (Of course, the instructors have the option whether to use the course shell or not.)
  
  
• Every instructor assigned to a section on the registration system will automatically have a Blackboard account, and will be enrolled as an instructor in the corresponding new Blackboard course shells for each semester. A default login will be assigned for new instructor accounts: User Name - will be the same as your GEM user name, the prefix of your GEM address; Password - will be 8 digits, your 4 digit birth date (month and day) plus the last 4 digits of your employee ID number.
  
  
• Changes in course instructor assignments in the registration system will be automatically reflected in the new Blackboard courses.
  
  
• Instructors that have previously used Blackboard to teach a course will have the option of automatically populating the course with content from any other Blackboard course in which they are enrolled as an instructor. (The currently existing courses normally used in the past to teach may be used as templates or master courses, but students will no longer be enrolled into these courses.)
  
  
• Every registered student will be assigned a Blackboard account and will be enrolled into the appropriate new Blackboard courses upon confirmed registration, even during pre-registration.
  
  
• Student registration changes will be automatically reflected in Blackboard courses (i.e. adds, drops, withdrawals, etc.).
  
  
• Student accounts in Blackboard will be updated automatically when changes are made in the student information system (i.e. name changes, etc.).
  
  
• Course shells will no longer be re-used each semester, therefore Archiving and Recycling of courses will no longer be necessary. You will have a new course shell for each semester for each course section to which you are assigned on the registration system. (As indicated before, an automated process will be implemented to allow instructors to choose where the content is copied from for the new course shells created for them each semester).
  
  
• Generation of new course shells each term will increase instructors' capabilities to individualize course designs according to short and regular terms (i.e., May vs. Fall).
  
  
• Each course created on the system each semester will remain on the system for an undetermined period of time, but will not be used again by a new group of students. You will have access to these courses, but students will not. You will still have the option of Archiving at any time if you choose.

Second, our Blackboard system will be hosted by Blackboard ASP (Application Service Provider) Services on an off-campus server configuration. This ASP environment will provide more stability, security and less interruption of Blackboard services. This also means you will be accessing Blackboard at a different URL (web address) which will be announced later.

• All account and course data will be migrated over to the new ASP system between the Spring and May 2005 semesters.
  
  
• Redundant data and power backup will be provided on the ASP site.
  
  
• The system will be monitored 24/7 by Blackboard technicians, resulting in a more stable environment.
  
  
• Updates and system maintenance can usually be performed during low use hours (early a.m. hours) resulting in fewer "maintenance" interruptions.

In order to make this transition, it will be necessary for Blackboard to be unavailable beginning Thursday, April 28, 2005 at 2:00 a.m. until Monday, May 2, 2005 at 8:00 a.m. (Central Time).

In order to populate May, Marathons A, G and J 2005 courses with the appropriate content, it will be necessary for each instructor teaching in the May, Marathons A, G and J 2005 semesters to submit a special form that will be available on Monday, May 2, 2005 within the Blackboard system. (In the future, instructors will be able to submit this form much further in advance of the semester, but due to the time constraints of transition, this initial schedule is unavoidable.)

Over the next couple of months, information regarding end of semester procedures, deadlines, dates, semester preparation procedures, processes, new Blackboard URL (web address) and other information related to this important transition will be distributed. These updates will be distributed via GEM (JSU email), Blackboard and our web site as appropriate.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we make these important and exciting new changes to our Blackboard environment.

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