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About Blackboard Learning System CE 8
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Blackboard Learning System CE 8 (formerly known as WebCT CE 6) is the newest version of the course management system we've been using at CCRI since 2001. This new version offers many exciting changes. In updating their product Blackboard has specifically addressed the ten most requested features that they've received from faculty as well as added a few more functions sure to please. Here's a preview of just some of the improvements.
Top ten feature requests fulfilled
- Give multiple designers their own identity in a team-taught course
- Freeze name columns in the grade book
- Make discussion posts editable: search by title, date, author, expand or collapse all
- Selectively release items within a content module
- Assign graded student presentations
- Allow for non-graded assignments
- Give assignments that don't require students to return an attachment
- Streamline the process of adding multiple files to your course, to content modules and organizer pages
- Link to individual learning activities (assignments) within a content module
- Automatically update student view
Additional teaching and learning benefits
- Integrated anti-plagiarism product called SafeAssign included in each course
- Integrated social networking/academic resource sharing application called Scholar
- More user friendly interface
- Improved student view (at last you can see exactly what your students see without having to logout and log back in as a student)
- More robust student tracking of communication and activities
- Gradable discussion topics, journaling feature, a group manager tool, a blog tool, and peer review options for discussions
- A course objectives builder and a rubric builder
- A "Who's Online" tool that allows for instant messaging
- Global calendar and grade book for students and faculty
Technical benefits of upgrading from WebCT 4.1 to BLS CE 8
- A system with a standard and certified configuration that models best practice
- More frequent and consistent course back-up procedures
- Improved performance and stability
- A stronger system backup and recovery process
- Increased ability to test integration and updates before implementing them
- The potential for adding on custom applications and add-on's
- Custom integration with Banner
