Tip #71: Upcoming BB9 Classes

Tip: You now have more opportunities to learn about Blackboard 9 and receive a sandbox course by attending a Blackboard 9 class.

TWU will begin using Blackboard 9 for Summer, Summer 2 and Summer 3* session courses. Faculty and staff wanting to orient to the new interface prior to June may access Blackboard 9 at http://twupilot.blackboard.com

You can register for classes or request a small group session for your department at http://www.twu.edu/blackboard/13232.asp

What’s New in Blackboard 9

Blackboard 9 has a completely revised web 2.0 user interface and many exciting new features. This facilitated, hands-on workshop will introduce participants to the most significant changes and new features of Blackboard 9.

Tuesday, May 4 – 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. SH 307
Wednesday, May 19 – 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. ACT 503
Thursday, June 3 – 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. SH 307
Tuesday, June 8 – 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. SH 307

What’s New in BB9 Webinars

Blackboard 9 has a completely revised web 2.0 user interface and many exciting new features. Join us online in an Adobe Connect Session to explore the most significant changes and new features of Blackboard 9.

Thursday, May 20 – 12:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 27 – 1:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 10 – 10:00 a.m.

The Blackboard 9 Grade Center Webinars

This Adobe Connect Session will introduce participants to the new Grade Center. Join us online to learn how to access the Grade Center to add score columns and to enter and manage student grades. Participants will also be introduced to new features such as Smart Views, Grade History, and Calculated Columns.

Friday, May 7 – 10:00 a.m.
Friday, May 21 – 1:00 p.m.
Friday, May 28 – 12:00 p.m.
Friday, June 10 – 10:00 a.m.

*Summer Semester Names

Old	New	Description
Maymester	Summer 1	14-day May classes
Summer 1	Summer 2	June classes
Summer 2	Summer 3	July classes
Summer 3	Summer	All summer long (beginning June)

Voicemail Tip of the Week: Phone Commands

TWU’s new voicemail system is integrated with email. Voicemail messages are automatically delivered to your email inbox. Messages can be accessed by phone, or by email, whichever is preferred. When accessing the system by phone, keystrokes are used to perform functions. Some of the commonly used functions are listed below.

To access the voicemail system from your office phone:

Denton: call 4646, press #, enter security code
Dallas & Houston: call 81 4646, press #, enter security code

Listen to new	press 1, 1
Listen to saved	press 1, 2
Save a message	press 1
Fwd a message	press 2
Delete a message	press 7
Reply to a message	press 5, 2
Call back the sender of a message	press 5, 1
To bypass a greeting	press #
To record a greeting	press 5, 4, 1
Listen to greeting	press 5, 4, 2
Change security code	press 5, 5, 3
Time/date message stamp	Automatically read
Log out of box	hang up

Important Note: Voicemail and e-mail are integrated on this system. Voicemail messages are automatically delivered to your email inbox. Messages can be accessed by phone, or by email, whichever is preferred.

During message playback, there are several features available:

Save current message..................... 1
Forward message to extension....... 2
Skip to next message..................... 3
Replay current message................. 4
Rewind message 6 seconds........... 5
Fast forward message 6 seconds... 6
Delete this message, play next....... 7

Features available at all times:

Return to a previous menu............. *
Finish a key entry........................... #

Voicemail is available for all permanent faculty and staff. To setup an account, e-mail voicemail@twu.edu from your TWU e-mail account and include name, campus and telephone extension.

Want more information? Call the TWU Helpdesk (940) 898-3971

Tip #70: Blackboard 9 Grade Center's Smart Views

Tip: In Blackboard 9, you can create different views of your Grade Center which allow you to filter which students you view, the columns you view, or a combination of both.

Here’s how to create a Grade Center Smart View:

1. Log into your course and ensure Edit Mode is ON.
   
   
2. Click on the Evaluation area of the Control Panel then select Grade Center in the expanded menu.
   
   
3. On the Grade Center page, click on the Manage button and then select Smart Views from the dropdown menu.
   
   
4. On the Smart Views page, click on the Add Smart View button.
   
   
5. On the Create Smart View page, enter a name (required) and description (optional) then select a Type of View from one of the following:
   
   • Group (select individual groups)
   • Benchmark (select users based on performance criteria)
   • Focus (select individual users)
   • Investigate (a combination of the first three)
     
     
6. Select the criteria you would like to use to limit users.
   • NOTE: If you would like to create a view that only limits which columns you view but includes all students, select Benchmark for your view type and then make the criteria “Grade on Total Greater than or Equal to” 0.
     
     
7. Use Filter Results to choose which columns you would like to view.
   
   
8. Click Submit then OK. Your new Smart View will now be an option on the Current View dropdown located on the yellow action bar.
   

Tip #69: Viewing the course roster in Blackboard 9

Tip: In Blackboard 9, you can access your course roster through the Control Panel.

Here’s how to drag and drop:

1. Log into your course and ensure Edit Mode is ON.
   
   
2. Click on the Users and Groups area of the Control Panel.

3. Click on Users in the expanded menu.
   
   
4. In the Search bar, select the Not blank search option.

5. Click on Go, and your course roster will appear.

iPhone Apps of the Month: Web 2.0 Tools

The iPhone offers applications (Apps) that can be downloaded for a variety of uses. Apps can range from free to varying costs, and range in topic from business, education, weather, productivity, news, and more. Many of the Web 2.0 Tools we’ve shared have a correlating iPhone app. These are just some of the many iPhone apps that can be on both computer and iPhone.

Tweetie, twitterific, twitbird, twittervision, echofon
Twitter, a micro blogging tool, allows users to post messages of up to 140 characters. Users can post via the web, IM, or a mobile phone.
See the Tip: http://twu-tips.blogspot.com/2009/09/web-20-tool-of-week-twitter.html

Facebook
Facebook is a popular social networking site. Facebook can be used to network with friends, colleagues or classmates. People all over the world are using this application. People can “friend” each other to allow access to content.
See the Tip: http://twu-tips.blogspot.com/2009/10/web-20-tool-of-week-facebook.html

Evernote
Evernote is an organization tool which stores notes, documents, websites and images. The information can be accessed from any computer or smart phone.
See the Tip: http://twu-tips.blogspot.com/2010/02/web-20-tool-of-week-evernote.html

Flickr
Flickr is an online image management and sharing tool. Users can share images and short videos, join groups, and comment on other’s pictures.
See the Tip: http://twu-tips.blogspot.com/2009/12/web-20-tool-of-week-flickr.html

Animoto
Animoto is an online application that instantly produces videos using pictures, video, text, and sound. Animoto allows you to drag and drop pictures in the order you want to view them, select a song and the program integrates the two for a professional-looking video.
See the Tip: http://twu-tips.blogspot.com/2009/11/web-20-tool-of-week-animoto.html

Delicious
Delicious is a social bookmarking service that allows users to tag, save, manage and share web pages from a centralized source. Users can bookmark any site on the Internet, and access from anywhere.
See the Tip: http://twu-tips.blogspot.com/2010/01/web-20-tool-of-week-delicious.html

iPhone apps can be downloaded via the iPhone app store