Free Training from Respondus for Lockdown Browser & Monitor
It's a brand new year, and that means more opportunities to take advantage of free instructor trainings from Respondus. Learn how to use LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor to address the integrity of final exams. Or see how Respondus 4 allows you to easily create online tests and quizzes.
LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor
This comprehensive training is intended for instructors who plan to use LockDown Browser and/or Respondus Monitor proctoring with online exams. The training will cover:
- How to use LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor to protect integrity and ensure student identity
- The instructor and student perspective in each application
- How to analyze proctoring results, including a feature that ranks exam sessions by risk
- Best practices and tips for success with both applications
Register online:
Respondus 4.0 (Windows only)
Find out how Respondus 4 allows you to create and manage exams that can be printed to paper or published to Blackboard, and how the Test Bank Network enables instructors to create online tests from official publisher test banks.
Register online:
As always, if you have any questions, please consider the following options:
]]>
It's a brand new year, and that means more opportunities to take advantage of free instructor trainings from Respondus. Learn how to use LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor to address the...
https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/instructional-technology/posts/98305
https://dev.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/98305/guest@my.umbc.edu/86ad015baee594917c21debe5e5a345d/api/pixel
academic-integrity
assessment-security
blackboard
respondus-lockdown-browser
respondus-monitor
test-creation
Instructional Technology
https://dev.my.umbc.edu/groups/instructional-technology
https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/164/dec3b026b81ee6d890a8f82f75c94a2e/xsmall.png?1446126703
https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/164/dec3b026b81ee6d890a8f82f75c94a2e/original.png?1446126703
https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/164/dec3b026b81ee6d890a8f82f75c94a2e/xxlarge.png?1446126703
https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/164/dec3b026b81ee6d890a8f82f75c94a2e/xlarge.png?1446126703
https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/164/dec3b026b81ee6d890a8f82f75c94a2e/large.png?1446126703
https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/164/dec3b026b81ee6d890a8f82f75c94a2e/medium.png?1446126703
https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/164/dec3b026b81ee6d890a8f82f75c94a2e/small.png?1446126703
https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/164/dec3b026b81ee6d890a8f82f75c94a2e/xsmall.png?1446126703
https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/164/dec3b026b81ee6d890a8f82f75c94a2e/xxsmall.png?1446126703
Instructional Technology
https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/098/305/bb6be86ee5fee71b737ca41c334165ea/xxlarge.jpg?1609873910
https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/098/305/bb6be86ee5fee71b737ca41c334165ea/xlarge.jpg?1609873910
https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/098/305/bb6be86ee5fee71b737ca41c334165ea/large.jpg?1609873910
https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/098/305/bb6be86ee5fee71b737ca41c334165ea/medium.jpg?1609873910
https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/098/305/bb6be86ee5fee71b737ca41c334165ea/small.jpg?1609873910
https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/098/305/bb6be86ee5fee71b737ca41c334165ea/xsmall.jpg?1609873910
https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/098/305/bb6be86ee5fee71b737ca41c334165ea/xxsmall.jpg?1609873910
0
0
true
Tue, 05 Jan 2021 14:20:47 -0500
Ultra enhances test feedback & journal grading for winter
Create HTML content & provide activity logs to support
Four exciting updates come to Ultra for winter courses. Grading enhancements for journals, test feedback release settings, an updated content editor, and support for HTML content are new features for Ultra courses.
Journals - Instructors can clearly see when students post new journals and comments, and can view a single submission. Instructors can also use Ultra’s grading tools, including feedback and rubrics, to create and post grades. Both participation and submission views link to the gradebook. By default, students will be allowed to delete and edit their journal entries and comments, but instructors can also now choose to disable this permission.
Tests - Instructors can enable more granular controls on when and what type of feedback is given to students when taking an assessment. Set up timed release to automated question feedback, correct answers, and question scores. Select when to show feedback: after submission, after due date, at a specific date, or after the assessment is graded. Students will see if and when feedback will be available for a specific assessment after they submit an attempt.
Gradebook - In the Student List View, instructors will receive additional search capabilities, column sorting options, and enhanced page controls for both large and small devices.
Formatting tools - Format content in a variety of different ways, including font colors, font sizes, and font style. A redesigned tool base provides a secondary bar that displays additional options, which is helpful on smaller screens. Students and faculty will see these changes everywhere they encounter the rich text editor in Ultra courses. (available January 7, 2021)
HTML Content Block in Ultra Documents -
Instructors can create, edit, and delete custom HTML/CSS code blocks in Ultra course documents. Instructors can select Add HTML when creating a document to add their own HTML and CSS and fully customize the appearance of their Ultra course documents. See example 1 and example 2. NOTE: Use of this feature requires 1) knowledge of HTML to create this type of content and 2) back-end creation on supporting systems, which are in development on UMBC's Blackboard site. We expect this functionality to be available for SP2021.
Finally, a new feature for support will deploy in early January, allowing users to provide critical information to DoIT staff in the event a technical issue must be escalated to Blackboard. Currently, there isn’t an easy way to capture what a user was doing at the time an issue occurred. With this update, users will now be able to capture their most recent session data -- the last 30 actions the taken in Blackboard -- and send it to DoIT staff, which can be used to identify root issues or escalate to Blackboard support. This feature will be available in the Support Panel as well as anywhere the “Oops! Your name is not on the list” message can occur.
Faculty who are interested in test driving new features before they are released to production should
open an RT ticket to request early access.
As always, if you have any questions about teaching, learning, and technology at UMBC, please consider the following options:
Blackboard course shells for WT2021 and SP2021 were created on November 30, 2020.
NOTE: In recognition of the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing social distancing practices, UMBC’s spring session will mostly be online with some exceptions. Please review the Spring 2021 Course Information and these resources to prepare:
About WT/SP2021 Course Shells
The Ultra Course Preview setting is again enabled in WT/SP2021 courses to allow faculty adoption with anupdated support schedule of Ultra (see prior announcement). The Ultra Course Preview tool allows faculty to convert an existing Original course and see what it looks like in Ultra.
Ally, an accessibility tool, is also enabled in all course shells as of last summer. Ally automatically scans uploaded and created course content, then performs a series of steps to make that content more accessible. Please review the Ally FAQs for more information about the accessibility indicators on course content and alternative formats.
About Course Creation
- If you are an instructor, and your name is not associated with the course you are teaching in the SOC, please see your Departmental Scheduling Coordinator to resolve the issue. Once you are listed in the SOC, your Bb course shell will be created automatically.
- If you and your Department Scheduling Coordinator believe you are correctly assigned as the instructor of record in the SOC and you do not see your course shell in Blackboard, please submit a Request Tracker (RT) ticket via my.umbc.edu/help.
- If you need a Bb shell for a research or independent study course, please submit a new course request.
Instructors who teach multiple sections of the same course will find those enrollments merged into one Bb course shell. These sections may be split upon request by an RT ticket, which we recommend submitting at least one week before the semester starts, if not as soon as courses are created in Blackboard.
Student enrollment in Bb mirrors the official registration in SA and updates hourly. However, courses are not accessible to students by default until the instructor of record makes them available.
As always, if you have any questions about teaching, learning and technology at UMBC, please consider the following options:
]]>
Blackboard course shells for WT2021 and SP2021 were created on November 30, 2020. NOTE: In recognition of the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing social distancing practices, UMBC’s spring session will...
https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/bbannouncements/posts/97754
https://dev.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/97754/guest@my.umbc.edu/b4a886d5c624e0ace2e228d87670aad3/api/pixel
blackboard
course-creation
spring
ultra-course-preview
winter
Blackboard Announcements
https://dev.my.umbc.edu/groups/bbannouncements
https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/319/f6b35e5217428f5021e113525a55e6f4/xsmall.png?1437137819
https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/319/f6b35e5217428f5021e113525a55e6f4/original.png?1437137819
https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/319/f6b35e5217428f5021e113525a55e6f4/xxlarge.png?1437137819
https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/319/f6b35e5217428f5021e113525a55e6f4/xlarge.png?1437137819
https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/319/f6b35e5217428f5021e113525a55e6f4/large.png?1437137819
https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/319/f6b35e5217428f5021e113525a55e6f4/medium.png?1437137819
https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/319/f6b35e5217428f5021e113525a55e6f4/small.png?1437137819
https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/319/f6b35e5217428f5021e113525a55e6f4/xsmall.png?1437137819
https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/319/f6b35e5217428f5021e113525a55e6f4/xxsmall.png?1437137819
Blackboard Announcements
https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/097/754/23597741cddc6f0d81525d2f7dccca4b/xxlarge.jpg?1606830593
https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/097/754/23597741cddc6f0d81525d2f7dccca4b/xlarge.jpg?1606830593
https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/097/754/23597741cddc6f0d81525d2f7dccca4b/large.jpg?1606830593
https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/097/754/23597741cddc6f0d81525d2f7dccca4b/medium.jpg?1606830593
https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/097/754/23597741cddc6f0d81525d2f7dccca4b/small.jpg?1606830593
https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/097/754/23597741cddc6f0d81525d2f7dccca4b/xsmall.jpg?1606830593
https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/097/754/23597741cddc6f0d81525d2f7dccca4b/xxsmall.jpg?1606830593
1
0
true
Tue, 01 Dec 2020 08:58:25 -0500
Ultra enhances usability, gradebook, test timer in November
Flag student retention and other grade alerts in your stream
Usability and a few gradebook improvements come to Ultra in November. New, larger icons with thicker line strokes and blue backgrounds improve accessibility and better support quick scanning of the Ultra course content page.
The gradebook's student list view will feature three key enhancements:
- Send messages and add accommodations for a student within both the student list view and the grade details view
- Configure whether students’ usernames are visible if they need to differentiate students in their Ultra courses.
- Set up activity stream alerts about student inactivity and grade thresholds for themselves and their students.
- If your course contains enough activity and grading data, you can also see a detailed visualization of class performance.
The gradebook also receives
additional search capabilities, column sorting options, and enhanced page controls for both large and small devices. Instructors can also choose whether to show or hide the overall grade column to their students.
Additional enhancements include an update to the assessment countdown timer. Now students will know how much time they have left down to the last second when they take an Ultra assessment. The quiz timer will change from minutes to seconds when less than 1 minute remains.
As always, if you have any questions about teaching, learning, and technology at UMBC, please consider the following options:
There are lots of great reasons to like the updated Content Editor. Adding content has been simplified, and it works better on both hand-held devices and larger screens. There are new tool icons and some changes to tool behavior. Expanded libraries of special characters and emoticons are searchable and organized by category. The spellchecker is smarter and editing HTML is faster with line numbering and tag colors.
Review the comparison chart FAQ for more information or watch this video:
There are several improvements for accessibility and some new features, too. Here are six enhancements you can look forward to:
- The Power of Plus. One easy menu for adding content from your computer, cloud storage, Content Collection, or integrated tool. The Content Editor will automatically recognize the kinds of files you add.
- Better for All Devices. The editor is better suited for all devices -- small screen or big. It’s easier to author on mobile devices because pop-ups are gone.
- Improved Accessibility. The editor is more accessible due to higher contrast icons and menus, and the removal of pop-ups improves the experience for screen reader users. The new content editor compliments Ally capabilities because it helps you make content more accessible at the time you are creating content.
- Better Copy and Paste. Pasting content from Word, Excel, and websites is even better. Easily remove extra HTML but retain basic formatting.
- Simple Embed. When pasting links to websites such as YouTube, and Vimeo, the videos are automatically embedded for inline playback -- there’s no need to fuss with HTML. Other sites including The New York Times, WordPress, SlideShare and Facebook will embed summary previews.
- Display Computer Code. Faculty and students can now share formatted computer code snippets, which is super handy for computer science classes.
The new tool editor will be deployed via an overnight update to our system, which will be visible in Original courses on November 6th.
Users should familiarize themselves with the changes to the content editor by referencing the comparison chart FAQ.
As always, if you have any questions about teaching, learning and technology at UMBC, please consider the following options:
Ultra adoption continues to grow as UMBC faculty shifted to online learning in response to COVID-19 safety precautions. More than 40% of all active Blackboard courses are now using Ultra in the fall semester. The number of Ultra courses increased to 670 in FA2020 from 145 the previous year.
With the overwhelming majority of UMBC courses offered online this semester, Ultra offered faculty an easy way to set up and organize their courses, especially for the online format. Effective course design was demonstrated and reinforced through the PIVOT program and faculty cohort mentors. A deeply integrated web conferencing tool, Collaborate, supports synchronous engagement, while a wide range of third-party tools, such as Panopto, VoiceThread, and CourseArc, enhance the Ultra course environment.
When surveyed, faculty participants in the PIVOT program observed Ultra was “more intuitive” and “better adapted for online teaching.” Across all three colleges, Ultra adoption expanded to 51% of all CAHSS courses while CNMS and COEIT also saw a nearly 25% increase in Ultra course adoption.
While the new course interface expands its functionality to support assessment, engagement, and content creation, DoIT continues to share UMBC priorities with Ultra developers and track faculty feedback regarding tool availability and configurable options. As a result, a recent enhancement is the new batch group enrollment tool available in both Ultra and original courses, which is especially helpful for large enrollment courses.
For more information about Ultra, visit umbc.edu/go/ultra.
As always, if you have any questions about teaching, learning and technology at UMBC, please consider the following options:
The beta release of a new Chromebook extension for Respondus LockDown Browser is currently available for assessments in Original Blackboard courses. This version of the Chromebook extension also supports Respondus Monitor.
Please note: This is a beta extension, which means it will have some limitations.
- It is ONLY available for Original courses/tests AND it must be enabled on a per test basis.
- Students must click on the click on the same RLDB download link as the Windows/Mac versions to obtain the extension link for installation.
- Instructor-created passwords passwords for assessments are NOT currently supported. Please do NOT remove the automatically generated passcode set by Respondus to secure the test environment.
- The “Early Exit” feature in LockDown Browser isn’t currently supported.
- LockDown Browser’s Calculator and Spreadsheet features aren’t currently supported.
- The extended keyboard functions (for adding symbols and special characters) isn’t currently available.
- LockDown Browser’s internally linked “Help Center” is currently unavailable.
The how-to instructions for faculty and for students are posted to the FAQs. To report a bug/issue with the Chromebook beta, please open a support ticket with Respondus directly so your feedback is escalated with their developers. Be sure to indicate you are using LockDown Browser for Chromebook.
At this time, the Chromebook extension does not support Ultra tests. UMBC continues to monitor development of this functionality.
As always, if you have any questions, please consider the following options:
]]>
The beta release of a new Chromebook extension for Respondus LockDown Browser is currently available for assessments in Original Blackboard courses. This version of the Chromebook extension also...
https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/instructional-technology/posts/95947
https://dev.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/95947/guest@my.umbc.edu/728db19c8a76fb9da087cd3f867cef91/api/pixel
assessment-security
blackboard
respondus-lockdown-browser
respondus-monitor
Instructional Technology
https://dev.my.umbc.edu/groups/instructional-technology
https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/164/dec3b026b81ee6d890a8f82f75c94a2e/xsmall.png?1446126703
https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/164/dec3b026b81ee6d890a8f82f75c94a2e/original.png?1446126703
https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/164/dec3b026b81ee6d890a8f82f75c94a2e/xxlarge.png?1446126703
https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/164/dec3b026b81ee6d890a8f82f75c94a2e/xlarge.png?1446126703
https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/164/dec3b026b81ee6d890a8f82f75c94a2e/large.png?1446126703
https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/164/dec3b026b81ee6d890a8f82f75c94a2e/medium.png?1446126703
https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/164/dec3b026b81ee6d890a8f82f75c94a2e/small.png?1446126703
https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/164/dec3b026b81ee6d890a8f82f75c94a2e/xsmall.png?1446126703
https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/164/dec3b026b81ee6d890a8f82f75c94a2e/xxsmall.png?1446126703
Instructional Technology
https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/095/947/f172c03bd3ec22c3930e3a4fa79a2c67/xxlarge.jpg?1600711319
https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/095/947/f172c03bd3ec22c3930e3a4fa79a2c67/xlarge.jpg?1600711319
https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/095/947/f172c03bd3ec22c3930e3a4fa79a2c67/large.jpg?1600711319
https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/095/947/f172c03bd3ec22c3930e3a4fa79a2c67/medium.jpg?1600711319
https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/095/947/f172c03bd3ec22c3930e3a4fa79a2c67/small.jpg?1600711319
https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/095/947/f172c03bd3ec22c3930e3a4fa79a2c67/xsmall.jpg?1600711319
https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/095/947/f172c03bd3ec22c3930e3a4fa79a2c67/xxsmall.jpg?1600711319
1
0
true
Fri, 25 Sep 2020 10:23:46 -0400
New Batch Group Management Tool Available in Bb Ultra
Custom solution works in both Ultra & Original courses
Group management is one of the most important tools in a Blackboard course. For large courses, group management is a critical component of assigning students to groups and managing engagement or content. While conditional availability support for groups is currently in development, we are pleased to announce that the custom solution we've been working on with Blackboard is available for piloting!
This tool works like the Original version for
bulk creating groups and
enrolling students in those groups by using a CSV file. However, since it leverages Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) standards, this tool works in both Ultra AND Original courses. Faculty who teach an Original course can use the default Groups tool or the new
Users Groups Workflow tool as both will serve the same function.
The Users Groups Workflow tool is available now in all courses. Please note:
- We are aware that the tool has some loading issues on Google Chrome Browser (v85) and, for some, Safari – a fix is in development. Please use Firefox instead.
- Faculty who teach Original courses can test the new tool as it works the same as Ultra courses.
- Faculty should NOT convert their live Original courses or previously taught Original courses to Ultra to test this tool. If you wish to try the tool specifically in Ultra, please open an RT to clone your course.
- This new tool only supports bulk creation and enrollments. It does NOT create any group spaces for students, control content delivery, or filter groups in the gradebook.
- Future development for conditional availability to release content to groups and smart views for groups in the gradebook is on the Ultra roadmap for SP/SU2021.
Instructional Technology staff continues to document faculty feedback and work with Ultra developers to improve the Ultra course experience. Please contact an Ultra Ambassador or open an RT ticket to share your feedback about the new groups tool.
As always, if you have any questions, please consider the following options:
]]>
Group management is one of the most important tools in a Blackboard course. For large courses, group management is a critical component of assigning students to groups and managing engagement or...
https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/instructional-technology/posts/95869
https://dev.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/95869/guest@my.umbc.edu/6edda56f01bb4a9c8803aa8259c3249f/api/pixel
blackboard
ultra-experience
ultra-update
Instructional Technology
https://dev.my.umbc.edu/groups/instructional-technology
https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/164/dec3b026b81ee6d890a8f82f75c94a2e/xsmall.png?1446126703
https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/164/dec3b026b81ee6d890a8f82f75c94a2e/original.png?1446126703
https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/164/dec3b026b81ee6d890a8f82f75c94a2e/xxlarge.png?1446126703
https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/164/dec3b026b81ee6d890a8f82f75c94a2e/xlarge.png?1446126703
https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/164/dec3b026b81ee6d890a8f82f75c94a2e/large.png?1446126703
https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/164/dec3b026b81ee6d890a8f82f75c94a2e/medium.png?1446126703
https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/164/dec3b026b81ee6d890a8f82f75c94a2e/small.png?1446126703
https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/164/dec3b026b81ee6d890a8f82f75c94a2e/xsmall.png?1446126703
https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/164/dec3b026b81ee6d890a8f82f75c94a2e/xxsmall.png?1446126703
Instructional Technology
https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/095/869/05389960731d6d110c65258c50688ca8/xxlarge.jpg?1600361387
https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/095/869/05389960731d6d110c65258c50688ca8/xlarge.jpg?1600361387
https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/095/869/05389960731d6d110c65258c50688ca8/large.jpg?1600361387
https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/095/869/05389960731d6d110c65258c50688ca8/medium.jpg?1600361387
https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/095/869/05389960731d6d110c65258c50688ca8/small.jpg?1600361387
https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/095/869/05389960731d6d110c65258c50688ca8/xsmall.jpg?1600361387
https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/095/869/05389960731d6d110c65258c50688ca8/xxsmall.jpg?1600361387
6
0
true
Fri, 18 Sep 2020 12:25:04 -0400
Fri, 18 Sep 2020 12:40:55 -0400
Use Blackboard's Ally Tool to Provide Accessible Content
Attend a product overview and demo on 9/30 from 2 - 3 p.m.
Overview and Demo: Using Ally to Provide Accessible Content
Wednesday, September 30 from 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Please attend an overview of Ally, Blackboard’s accessibility software solution that provides full, out of the box integration with Blackboard Learn, Instructure Canvas, D2L Brightspace, and Moodle.
Providing accessible content is critical to support the needs of learners requiring accommodations for various disabilities, to promote better learning outcomes for all students as they adjust to remote teaching and hybrid learning models during the COVID-19 response, and to proactively address the University System of Maryland’s ongoing efforts to create a more inclusive and accessible learning and working environment for all.
The webinar will include an overview and demo of Ally’s features as well as a presentation by Dr. Mariann Hawken detailing the steps the UMBC Division of Information Technology took to implement and promote adoption of Ally and accessibility awareness on their campus and the benefits derived from their efforts over the last 18 months. This session will be recorded for anyone who is unable to attend.
Presenters:
- Joshua Maltby, Account Executive (MD/DC)
- Tim Henningsen, Senior Solutions Engineer
- John Michael Scott, PhD., Product Manager for Blackboard Ally
- Dr. Mariann Hawken, eLearning Manager, UMBC Division of Information Technology
In an Ultra course, instructors will be able to add a randomly-generated passcode to their test. Since students must enter the password each time they start or continue an assessment, faculty can leverage test settings and the passcode to hide answers and restrict access to tests. The passcode prevents students from taking or submitting assessments after a due date has passed, but allows them to view their grades and feedback.
Automated feedback allow faculty to enter feedback for correct and incorrect answers on auto-graded question types (such as True/False) on an Ultra test. Students will automatically receive the feedback when they submit the assessment. Feedback from Original tests will also convert to Ultra except when it involves images, files or web links. The first generation of automated feedback must be enabled question by question. Future work will support feedback at the individual answer choices.
Additional updates for Ultra in September include:
- Blackboard added the ability to send course announcements by email to the entire class roster. As with Original courses, scheduled announcements cannot be emailed.
- The new student view in the Ultra gradebook allows faculty to see a row for each student instead of a row for each gradebook item. Each row will include date of last access date and CampusID.
Finally, Collaborate's September update, which comes in mid-September, will include includes private recording links by default to provide additional security. Previously recorded sessions will remain public unless you make them private. Additionally, Collaborate will remind moderators to start recording the session.
The next Blackboard Learn update will be posted to our test site around September 8 and pushed to production around October 1, 2020. Faculty who are interested in test driving new features before they are released to production should open an RT ticket to request early access.
As always, if you have any questions, please consider the following options: 
