Online@UT (Blackboard) Upgrade Is Complete
Welcome to the new version of Online@UT! UTK recently upgraded the Blackboard software to Version 9.1Ga. This is a substantial upgrade. Since January, we have offered nearly 100 one-hour preview sessions. If you were unable to attend one of the sessions, the preview is available on the Web at http://online.utk.edu/support/media/Bb9_demo.mp4 (this link will open a Quicktime movie). You will also find online tutorials and support information designed to ease the transition from our previous system to Version 9.1GA at http://online.utk.edu/support/bbv9.shtml.

Grading is more flexible with the addition of more efficient smart views and work flow personalization options in the Grade Center. If you have your students complete group projects, Release 9 offers enhanced group creation and grading features. The assignment tool replaces the drop box in Release 9, and affords additional assessment and grading options. This release also includes custom grading rubrics for assignments and course learning activities.

IMPORTANT DATES:

Fall Course Activation - Use Standard Course Activation Form at: https://online.utk.edu/cgi-bin/forms/forms_login.cgi?A

Summer 2011 Session 1 Grades Due: 6/12/11 at noon

iTunesU and Online@UT:

iTunesU will continue to be available to faculty and students; however, the iTunesU/Blackboard integration may not be available for use until the Fall 2011 semester begins. For more information contact the HelpDesk at help.utk.edu or 974-9900.

Faculty from various disciplines are taking on the roles of student and educator through participation in UTK's Summer Teaching Institute 2011. The 4-week Institute is designed to enhance teaching in three delivery formats: traditional face-to-face, blended (a combination of traditional and online), and completely online. The Institute, sponsored by OIT Instructional Services and the TENN TLC, with funding from the Provost office, is May 31st – June 24th.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) on iTunes U is a collaboration between UTK Innovative Technology Consulting (ITC) and Apple Inc. that enables faculty and staff to manage, distribute, and control access to educational audio and video content for students, faculty, and staff within a college or university using Apple's iTunes Music Store infrastructure.

Apple recently unveiled a completely new version of iTunes U, a section of the iTunes Store devoted to the free distribution of educational content. On April 9, 2011, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville updated to Apple's new iTunes U public interface. This upgrade allows more flexibility in presenting and organizing content. In addition to audio and video podcasts and PDFs, iTunes U has added the support of ePub files.

• Content on the private site is restricted to students, faculty, and staff with a valid UT NetID and password. Managing and viewing content on the access-restricted site will remain the same.
  
  
• Content posted to the public site is available to the general public. The public UTK on iTunes U page has a slightly different interface along with new procedures for managing this public content.

Offerings in June include:

Instructor-Focused

• Course Management System:
  Introduction to Blackboard 9

• Web Site Design: JavaScript

• Introductory SharePoint for Faculty and Staff
• SharePoint for Team Site Administration

Registration is required for all workshops. To view descriptions and register for sessions, visit the OIT Training page. If you have questions or need help with registration for any of the workshops listed above, contact the HelpDesk at help.utk.edu or 974-9900.

Check Out IT Weekly!
If you’d like to receive weekly updates on timely information about IT and reminders of upcoming workshops, you can subscribe to IT Weekly, which is emailed on Fridays. To subscribe, go to the IT Weekly listserv page and click on "Join or leave the list (or change settings)".

Faculty
Spotlight

Register for a Workshop

Introduction to Online@UT
Access your online course site, receive an overview of instructor development tools and resources, and learn to upload a variety of document types.
  • Mon, 6/27, 10am-12noon

Grade Center Best Practices
Discover new and redesigned tools for managing grades online using the Online@UT Grade Center.
  • Wed, 6/29, 9-11am