Note to Readers: This is the
first in a series of posts drawn from a discussion with administrators that
participated in the Beta program for Blackboard Learn, Release 9, and who have already launched pilot programs for the new
platform at their campuses. In this series of posts, we will hear their
impressions, reactions and ideas about Blackboard’s new teaching and learning
platform. Roundtable participants include:
Donna Wicks
Systems Administrator for Blackboard, Kettering University, Flint, Michigan
Santo Nucifora
Manager of Systems Development and Innovation, Seneca College, Toronto, Ontario
David Robinson
Learning Management System Administrator, Georgia Gwinnett College, Lawrenceville, Georgia
Dr. Lonnie Harvel
Vice President for Enterprise Information Systems, Georgia Gwinnett College, Lawrenceville, Georgia
RELEASE 9: FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Blackboard: Tell us about your first impressions of Blackboard Learn Release 9.
Donna: I first saw Release 9 at BbWorld last year during (Blackboard CEO) Michael Chasen’s demo along with some members of our faculty who attended. The big thing for me was it just looks fresh; it looks more modern, more up-to-date. I can control more of the look as a system administrator so we can integrate that more tightly with our Web site aesthetic. Immediately after that presentation, my colleagues were so excited, and they couldn't wait to get involved. The faculty, just from what they had seen, thought, “Wow, this is going to be so much easier to build a course!”