I have some questions on the Assignments in Blackboard 9.1 Enterprise. While I have an idea of what the answer is, I'd like to clarify to make sure.
First, in Blackboard 8 basic, when faculty gave a test through Blackboard, they still had to enter the grade into Blackboard manually. This was the same for quizzes. We did a fresh install of Blackboard 9.1 Basic, but upgraded the license to Enterprise and have been importing the course material in from 8 Basic. We have found that Quizzes and Tests are now linked with the grade columns that were associated with them and automatically enter the grades when a test was completed. Faculty were thrilled. This brings me to my question. We are being asked why assignments do not have the same option. Since there was an area in Blackboard 8 called assignments, many are wondering why there isn't a column created for the assignments they had posted there so they don't have to re-create all their assignments and remove old grade columns. Is there a way to link previously created assignments from 8 Basic with grade columns? Either during the import or afterwords? Also, if there is a way to do this, they would like to make it so their assignments due dates will show up in the To Do module on the front page. I realize the assignment creation is different, though I'm not entirely familiar with 8 to know how they were created. Was a due date an option before that can be moved over to 9?
I also have a question about announcements. As mentioned before, we installed 9.1 Basic, but upgraded the license to Enterprise. Our instructors are asking about the option they had to force the announcement to send an email to all students.. This option is not there for us and I can't figure out where the option is to turn this on. Thoughts?
Adam,
Actually, if instructors were giving tests or quizzes through Blackboard 8, those should have been have been getting graded automatically, even in Basic The only time they would not be graded automatically is if 1) the test included a question type like and essay, which Blackboard can't grade, or 2) the instructor had put a time limit on the test and the student exceeded the time limit. Otherwise, tests created using the Test Manager and deployed in Blackboard should have gotten a new Grade Center column created automatically when they were deployed, and the tests automatically graded with the graded being posted in that column.
Likewise, in both Blackboard 8 and 9.1, you can create Assignments, which provide a mechanism for students to upload files for the instructor, allow the instructor download and manage all the files associated with an assignment, and link the whole thing to a Grade Center column.
As for emailing announcements, that feature is now part of the Notification System, so you have to have notifications turned on system-wide, including email. Students will then have the option to be notified about new announcements via email, or the notifications dashboard. Instructors will have the option to override student notification settings and send out an email, but only if email notifications are enabled on the system.
Mike
Hi Adam,
You are correct in your assumption. I'm afraid the "To Do" list is strictly for students in the class. Instructors get the "Needs Attention" or "Alerts" which tells them about students who have missed the due dates, but it doesn't really help instructors keep track of their due dates.
The due dates are visible under the Grade Center if you look under Manage -> Column Organization, but I agree that it would be nice to have that pushed out to some more visible location. Perhaps have course calendar entries automatically created for dates?
Anyway, I don't know of any any other way for instructors to see due dates listed besides the "Organize" area of the Grade Center. Since you are not the first person to ask about this, it's definitely worth submitting a product enhancement suggestion to Blackboard at http://www.blackboard.com/Company/Feedback/Suggest-Product-Enhancements/For-Learn.aspx
Another question regarding assignments. We have instructors creating assignments with due dates. When they get back to their home page to view their To Do list, it doesn't show anything due. I assume this is because they are instructors and thus wouldn't have any assignments due? Is there any way for the instructors to make it so their assignments show in the To Do list for themselves as well as the students? There's a few instructors that would like to use this not just for students reference for a due date, but also for their own ref.
One other thing on the To Do list. I have an instructor that created an assignment and gave it the due date of 08/30/2010 at 9am. I logged in a test user that is in that class, but the assignment is showing as past due with a due date of 04/30/2010. I removed the due date, saved the assignment, then added the due date back and saved it with no change in results. Is there any reason it would be doing this?
If you haven't already, I would look through the Grade Center to be sure there isn't a different assignment with a 4/30/10 due date--that would be my first guess as to why you're seeing somethig due on 4/30/10 in the student "To Do" list....
Moved to new thread
Hello,
We have a course where de students can't see an Assigment at the To Do Module even if the Due date is close or in the recently past.
But I think the assigment doesn't record in the To Do Module because is within a Learning Unit.
Do you know if an Assesment or an Assigment within a Learning Module shows in the To Do Module (inside de course)
Thank you!
Berenice