Blackboard next to be updated after introduction of HireTigers, TigerHub this year
Do-Hyeong MyeongThe Office of Information Technology will be gradually implementing changes in Blackboard Learn, the learning management system used by the University, in order to make it simpler to use, Associate Chief Information Officer and Director of Academic Technology Services Serge Goldstein said. These changes will be implemented over the next two years. Goldstein explained that the changes will be implemented in two phases — the first phase includes uploading the Blackboard system, which has been running at the University server, to the cloud, and the second phase includes implementing new features of the Blackboard system, including a new user interface. Some of the new features of Blackboard include reduced menus, streamlined presentation of the interfaceand Gradebook, a new grading tool. Director of the McGraw Center and Associate Dean of the College LisaHerschbach explained that the new system will also allow for easy upload of student-created content and can be used to create open online courses and blend them with on-campus courses. One key change is that the new interface will make the functions previously hidden under complicated menus visible by creating icons. “The number of clicks is enormously reduced,” Goldstein explained.
