The 2014 Blackboard upgrade has been successfully completed.
The familiar interface remains in the new version (which is known as SP14), but there are improvements in the student and staff experience, particularly in relation to online submission and marking.
These include:
Once again, the content of this year's unit courses will be copied into 2014-15 versions from 1st August. This means that you may see 2013 as well as 2014 courses on Blackboard. Historic and current versions are clearly identified by a year suffix.
The default availability of Blackboard courses for units from previous academic years will change from 2014-15. In the past, previous year's courses have by default been unavailable to students, with staff able to make them available. Following this summer's course rollover, 2013-14 units will by default be available to students, with staff able to make them unavailable if they wish. This change follows an endorsement by University Undergraduate Studies Committee of the suggestion that learning materials on units that a student has already taken should remain available to them for the duration of their studies, unless academic staff opt for this not to be the case. The rationale for this is to encourage students to think more holistically about their studies.Staff and students can organise courses by year using the "Terms" function.
If you have any questions or would like to arrange a demonstration for your team, Department, School or Faculty please contact tel-help@bristol.ac.uk.