If you don't want your students to have early access, you must do one of the following 3 options:

1. Change the "term visibility" settings (click here for instructions);
2. hide content, folders and/or tools;
3. "deny access" via the gradebook (Do NOT "unenroll" students) (click here for instructions).

If you need assistance, please submit a support ticket at: blackboard@pdx.edu
(6-17-09)

close

Retrieve old materials from WebCT (Web Course Tools) ASAP (As Soon As Possible)!

Question: How can I have an old WebCT course copied to Blackboard?

Answer: We have zipped copies of all WebCT courses saved outside of WebCT. Those will be available indefinitely. Just visit the PSUonline page and fill out a migration request form. http://www.psuonline.pdx.edu/

Question: Will everything from my old WebCT course be copied (migrated) into Blackboard.

Answer: NO! Your content such as files, folders and learning modules along with the basic structure of your discussion board will migrate over. HOWEVER!!! discussion posting by you or your students, email sent by you or your students, and calendar listings will be LOST.

Question: What if I need those discussion posts, or email or calendar listings?

Answer: Contact the Instructional Design Team ASAP (As Soon As Possible) and we will help you with that.
blackboard@pdx.edu or
Call: 503.725.8327

REMEMBER: Get our help with this last task before January 1st, 2010 or you (and we) will be SOL (I don't need to spell that one out, do I?) (6-17-09)

close

As we reported in earlier, PSU is in the middle of a process to select our next Learning Management System (see below: Is PSU Leaving Blackboard?). The schedule that we announced, however, needs to be updated. Here is the latest:

• A Request for Proposals (RFP) detailing our needs in an LMS should be posted on the OUS website by July
• We hope to receive and review bids in August?
• Invite LMS vendors out for demonstrations of their products in October (These will be open to the entire campus)
• Sign a contract in January 2010
• Begin piloting courses in Spring 2010
• Have all PSU courses migrated to the new system by Fall 2010 (6-17-09)

Is there truth to the rumors that PSU will be leaving Blackboard soon? PSU may be adopting a new Learning Management System (LMS) in 2010. After a rigorous process of needs assessment involving PSU faculty, support staff, and students, a Request for Proposals (RFP) was drafted and will be posted on the PSU website once the PSU legal department has completed review. Vendors of LMS products will then have 30 days to submit proposals. We expect to schedule product demonstrations by vendors in June or July. After testing by faculty, support staff, and students, we hope to make a decision on a successor LMS before August.

Didn't we just move to Blackboard? Why are we moving again so soon? PSU moved to Blackboard in early 2008 on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Academic Information Technology. This move was understood to be a temporary “stop-gap” expedient. Our former LMS (WebCT CE4) was being discontinued and there was insufficient time to perform a thorough needs assessment and product comparison to identify a replacement. Blackboard CE6 was recommended because it was most similar to the product that we were currently using.

Once a successor LMS had been selected, how soon will we be teaching our courses using the new LMS? Our most optimistic timeline calls for installation and testing of the new hardware and software during fall 2009, piloting the new system with a limited number of courses during Winter 2010 and then teaching most course in the new LMS beginning spring 2010. (5-14-09)