This week's ITL Blog posting includes small blurbs on the following:

1. Availability of LessonBuilder — an easy-to-use Web authoring tool for teachers
   LessonBuilder is not on e-Sales yet; in the mean time, UIC instructors can get the software directly from the ITL. Just email itl@uic.edu to get the free installer for Mac or Windows.
   
   
2. LessonBuilder 30-minute training sessions starting in Week 6 (9/29)
   The schedule of east campus and west campus drop in sessions (on LessonBuilder and many other topics) will be posted here by the end of Week 4. 
   
   
3. Tell the Blackboard company to fix it and to make it better
   Blackboard is sending members of its Product Development team to UIC for a series of listening and group discussion sessions. This is a unique opportunity for us all to provide enhancement requests and affect future versions of Blackboard software.  Blackboard PD listening sessions will be held on Wednesday, October 8 at 10am, 12pm and 2pm.  If you are interested in attending, please email Ed Garay directly at garay@uic.edu.
   
   
4. ITL Weekly Webcasts :: 30-minute demos/presentations every Tuesday at 12pm and 7pm
   Please join us every Tuesday at 12pm or 7pm, from your office or from anywhere on the Internet, for a series of short 30-minute faculty-focused interactive Webcasts on teaching and learning technology, and on other uses of technology for university business. 
   
   Upcoming topics include: Using LessonBuilder, Exploring Active Learning Opportunities, Podcasting, Using Blogs and Wikis for Student Web Activities, Google Tips & Tricks, Facebook & Social Networking in 30 Minutes and Purchasing a Notebook Computer :: Things to Know.  For more information, see the Faculty-focused ITL Weekly Webcast  Web page.
   
   
5. Blackboard Grade Center mini-tutorials — now, with audio narration
   The ITL is practicing what we preach :: we have added audio narrations to these short self-service mini-tutorials on how to use the Blackboard Grade Center.  The mini-tutorials can be found on the Documentation page of the ITL Blackboard Support Website :: starting on the ITL home page <click> Blackboard (on the left) <click> Documentation.