On January 27, 2009, Blackboard shipped Blackboard Learn 9, the first release of the totally redesigned Blackboard Project Next Generation teaching and learning platform.

April 2009 update:  The ITL plans to have a non-production sandbox of the new Blackboard Learn system (for UIC instructors and teaching staff to play with) in June.  In early August, the ITL will have a small Blackboard Learn system in co-production for a small/limited number of instructors interested in using Blackboard Learn 9 for their Fall 2009 classes.  Faculty interested in using Blackboard Learn this fall should contact Ed Garay directly at garay@uic.edu.

The following link points to an excellent Blackboard Learn resource developed by the University of Texas.  Except for UIC localized policies and procedures, including UIC netids and passwords, faculty and student tech support, and faculty course development and teaching and learning technology suppport by the ITL, everything else listed on the Texas wiki should apply to UIC as well: https://wikis.utexas.edu/display/bbsupport/Home

Original blog posting of February 2009:
Blackboard Learn 9 enhancements primarily include: 

• a modern interface for greater ease-of-use and Web 2.0 experience
• drag-and-drop and contextual drop-down menus, everywhere
• new blog and journal tools
• enhanced work group collaboration
  
  
• a new highly-customizable instructor dashboard showing tasks to be completed, assignments to grade, announcements and discussion board postings to read, student performance problem alerts, and so forth
  
  
• optional email notifications
• an enhanced Grade Center
• all in all, a new modern look with a high degree of Web  Accessibility

The ITL expects to have this new version in co-production for Fall 2009, with controlled/early access this Summer.

For more information, visit: www.blackboard.com/release9

Windows Vista Automatically switching between static & automatic IP addresses

Follow the steps below to configure a notebook computer running Windows Vista to automatically switch between using a static IP address, say, on a campus hard-wired network connection ...and... using an automatic IP address at home or elsewhere with a hard-wired or wireless network connection.

If you have any questions or need further help, please contact the ACCC Instructional Technology lab (ITL) at 312-996-9824, itl@uic.edu or bring your notebook computer (Windows or Mac) to the ITL-East (first floor of the Richard J. Daley Library) or ITL-West (BGRC) on the east or west campus, respectively.

The key is to instruct Windows Vista to first look to use an automatic IP address (if a DHCP server is detected), and to use Vista's Alternate Configuration (with a static IP address) otherwise.  To enable Alternate Configuration, plug in your network cable at your office, at UIC, and follow these simple steps:

1. click the Start menu, then Control Panel
2. click Networks and Internet
   
   
3. click Network and Sharing Center
4. click View status (under Local Area Connection)
   
   
5. click Properties
   if Vista security prompt you for permissions, click Continue
   
   
6. select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties
   
   
7. on the General tab, select Obtain IP address automatically
8. select also Obtain DNS server address automatically
   
   
9. now, click the Alternate Configuration tab
10. select User configured
    
11. enter the static IP address info assigned to your office computer at UIC, for example:
    
        IP address:            131 . 193 . 005 . 105
        Subnet mask:           255 . 255 . 255 . 0
        Default gateway:       131 . 193 . 005 . 001
    
        Preferred DNS server:  128 . 248 . 002 . 50
        Alternate DNS server:  128 . 248 . 007 . 50
    
    
12. click OK and Close all dialog boxes