Tip

Using SafeAssign is easier than ever now that it is integrated directly into the Blackboard assignments feature. SafeAssign is a tool used to prevent plagiarism and to create opportunities to help students learn to properly attribute sources. How does SafeAssign work? SafeAssign’s proprietary algorithm… Read More

The Vanderbilt academic community has access to a useful online testing tool for the 2015-2016 academic year. The Respondus LockDown Browser is a custom browser that locks down the testing environment within Blackboard during online quizzes and tests. When students use Respondus LockDown Browser they are unable to print, copy, go… Read More

With the recent OAK upgrade, course instructors can now grade student assignments “inline.” What does that mean? Instead of downloading files, editing them in MS Word and uploading them back in OAK, or printing them out and grading them manually, you can now view and grade the assignments instead… Read More

    The “Document Unpackager” tool allows instructors to upload multiple files, even files in folders and nested folders, from your computer and put them, at one time, in OAK. The tool takes a ZIP file from your computer and uploads the entire contents into OAK, preserving the nested folders. Read More

Each semester, instructors must make courses in OAK “available” to students before they can access content. To make a course available, in the course Control Panel area: 1. Click “Customization” to expose the hidden menu 2. Click “Properties” 3. Select “Yes” in section 3, “Set Availability” 4. Read More

Microsoft’s release of Internet Explorer 9 (IE9) has many of the downsides of using Internet Explorer 8 (IE8) with OAK, along with one major setback: users cannot access a page that has a text box editor UNLESS “Compatibility Mode” is turned ON. One other item that users should know: the… Read More

Blackboard Mobile Learn gives you interactive access to your courses and class content on your smart phone and iPhone OS devices.  Instructors and students can view announcements, participate in discussions, view grades, and access several other course areas by using Mobile Learn. Due to contract restrictions, Blackboard Mobile Learn is… Read More

Getting to Know the New OAK. There are some significant changes to OAK and several new features. Instructors are encouraged to download the “Getting to Know Blackboard 9.1” guide with screenshots of the new course menus and control panel. Moving Course Material: Course Export vs. Course Copy. When copying content… Read More

What is it?  Blackboard Mobile Learn gives you interactive access to your courses and class content on your smart phone and iPhone OS devices.  Instructors and students can view announcements, participate in discussions, view grades, and access several other course areas by using Mobile Learn. Who can use it? Due… Read More

Instructors can add media to their courses with iTunes U while reducing the strain on OAK servers. “Restricted” course areas restrict access to their iTunes U course area to those enrolled in that course, while “Public” courses are open to anyone who accesses Vanderbilt iTunes U store. To learn how… Read More