This summer’s upgrade of Blackboard — the information-sharing software available to faculty and students — will give users more control over how the system looks and works, as well as a number of new features to help them communicate with each other.

The latest version will emphasize interactivity between students and faculty and allow students to create custom learning styles.

“It’s been a long time since Blackboard has introduced so many new features that will really influence faculty and students,” said Director of Instructional Technology and Training Eileen Aitken.

Multiple languages — The newest version of the system, Blackboard 7.0, will now make it possible to run multiple languages, making it easier for bilingual and foreign language students to understand course content.

More control — The system also will add a number of options to the content area that will give faculty members more control. An “adaptive release” feature allows instructors to display content to certain students for a limited period of time, or only after users meet (or fail to meet) predetermined requirements. Through this tool, faculty members can gauge the performance of particular students more easily.

E-Mailed announcements — “An improvement that students will like is that, when a professor makes a last-minute announcement, there will also be an option for faculty to send a copy of the announcement to the students via e-mail,” Aitken said. “Some students complained that they don’t see announcements sometimes until it’s too late.”

Performance assessment — The performance dashboard is a new course tool that allows instructors to see key information and outcomes for all the students in a course. The dashboard page displays the last time users logged in, their course roles, what content is available to each user based on adaptive release criteria, the “review status” for content items, and a direct link to the gradebook for individual users.

Testing options — In addition to these tools, instructors will also be able to choose more question types within tests and surveys. Faculty will be able to make sure copying doesn’t take place by changing the order in which questions are asked and answers are displayed each time a user logs in to a test or quiz.

Along with these new tools, the way in which the Course Menu can look will also be expanded. Users will be able to view the menu in the original Quick View and with a new Detail/Course Map option for faster searching.

Blackboard is available to Temple community members through the TUportal.