Problems submitting assignments in Blackboard

A problem has surfaced with submitting regular assignments (not SafeAssignments) in Blackboard. When clicking on an assignment, a student may be bumped out of their course and taken to the Welcome tab in Blackboard. This doesn't always happen, but at this point we know it only happens in the Firefox and IE browsers, but many people using these browsers will not have this problem. Any number of factors may be affecting this issue, but some of the variables are the browser version, the Java version, and if there are any add-ons installed in the browser. So far we haven't determined the exact combination of factors that will cause this error to occur.

The temporary solution is to have students use the Chrome browser to submit assignments. This issue has been reported to Blackboard, and I’ll let you know any further developments on this.

Update: This issue has been fixed. Blackboard runs on several servers, and apparently one of them was goofing off. We had Blackboard reboot this wayward server and assignments can be submitted with any browser now.

Another Blackboard Upgrade in August

An email was sent to faculty teaching classes this summer asking whether or not they thought a bug we were experiencing in the discussion board was worth going to a new look and feel for Blackboard. These faculty reported that they preferred that we wait until the Summer Semester is over before doing this update. Today, at the district-wide ITAC meeting, it was confirmed that we will honor your wishes. For more information about what prompted the question in the first place, please watch the video at  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR9oebPB5TA. I want to thank the faculty that responded for their quick replies and great input. We just want to do what's right for you!

Since we need to upgrade in August, we anticipate going to version SP13. We will install SP13 on our test server on July 1st. We will test it to make sure it works okay during July, then we'll install SP13 on the live server on August 8th.

This upgrade will bring a slew of bug fixes and two new features over what was already new in SP11 which we're on now.

The first change is the new look and feel for Blackboard which is explained in this video: http://ondemand.blackboard.com/r91/movies/bb91_tools_2012_theme.htm. This new look and feel is required to get full functionality restored to the discussion boards.

The second change provides enhanced test options that will accommodate students with disabilities, allow students who could not take a test during the specified time period to take it later, and the ability to show different detail in the test results when students first take the test than after the test has been closed. I think you're going to love these new test options! David Gray of Palomar College did a video showing these new test features that you can view at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36TBDFwYbZs.

As always, we will do our best to make sure plenty of training is offered about these new features, and that the new version is stable so that you can concentrate on your teaching. I will offer two workshops during Flex Week on the new Blackboard features, and this blog is the best place to find the most recent information about Blackboard. If you know anyone who hasn't subscribed to this blog, please have them visit my web page at http://www.cuyamaca.edu/rhonda.bauerlein/ and put their email address in the "Subscribe to Blog" section at the bottom of the page.

Filenames in Blackboard

There are two known issues in Blackboard that result from improperly naming files.

1. Submitting a file with an apostrophe in the name will prevent Assignment Inline Grading from rendering the file on the first load
2. Error submitting an assignment file with a name that is more than 126 characters long and contains spaces

The Online Success website has been updated to better address these issues at http://www.gcccd.edu/online/student/blackboard/bb-filename-conventions.html. Please give students this link so they have this information handy when they're ready to turn in assignments.