LearnUCS and Mobile Access

UCS has recently renewed its license with Blackboard, the virtual learning environment software supplier.

The license has been renewed until 2018, allowing UCS to continue to develop and enhanced its use of the market leading software solution.

One change in our license is that the Blackboard Mobile Services functionality has been included in the core product for the first time.  This means UCS staff and students can now take advantage of the mobile app, available for both smartphones and tablets completely free of charge.

One scenario that we are looking at taking advantage of the mobile functionality is for class-based work.  Students can create photos and/or videos during class time and they now have the ability of quickly and easily pushing that content into a discussion board or blog within the VLE.  This allows that content to be shared and seem immediately by all those on the course/module.

Below is a Blackboard video demonstration of the application.

If you would like to discuss how you could use the mobile application please get in touch with elevate@ucs.ac.uk

Blackboard Grader App - Overview

I have been aware of Blackboard working on a mobile application to allow grading of student work away from the traditional desktop computing environment for some time.

This first release of the application is now available in the Apple App Store and is called 'BB Grader'.

The app requires that we are using the Blackboard Mobile services building block, which we are, so the app has seamless integration with LearnUCS.

The app allows academic staff to access all of the assignment submission points from all of their modules in LearnUCS.  You are shown each submission point where you can see all submissions, when they were submitted and if they were late.

You are able to communicate with students from the app, as well as make notes into the retention centre.

If you have used the Inline Grading tools on a desktop computer you will be familiar with the tools in the app.  You can use the annotation tool to markup and grade a students submissions, as well as grading via Rubrics if you are using them in your modules.

A nice addition is the ability to record audio and/or video as feedback, this is very straight forward via the tablet.  Once you are happy with the grading you can send the grades back to the Gradecentre, which are then available immediately to either you or the student depending on Gradecentre column settings.

One thing I haven't seen/found yet is access to Safeassign reports, these currently need to be accessed via a browser if required.

Below is a short video overview of the app working.

Please get in touch with the Elevate team in Learning Services if you would like to see the app working in person.

LearnUCS (Blackboard) Mobile Learn Access Issues

The Elevate Team have become aware of an issue that is stopping the Mobile Learn app from working.

This issue is a problem with the Blackboard central service and out of our control.  The issue is affecting a number of institutions world-wide.

We will update here once we know more.