Blackboard 9 offers significant enhancements in Web Accessibility
There is a very active Blackboard Accessibility group of universities that has been working very closely with Blackboard to make the technology most accessible. Schools include: UIC, UIUC, Georgia Tech, NC State, Purdue, Dartmouth, University of Central Florida, UMass Amherst, Syracuse, University of Colorado, George Mason University, University of San Diego, COD, Harper College, University of Arkansas and University of Washington.
There is also a new Blackboard 9 Screen Reader Tutorial (for students and instructors) at http://bit.ly/Bb9jaws, and the ITL runs a Blackboard course site on Universal Design for Online Learning, which you/everyone at UIC can self-enroll and take.
ITL Blackboard course site on Universal Design for Online Learning
The ITL runs an open-enrollment Blackboard course site on Universal Design and Accessibility of online Learning. Originally developed by Blackboard Inc. the course reviews a number of subjects, including Universal Design and Online Learning, Accessibility for Online Learning, Assistive Technology, Learning Styles, and a number of Web Accessibility and Online Learning resources.
Check it out by loging into Blackboard at http://blackboard.uic.edu. Once on the MyBlackboard landing page, click the "Courses" tab, on the Course Catalog listing on the right click on "ACCC Instructional Technology Lab", click on the Chevron (double down arrows) for the course site entitled "Universal Design and Accessibility for Online Courses" and click "Enroll" to self-enroll.
Recommended Blackboard Browsers
Windows users
- Use IE 7 or IE 8
- Use Firefox 3.5 or later
- (Google Chrome works ok to)
Mac users
- Use Safari 4 or later
- Use Firefox 3.5 or later
General Information
- Other Web browsers may work as well, but do *not* use IE 9 nor IE 6 or earlier, and Mac users should not use Safari 2 or earlier.
- Also, browsers should have their default settings for java, JavaScript and cookies set to on, i.e. enabled.
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UIC Teaching & Learning Technology News
(d) iPad Demo Days at ITL (e) Request Blackboard Course Sites for Fall 2010 today (now) (f) New Blackboard 9 Upgrade set for Friday, May 14
Also, the ITL is offering on-site Blackboard 9 Faculty Intro group sessions at your department, in your building. All that a teaching department or college has to do is request an on-site faculty intro session via email to itl@uic.edu. (g) Extensive self-service computer tutorials available to everyone at UIC |
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iPad Demo Days at ITL A handful of iPads (loaded with UIC Wireless and several apps) are now available for people to try them out at the ITL/SML labs on the east and west campus.
The Apple iPad is an outstanding device for reading and consuming content :: Web browsing, reading email, PDFs and other office documents, eBooks, and Apple-supported multimedia. |
Blackboard Learn 9 Faculty Intro Sessions
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) for the convenience of faculty and teaching staff not being able to come to campus. For more information on how to join a live Webcast |
Blackboard Learn 9 is a totally redesigned/rewritten Blackboard teaching and learning environment with an intuitive Web 2.0 interface, drag-and-drop simplicity, context-sensitive menus, notification dashboards, new collaborative learning tools, blogs, journals, enhanced homework assignment collection, personalized customization, opt-in email notifications, Facebook and iPhone alerts, and significant accessibility improvements. |
Ohio State University has developed a method to make Flash Video content more accessible to users with disabilities. This is great news, since most screen readers have difficulty reading Flash. To learn more visit the Accessible Web Video support page
Marius Horga purged a page. 6 months ago, 7/7/2011