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Grand Valley State University
Welcome Back, and Happy New Year!
The eLearning Technologies team wants to set you up for a successful start as we enter the winter semester. In this month's newsletter, we will review the new process for making your Blackboard courses available to students with the 1/10/25 Blackboard monthly release; highlight two Gradebook enhancements; provide you with four strategies for starting the semester strong; and spotlight timely reminders about upcoming professional development opportunities.
In this newsletter:

Making your Course Available to Students - Interface Change

Many of you have already made your Blackboard courses available to your Winter 2025 students, but effective January 10, 2025, instructors can now manage course access (availability) settings through the Course Settings page. At the top of a course, the current course access state is displayed as a colored pill next to Course Settings.
Course access states are as follows:
  • Open. Course content is available to students.
  • Closed. Course content is not available to students. Previously called Private.
  • Complete. No changes can be made by students or instructors.
Instructors can also access Course Settings from the Courses page. From the three-dot menu, the instructor can select Course Settings.
See this article for instructions and additional screenshots.

2 Gradebook Enhancements

Good news! Instructors can enter assignment grades directly in the Grid view or Submissions page. Previously, grades entered in these views were stored at the override level, which caused confusion as underlying attempts remained ungraded and continued to display the Needs Grading and New Submission flags. This was a feature request that many of you asked for, and it's now available in the January 10, 2025 release.
In addition, Blackboard has added a Manage Gradebook Items page accessible from the Gradebook Settings panel.
Instructors can show/hide column visibility from this page for their Gradebook view to provide a cleaner grading workspace.
Note: this is not the same as hiding a column from students. Changing the column visibility in the Item Management settings does not hide any columns from students.

Tips for Navigating the GVSU Service Portal

We've heard from some that they find it challenging to find the correct form to submit a ticket. We recommend searching for whatever "application" (e.g., Blackboard, Workday, Outlook) or 'device type' (e.g., Laptop, Printer, Wi-Fi) you are having an issue with—but be sure to search just the Service Catalog, as shown below.
Searching for Blackboard with "All" selected will show hundreds of links; however, searching with just the "Service Catalog" selected will show a much shorter list with easy-to-understand service names. Try it out next time you need help from Information Technology.
Remember, using the Service Catalog forms helps provide Information Technology with the details it needs to solve your issue faster.

4 Strategies for a Successful Semester Start

Strategy 1: Review the New Semester Checklist!
We've developed a checklist to review some of Blackboard's basic and essential functions. Blackboard is a great place to share your syllabus or a lecture, efficiently collect and manage assignments, and securely share grades and feedback.
Strategy 2: Review your students' pictures in the photo roster.
Using your students' ID photos is an excellent way to facilitate name learning. You can easily access these photos through the "Class List" tool in GVSU Faculty/Staff Additional Banner Applications. Note: Faculty will only see photos in courses in which they are the instructor of record in Banner. This Knowledge Base article in our Service Portal provides assistance with using this tool.
Strategy 3: Get your students oriented!
All students are enrolled in a "Blackboard 'Orientation" site designed to assess their readiness for online learning and equip them with essential skills for success. The orientation offers valuable advice, practical tips, and an introduction to key Blackboard features used in their courses. Encourage your students to explore and complete the orientation site to ensure they are well-prepared for a successful semester. In twenty minutes or less, they can earn a certificate to be shared with you as proof of completion.
In addition, please remind your students to change their notification settings in their Blackboard personal profiles and update "Email me once a day" to "Email me right away" so they don't miss timely information.
Strategy 4: Find your eLearning Liaisons and Register for eLearning Professional Development!
Each department has been assigned two eLearning Technologies Liaisons. Your liaison is available to answer questions and schedule individual consultation appointments. By collaborating with liaisons, faculty can save time and stay current with educational best practices. Visit our eLearning webinars website to learn more about professional development opportunities.
Discover new ways to elevate your teaching at Speed TECHing, an exciting professional development event for our GV faculty. Choose between two dedicated spaces: one offering personalized, one-on-one support and the other featuring quick 20-minute interactive technology demonstrations designed to inspire and empower your teaching practices. Think of it as speed-dating but with technology!!
January 24, 2025, from 9am to 12pm.
  • 117E DEV will host the Speed TECHing demonstrations. A virtual option is also available.
  • 119E DEV will be used for group conversations and one-on-one support sessions.
Please note that registration is required for this event. Please visit our website for a detailed breakdown of the Speed TECHing schedule and information about our one-on-one support. This is a collaborative event with eLearning Technologies, FTLC, Student Accessibility Resources, and University Libraries.

Join our Online/Hybrid Faculty Learning Community

All faculty are invited to join our eLearning Online and Hybrid Faculty Learning Community. This FLC meets once a month each semester to discuss topics related to online and hybrid learning—though all faculty are welcome, not just those who are teaching online or hybrid courses. The topics for discussion are chosen by faculty themselves.
If you can, please join us for our first meeting of the winter semester:
  • Date: Wednesday January 22, 2025
  • Time: 3pm – 4pm
  • Where: Online through Zoom
  • Topic: Planning topics and dates for the rest of the semester
Those unable to join in person can submit possible topics or scheduling limitations to Matthew Roberts. A recording of the session will be posted to the FLC's Blackboard organization. If you're not currently a member of the organization, let us know and we can make sure you get added.

Other Professional Development Opportunities Available in January 2025

Our professional development registration is conducted through Workday Learning. Visit our eLearning Webinar website to see a complete schedule.
Registration is essential to receive the Outlook calendar invitation, including the Zoom meeting link. Departments can also request that these webinar topics be customized and scheduled at their convenience.
Accessibility and Ally: Creating Course Materials That Work for All
1/10/25 • 1pm – 2pm
Declutter Your Digital Life
1/13/25 • 1pm – 2pm
Creating Instructor Presence with Panopto
1/15/25 • 11am – 12:15pm
Time–Saving Tips in Outlook
1/15/25 • 1pm – 2pm
Accessibility Best Practices for Respondus LockDown Browser
1/16/25 • 12pm – 1pm
Exploring AI in Higher Ed—Ethical and Effective Use of AI, a Faculty Discussion
1/16/25 • 2pm – 3pm
Introduction to Quality Matters
1/16/25 • 3pm – 4pm
1/27/25 • 12pm – 1pm
Time Management Strategies for Online/Hybrid Instructors
1/16/25 • 3pm – 4pm
Using Padlet to Engage Online Learners
1/21/25 • 11am – 12pm
Practical Ways to Enhance Your PowerPoint Presentation
1/29/25 • 1pm – 2pm
Blackboard's Rubric Design Assistant Seminar
1/30/25 • 12pm – 1pm

Connect with eLearning!

There are many benefits to working with eLearning. We can assist in optimizing Blackboard course structure, enhancing online and hybrid learning experiences, and incorporating innovative tools to foster active learning. You are encouraged to contact your eLearning Technologies liaisons or submit a consultation ticket at your convenience.
Sincerely,
Kim Kenward, Director of eLearning Technologies
kenwardk@gvsu.edu
GVSU Information Technology
Visit our eLearning Technologies website
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4490 Kindschi Hall of Science
Allendale, MI 49401
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