Based on higher than expected turnout for last week’s prototype of the Planning Instructional Technology for Online Teaching (PIVOT) Live webinars, DoIT is offering a monthly repeat of the five 60-minute webinars in five days approach on the following dates (up to 100 people can participate, but registration via myUMBC is required).
July 20 to 24 at 10 a.m. (canceled)
The PIVOT webinars will include the following topics:
Organizing & Designing an Online Course
Active Learning Strategies
Engaging Students & Building Online Community
Reconceptualizing Online Assessments
Supporting Students and Monitoring Progress
As a reminder, last week’s webinars on these topics were recorded and available on the original announcement and DoIT’s Academic Continuity site (a PIVOT site is also under development). The recordings will also be paired with key instructional technology FAQs to form the basis of PIVOT Solo, which is designed as a totally asynchronous, self-paced to enable a more deliberate approach to online teaching than was the case in Spring 2020.
Last week’s turnout for the first prototype of the PIVOT webinars included the following:
We had 1,030 registrations with 764 attendees for one or more sessions (72 people attended all 5 sessions and accounted for 360 attendees).
There were 263 unique participants during the week, 122 of whom are teaching this summer, which was our most pressing need.
To date, we've received 100 survey responses from the 263, and 77% rated the webinars as helpful, 8% not-helpful.
As discipline-specific or cohort-based plans develop within Colleges, DoIT will use the PIVOT webinars & PIVOT Solo “playlists” to support such groups, which will inform the synchronous and asynchronous approach of PIVOT + that was previously announced.
In addition to new monthly offerings of PIVOT during the summer, DoIT’s Instructional Technology team has also announced focused training in Blackboard Essentials, Collaborate, Panopto, and VoiceThread, which were popular topics throughout the week. To learn more, visit DoIT’s training site at doit.umbc.edu/training.
As always, if you have any questions, please consider the following options:
Academic Continuity | Keep On Teaching | Student Technology Resources
Follow the Instructional Technology & DoIT myUMBC groups
Request a consult with instructional technology staff
UPDATE: Bb Annotate has been staged back for deployment — US East Cost is slated for June 3rd.
Available for summer courses, Blackboard’s new inline grading tool, allows instructors, teaching assistants, and graders to embed feedback, such as comments, highlights, and even drawings, directly on a converted view of student assignments in Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and PDF file formats. Bb Annotate’s enhanced commenting tools offer faculty a robust feature set to provide valuable feedback to students about their progress in a course.
The current interface for the inline grading tool is powered by a third-party conversion tool from Box. This version of the feedback tool was rolled out about two years ago. Recognizing the limited functionality of the Box-based tool, Blackboard initiated the development of a new tool last summer. Bb Annotate is the product of extensive research into faculty grading needs.
Available for both Original and Ultra courses, Bb Annotate offers expanded toos to provide customizable feedback to students. Features include a sidebar summary view, highlighting, freehand drawing and shapes, various color selections, a reusable comment bank across courses, and much more. This overview video shares some of the exciting changes:
View this webinar recording, Getting Started with Bb Annotate.
Please check the FAQ collection after May 20 to learn more about specific functionality. Instructional Technology staff are updating documentation and linking to Bb resources.
No planned downtime is expected on May 25, 2020 when Bb Annotate is enabled for UMBC. The file migration will begin in the background and could take some time to complete depending on the number of annotated files that need to be migrated. However, the current inline grading tools will remain available and all pre-existing grading comments will be migrated and visible in Bb Annotate. Please review additional information about the transition to Bb Annotate on this FAQ.
As always, if you have any questions, please consider the following options:
Follow the Instructional Technology & DoIT myUMBC groups
Request a consult with instructional technology staff
The UMBC Division of Information Technology is still receiving notification of a widespread job scam.
The subject is: UMBC COVID-19 INFORMATION.
From: Michael Corel <corelmichael199@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, May 11, 2020 at 9:18 AM
Subject: UMBC COVID-19 INFORMATION
To:
Dear students,
University of Maryland, Baltimore County health professionals have been closely monitoring the spread of COVID-19 over the past two months.Therefore the university is organizing an online part time job to sustain the students living.I'm happy to inform you that our reputable company CORESTAFF SERVICES Inc®,is currently running a student empowerment program.
KINDLY EMAIL BACK WITH YOUR PERSONAL EMAIL ADDRESS IF INTERESTED IN THIS JOB POSITION.
Kind Regards
Michael Corel
HR Manager/Consultant
CORESTAFF SERVICES Inc®
A reply confirms that your UMBC email address is active. That is an invitation to get more spam. You are also asked to provide your personal address. That’s two addresses for spamming. You may then be asked to fill out a form with personal information which can then be added to your email address. That means, at least, that the spam can be targeted to you. If you provide information such as your birthdate, address, or social security number, the information can also be used for identity theft.
Even if you are tempted to send the scammer a hostile, insulting message,
You will not hurt the scammer’s feelings. You will simply provide information about yourself directly or indirectly.
Email Attacks
Tripwire has released an article warning of these COVID-19 related email scams. The article can be found at this link: https://www.tripwire.com/state-of-security/security-awareness/covid-19-scam-roundup-may-4-2020/
They report on a finding from Kaspersky Labs, where they warn of a spam email campaign informing recipients that a delivery attempt had failed because their shipment details were incorrect and the reader needs to update their details. An image of a receipt is included in the message. The receipt is too small to read easily, so the recipient will probably click on it for a better look. Clicking on the attachment will load spyware onto the user's device.
A malicious actor sent out emails urging recipients to consider donating to the World Health Organization. The email has a from address of “support@covid-19[.]world” and includes a link at the bottom saying “Help Us Fight”. Clicking the link will take the reader to a malicious domain help-who[.]com. For readers to donate they must click on the embedded link which allows the malicious actors to steal the reader’s payment information.
Finally the article reports that IBM X-Force discovered a phishing email campaign that seemed to be from the US Department of Labor. The email states they have made changes to the “Family and Medical Leave of Act” as a result of COVID-19. This email then asks readers to review the attached word document. The attachment will install malware which puts the reader’s computer under the control of a botnet.
]]>The UMBC Division of Information Technology received notification of a new job scam variant on 08may2020. The subject is: UMBC COVID-19 INFORMATION
From: Koyepes Michael <michaelkoyepes199@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, May 8, 2020 at 9:54 AM
Subject: UMBC COVID-19 INFORMATION
Dear students,
University of Maryland, Baltimore County health professionals have been closely monitoring the spread of COVID-19 over the past two months.Therefore the university is organizing an online part time job to sustain the students living.I'm happy to inform you that our reputable company CORESTAFF SERVICES Inc®,is currently running a student empowerment program.
KINDLY EMAIL BACK WITH YOUR PERSONAL EMAIL ADDRESS IF INTERESTED IN THIS JOB POSITION.
Kind Regards
Koyepes Michael
HR Manager/Consultant
CORESTAFF SERVICES Inc®
A reply confirms that your UMBC email address is active. That is an invitation to get more spam. You are also asked to provide your personal address. That’s two addresses for spamming. You may then be asked to fill out a form with personal information which can then be added to your email address. That means, at least, that the spam can be targeted to you. If you provide information such as your birthdate, address, or social security number, the information can also be used for identity theft.
Even if you are tempted to send the scammer a hostile, insulting message,
You will not hurt the scammer’s feelings. You will simply provide information about yourself directly or indirectly.
E-mail fraud is in the rise. The Division of Information Technology is tracking it. If you get suspicious email, please forward it to security@umbc.edu. If you are not sure whether it is suspicious, forward it anyway. We will investigate it and get back to you.
VoiceThread is a learning tool for enhancing student engagement and online presence. With VoiceThread, instructors and/or students can create, share, and comment on images, Microsoft PowerPoint presentations, videos, audio files, documents, and PDFs, using microphone, webcam, text, phone, and audio-file upload.
VoiceThread is offering the following training sessions:
Humanize Your Online Course with VoiceThread
When: May 19, 2020 1:00 pm (Eastern Standard Time)
Creating engaging online courses is not easy. In many discussion-board based courses, students feel isolated and disconnected from their instructors and classmates. VoiceThread bridges the gaps in social presence typically found in online courses. In this workshop, educators will learn how to establish a social presence and connect with their students using VoiceThread to improve course satisfaction and student learning.
VoiceThread Basics 1: Upload, Comment, and Share
When: May 26, 2020 1:00 pm (Eastern Time)
Participants will learn how to upload media, comment and annotate on that media, and share it with others. This will be a slow paced, step-by-step, hands-on workshop. It is open to both VoiceThread license holders and free accounts.
Using VoiceThread in Blackboard
When: June 2, 2020 1:00 pm (Eastern Time)
In this hands-on workshop, you will learn how to create VoiceThreads and then add them to your Blackboard course as lessons or assessments.
]]>Blackboard has announced a webinar series to help faculty transition to remote instruction. Click here to sign up for the options described below.
Who are these webinars for?
This webinar series is designed for Instructors who are just getting started with teaching using Blackboard Learn and Blackboard Collaborate, as well as those who have started to transition to deliver instruction remotely and are looking to make some improvements.
About the webinar series
Many of you had to quickly transition to remote teaching in response to growing concerns on the spread of the coronavirus. The journey to teaching remotely is a process, and we want to ensure you have the tools you need to be successful for both you and your students.
Whether you are brand new to teaching online or looking to make some improvements to what you have started, we designed a set of webinars from basic topics to advanced. We added more topics to help you as you prepare for your next semester.
Getting Started with Blackboard Learn Original Course Experience - Do I have Learn Original?
This webinar is designed to provide you easy step-by-step instructions on how to upload course content, create discussion boards for students to communicate, and provide an overview on the types of online assessments available in Blackboard Learn’s ORIGINAL course experience.
Getting Started with Blackboard Learn Ultra Course Experience - Do I have Learn Ultra?
This webinar is designed to provide you easy step-by-step instructions on how to upload course content, create discussion boards for students to communicate, and provide an overview on the types of online assessments available in Blackboard Learn’s ULTRA course experience.
Getting Started with Blackboard Collaborate
Moving from in-classroom instruction to the virtual classroom does not have to be difficult or stressful. Blackboard Collaborate Ultra is a web-based communication tool that allows you to continue to engage with your students in real time or even to record sessions for students to watch at a later time. In this 30-minute session, we will review the Collaborate interface and tools that support engaging teaching online.
Getting Started with Bb Annotate: Inline Assignment Grading in Blackboard Learn
Blackboard Learn’s inline assignment grading functionality, currently delivered through a technology called New Box View, will be replaced over the next few months with a new tool called Bb Annotate. Created in partnership with clients around the globe, Bb Annotate will offer a more robust feature set to provide customizable feedback to learners, including a sidebar summary view, freehand drawing tools, various color selections, and much more. Join this webinar to see a demonstration of the new tool and get your questions answered by Blackboard experts.
OFFICE HOURS: Ask the Experts About Blackboard Learn and Collaborate
Have a question on how to do something in Blackboard Learn or Blackboard Collaborate? Join this live Office Hours session where Blackboard experts will be on hand to answer questions, demonstrate workflows and provide guidance on teaching remotely.
Intermediate/Advanced Topics
Assessment & Assignments in Blackboard Learn (Original Course Experience)
This intermediate session will provide a deeper dive into setting up assessments, utilizing different types of assessments and creating gradable assignments within a Blackboard Learn Original experience course.
Guide to Building Mobile Content (Original & Ultra Course Experiences)
Many students prefer to consume course content on their mobile phone. This webinar is designed to provide you with basic fundamentals for preparing online course content for mobile delivery. Additionally, we will review Blackboard mobile apps and provide you with a helpful worksheet on mobile content development.
Improving Student Engagement (Original Course Experience)
In the new world of social distancing and limited interaction with others, instructors and students may be missing some accustomed modes of interpersonal communication in courses. Join a team of Blackboard experts who understand first-hand the demands of a fully online teaching environment—we are eager to help you discover how utilizing tools within Blackboard Learn can encourage meaningful engagement among students and between your students and you! Effectively use discussion boards, engage students with interactive lectures and quizzes and challenge them to collaborate together in teams and then present their work back to the larger class. Blackboard’s team of academic professionals have plenty of ideas to share with you and are eager to support you as you consider different ways to promote communication, get your students involved, and to keep them engaged in online classes.
Setting up the Gradebook (Original Course Experience)
As you prepare (or continue) to deliver instruction remotely this summer, empower yourself to do so with maximum efficiency by understanding Blackboard Learn’s powerful Grade Center. The Grade Center is more than just a location to record students' grades--it is an interactive tool that allows faculty to filter, sort, and access data , calculate grades, and monitor student progress. Join this session to learn the basics of efficiently managing your students’ work and grades.
Grading Workflows for Discussions, Assessment & Assignments (Original Course Experience)
Let’s face it – grading is possibly one of the least ‘fun’ parts of teaching. However, now that you’ve created assessments, assignments, and quizzes in Blackboard Learn, the grading process can be easier than ever. In Blackboard, instructors can provide feedback, post grades, and check the originality of student work with ease. Discover how much easier it can be to grade papers when you can annotate right within the online course. You can even provide audio feedback to the student, helping them understand areas of the paper that may need some attention. Want to set up a quiz to be automatically graded? You can do that too! Join us in this informative session on how to use Blackboard’s course tools to make your online teaching experience more efficient, more engaged and less time consuming!
Click here to register for any of the sessions.
Session Dates
Getting Started with Blackboard Learn Original Course Experience - Do I have Learn Original?
· Monday, May 4 | 9:00–9:30 am ET
· Monday, May 11 | 1:00–1:30 pm ET
Getting Started with Blackboard Learn Ultra Course Experience - Do I have Learn Ultra?
· Monday, May 4 | 10:00–10:30 am ET
· Monday, May 11 | 2:00–2:30 pm ET
Getting Started with Blackboard Collaborate
· Monday, May 4 | 11:00–11:30 am ET
· Monday, May 11 | 3:00–3:30 pm ET
Getting Started with Bb Annotate: Inline Assignment Grading in Blackboard Learn
· Tuesday, May 12 | 2:00–3:00 pm ET
· Wednesday, May 13 | 9:00-10:00 pm ET / Thursday, May 14 | 11:00 am–12:00 pm AEST
· Thursday, May 14 | 9:00–10:00 am ET
OFFICE HOURS: Ask the Experts about Blackboard Learn & Collaborate
· Thursday, May 14 | 11:00 am–12:00 pm ET
· Thursday, May 28 | 11:00 am–12:00 pm ET
Assessment & Assignments in Blackboard Learn (Original Course Experience)
· Tuesday, May 5 | 9:00–9:45 am ET
· Tuesday, May 19 | 2:00–2:45 pm ET
Guide to Building Mobile Content (Original & Ultra Course Experiences)
· Wednesday, May 6 | 9:00am - 9:45am ET
· Wednesday, May 20 | 2:00pm - 2:45pm ET
Improving Student Engagement (Original Course Experience)
· Friday, May 8 | 9:00am - 9:45am ET
· Thursday, May 21 | 3:00pm - 3:45pm ET
Setting up the Gradebook (Original Course Experience)
· Thursday, May 7 | 9:00am - 9:45am ET
· Thursday, May 21 | 2:00pm - 2:45pm ET
Grading Workflows for Discussions, Assessment & Assignments (Original Course Experience)
· Wednesday, May 13 | 9:00am - 9:45am ET
· Wednesday, May 27 | 2:00pm - 2:45pm ET
Click here to register for any of these sessions.
Looking for recordings?
Click here to watch past webinar sessions.
This morning DoIT has received several reports of a password change scam that has been going around campus:
From: ti93943@wildblue.net Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2020 9:45 AM Subject: Password Notification To: < @umbc.edu>-- Dear Member, Your UMBC webmail password will expire today. Visit the maintenance portal below to automatically renew your university password. https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx IT Helpdesk | University of Maryland, Baltimore County. |
If you are experiencing any issues with DocuSign please submit an RT ticket and we will get back to you as soon as possible.