Bb9 Upgrade
The purpose of this page is to provide information to our user community (faculty, staff, and students) in preparation for the changes to come in the more powerful new Blackboard Learn™, Release 9. We plan to complete this upgrade in June 2010.
Since this newer version will involve a slight learning curve, as decisions are made about how the new release will be implemented at Princeton, this site will be updated to give users an advance peak.
We are happy to get your input on this project. Please send comments and questions to blackboard@princeton.edu
Why Upgrade?
As much as we would all like our computer technology to be a constant servant, never having to learn a new way of interacting with it — because, frankly, who has the time? — the reality is that it is in a constant state of flux, demanding that we keep up with it.
Hardware, operating systems, browsers, programming, and even the Web have changed dramatically since Blackboard was first created in the mid-1990's. Its Web 1.0 programming does not play well with Web 2.0. Improved communication, information sharing, collaboration, usability, and security require advanced web development techniques. New technologies that allow for the sharing of valuable data between Blackboard software and other systems and tools are called for. For example, Bb 9 will make it easier for our programmers to write an interface between the Grade Center and PeopleSoft to make it much easier to report final grades to the Registrar.
Though some of our uses take advantage of only a very few, basic features in Bb, others are asking for additional tools and capabilities for improving their course management and teaching with Blackboard. Bb 9 offers such additional features as well as a more effective user interface.
