June ITC Newsletter

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June 2008
ITC is on the MOVE! The ITC is moving to 2309 Kingston Pike on Friday, June 20. All workshops after June 23 will be held in our new location. Anyone with a valid UT parking tag will be able to park in the lot...and there are plenty of spaces! Please remember that the ITC is available in the Commons too, although we will NOT be in the Commons location from June 19 until June 26, so we can all get settled in our new offices. View the ITC Commons Schedule Blackboard Version 8: Grade Center Our new release of the Blackboard software includes a completely rewritten gradebook tool, which is now called the “Grade Center.” The Grade Center provides a number of new features. Instructors can: enter scores much more efficiently select from a dual display of gradebook data track grade history changes provide gradebook comments freeze names for easier scrolling upload multiple columns at once build custom views drop lowest scores provide more effective comments print progress reports easily e-mail students right from the gradebook This brand new, easy-to-use Grade Center increases instructor efficiency and enables new customization, powerful analysis, and increased flexibility. For additional information about the new Grade Center, please see http://online.utk.edu for support information and tutorials, or take the opportunity to sign up for one of our summer workshops about the Grade Center. Blackboard Course Purge On July 3, 2008, all courses up to and including Spring Semester 2006 will be deleted from the Blackboard servers. The purge is in keeping with our Retention Procedures for Course Sites and User Accounts and our ongoing efforts to proactively manage our Blackboard installation. Please let us know if you have questions, comments, or concerns. Blackboard Mini-Term Courses Mini-Term courses will continue to be available on the Mini-Term server until June 6, 2008. At that time, we will be removing the “Login to Mini-Term” button from the main Online@UT page. We will move all Mini-Term course sites back to the main Online@UT servers on June 16, 2008, so instructors can maintain archival content of the Mini-Term courses. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact the ITC at itc@utk.edu or 974-9670. Learn more about all of our services and events at our Web site, http://itc.utk.edu.		Online@UT Tip of the Month June: The New Grade Center Get directions to ITC's new location next to Tyson Park Faculty Survey: Quick Stats Of the 220 of you who completed the 2008 Faculty Instructional Technology Survey, over 200 (92%) stated that you are currently integrating technology into your teaching practice. 78% indicated that you are integrating somewhat or much more technology into your teaching now than you were 5 years ago. Be on the lookout for more survey results in upcoming e-mail and print newsletters.