Blackboard Mobile App Access Issue

Posted on by chris.poyser

We have been informed there is an issue with Android users accessing Blackboard via the mobile app. User’s trying to access the Blackboard Learn App on an android device will receive the following error message “You cannot access this right now.”

Blackboard have acknowledged this issue and have informed us it will be fixed in the next update of the Blackboard App v8.7 This should be released in early August.

You can still access Blackboard on a mobile device by using a web browser.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Access to PGR theses and new PGR organisations

Posted on by digitaleducation

This information is relevant if your school uses Turnitin to run similarity checks on PGR theses (practice, submission and re-submission).   

PGR students who submitted work to a Turnitin submission point in Blackboard before September 2023 will not be able to access their theses in Blackboard after August 2023. This is due to the supplier ending support for the older Turnitin integration with Blackboard. 

As we have communicated to schools directly, the DEO has been working with AQPO and representatives of administrative and academic staff to update the Blackboard Organisations for PGR Turnitin Submissions. 

Please take the following actions by 31 August 2023: 

  • Encourage students who may be affected to download their submissions before 31 August 2023.  
  • If you are one of the School Administrators who have received a form to complete for setting up new organisations, please complete the form by July 28. 
  • PGR student administrators should start using the newly created Turnitin Upload organisations which has been set up with the Turnitin LTI and the Academic Progress Monitoring form page. 

Please also note that, from 1 September 2023, staff who need access to the older theses will need to contact the DEO. 

Xerte upgrade 18th July

Posted on by Martin Nutbeem

IT Services will be upgrading Xerte to version 3.12 between 8am and 1pm on Tuesday 18th July. During this time, Xerte resources will be unavailable to staff and students. We apologise for any inconvenience this causes.

This upgrade brings security updates and improved functionality, including:

  • XOT enhancements and new functionality.
  • Bootstrap template bug fixes and enhancements.
  • Editor enhancements including links to wiki guidance.
  • Accessibility enhancements.

We will update the blog when Xerte is available again. If you have any questions, please contact digital-education@bristol.ac.uk

Blackboard upgrade completed

Posted on by Hanrahan Highland

The Blackboard upgrade to the new Ultra Base Navigation has been successfully completed. You will see the new-look Blackboard the next time you log in. Your courses haven’t changed, but the way you navigate around Blackboard should now be easier and more intuitive, whatever device you’re using.

“I really like the ease of navigation of the updated Blackboard.”
– University of Bristol student

You can find more information and guidance in our Blackboard Ultra Base Navigation guide.

If you have any questions, please contact digital-education@bristol.ac.uk.

Questionmark OnDemand Scheduled Maintenance Saturday 15 July 2023 09.00-1500

Posted on by Roberta Perli

Questionmark will be carrying out scheduled maintenance on Saturday 15 July between 09:00 and 15:00.

The purpose of the maintenance is to deploy system updates to ensure the ongoing reliability, security and up time of the platform.

During this time users may experience service disruption. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

If you have any questions, please email digital-education@bristol.ac.uk

Blackboard upgrade time change: 3.45 pm – 6 pm

Posted on by Hanrahan Highland

The Blackboard upgrade on Wednesday July 5 is moving to slightly later in the afternoon. We will be carrying out the upgrade starting at 3.45 pm, with a projected finish time of 6 pm. All other details remain unchanged. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused.

If you have any questions, please contact digital-education@bristol.ac.uk.

Mentimeter – do not use ‘Shared Presentations’

Posted on by Suzanne Collins

In Mentimeter, a ‘Shared Presentations’ feature has appeared on the left-hand side toolbar as part of a recent update, as well as an option on the menu in each presentation called ‘Move to Shared Presentations’. We are advising you not to use this feature, as it shares both the presentation and results with everyone within the University. We are aware that this is not suitable for University use and are therefore discussing disabling this feature with the software provider. 

If you have already moved your presentation to this new area, it’s very easy to move back:  

  • Go to Share Presentations 
  • Select the three dots on the right-hand side 
  • Select ‘Move to My Presentations’ 

If you would like to share your presentation to collaborate with another member of staff, you can do this in the way you are used to, from the ‘My Presentations’ section:  

  • Select the three dots next to the presentation you want to share
  • Select ‘Invite Collaborators’, and type the email address of the user you wish to share with 
  • Select ‘Invite Users’ 

Or 

  • Select the three dots next to the presentation you want to share 
  • Select ‘Share’ and then ‘Invite Collaborators’ 
  • Type the email address of the user you wish to share with 
  • Select ‘Invite Users’ 

Please note that Groups are only for sharing templates. 

If you have any questions, please contact digital-education@bristol.ac.uk.  

Summer digital education improvements

Posted on by Suzanne Collins

Each year, the Digital Education Office delivers a summer plan of work on our digital education environments and systems. This plan includes any significant system changes or software upgrades, but also includes more minor changes to systems and processes, ensuring everything works well for the next academic year.  

We regularly update the Service Improvements Page over the summer, documenting and advertising expected and completed work. If you are interested in keeping up to date, it is worth bookmarking this page. Any major changes will also be announced via other channels, such as this blog. 

This year, many of these improvements have been prompted by outputs from the ongoing Digital Learning Environment (DLE) Review. Staff, students and professional services colleagues have been asked to share their experiences of using the digital education environment, as well as work with us to imagine the teaching and learning of the future. To find out more about the DLE review, please visit the DLE SharePoint page for staff.