As you may know, UBC is in the process of moving from WebCT Vista to a new Learning Management System on the Blackboard Learn 9.1 platform that was named Connect in a community-wide naming contest. Over the past few months a number of new tools and updates, designed to streamline and enhance the user experience, have been implemented in the Connect system. Each faculty has identified their own migration strategy, moving toward a campus-wide adoption of Connect in May of 2013.
This fall (the 2012 Winter term), UBC Okanagan and the Faculty of Science at UBC Vancouver have all of their courses running in Connect. Those two together have nearly 900 courses on the new platform. Other faculties are taking a more phased approach to migration, and are collectively currently running 200+ courses in Connect.
The Faculty of Medicine undergraduate Medicine program and Sauder School of Business MBA programs have launched pilot projects that use Blackboard’s Content and Community systems. The Jump Start orientation program for new international and Aboriginal students is piloting Connect to support their programming this year, reporting great success and ease of use.
In preparation for the full adoption of Connect in May 2013, CTLT is continuing to provide professional development opportunities, offering workshops, drop-in sessions, and one-on-one assistance for faculty to help them familiarize themselves with the new platform so that their transition is as smooth as possible. The UBC e-Learning website was redesigned, providing centralized access to tools and resources for WebCT Vista and Connect, as well as other e-learning tools such as UBC Blogs and the UBC Wiki.
While WebCT Vista has served UBC well for a number of years, the transition to Connect, thus far, has been a relatively easy one. Connect shares many similar features to WebCT Vista but it also offers a more intuitive interface, enhanced communications options, more efficient grading, notifications dashboards, and an improved ability to link to external content. Ultimately, these improvements will benefit faculty and students and will enhance the teaching and learning experience at UBC.
This article was published in the September 2012 CTLT Newsletter, Dialogues. Below is a list of the articles included in the issue:
- Welcome to the CTLT e-Newsletter
- Let’s Celebrate Learning
- Welcome Simon Bates!
- Introducing Connect (currently viewing)
- Faculty Spotlight – Shona Ellis, Professor of Teaching
- New Course Profile: PHYS 333 – Energy and Climate
- Other Professional Development Events at UBC
Find out more information about the CTLT Newsletter, Dialogues.
[…] While WebCT Vista has served UBC well for a number of years, the transition to Connect, thus far, has been a relatively easy one. Connect shares many similar features to WebCT Vista but it also offers a more intuitive interface, enhanced communications options, more efficient grading, notifications dashboards, and an improved ability to link to external content. Ultimately, these improvements will benefit faculty and students and will enhance the teaching and learning experience at UBC. Article courtesy of the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology: Introducing Connect […]
[…] Article courtesy of the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology: Introducing Connect […]