tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185477289349784173Fri, 17 May 2013 13:08:08 +0000Panel of speakersBehind The Scenes Technology is a blog about a variety topicshttp://btstwm.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Melissa Stange)Blogger282125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185477289349784173.post-9062049320886272165Fri, 17 May 2013 12:27:00 +00002013-05-17T09:08:08.740-04:00Blackboard (Bb) Collaborate 12.5 web conferencing includes: Support for Android devices, including Kindle Fire HD, to expand opportunities for mobile learning Built-in phone conferencing with auto-provisioned call-in numbers, eliminating the need for a third-party teleconferencing provider (North American enterprise license only) Single-click individual permissions and ability to toggle http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~3/-V5eWB6SyXc/running-bb-collaborate-v125-yet-you.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa Stange)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~4/-V5eWB6SyXc" height="1" width="1"/>http://btstwm.blogspot.com/2013/05/running-bb-collaborate-v125-yet-you.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185477289349784173.post-3101248411347061156Thu, 16 May 2013 15:02:00 +00002013-05-16T11:02:15.981-04:00 A little history:  Blackboard (Bb) purchased two company's: Wimba and Elluminate. You can read more about this by doing a search in any search engine or click here to see one of the news announcements on the Web. Blackboard took features from both companies and made a new product sold as Blackboard Collaborate. Click here to watch a video from Maurice Heiblum about the new product. You can http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~3/RJHH2HhqhTU/one-creative-way-to-use-bb-collaborate.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa Stange)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~4/RJHH2HhqhTU" height="1" width="1"/>http://btstwm.blogspot.com/2013/05/one-creative-way-to-use-bb-collaborate.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185477289349784173.post-8894944586397210093Wed, 15 May 2013 19:19:00 +00002013-05-15T15:19:00.281-04:00 As I waited for my turn to order my made-to-order (MTO) sub from Subway today, it hit me that Bb was a MTO Learning Managment System. Blackboard (Bb) claims that "Learn is an innovative, user-focused LMS designed to engage students and ease the burden on educators." Some will disagree by saying Bb is difficult to use, expensive, and and out-of-date. Others will say that students prefer Bb in http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~3/lYst_49oLa8/blackboard-learn-91-is-made-to-order.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa Stange)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~4/lYst_49oLa8" height="1" width="1"/>http://btstwm.blogspot.com/2013/05/blackboard-learn-91-is-made-to-order.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185477289349784173.post-3729831799007315493Wed, 15 May 2013 16:25:00 +00002013-05-15T12:25:05.096-04:00 Qwickly is a FREE building block that Baldwin Wallace University created and has so nicely shared with the Blackboard (Bb) LEARN community.  It allows instructors to: 1- send the same email to all the users in one or more courses (only type the email once), 2- post an announcement to one or more courses (type the announcement once), 3- make unavailable courses available without having to http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~3/sPdiwhESHOQ/qwickly-simplifies-faculty-task-within.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa Stange)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~4/sPdiwhESHOQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://btstwm.blogspot.com/2013/05/qwickly-simplifies-faculty-task-within.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185477289349784173.post-583407067744682792Fri, 10 May 2013 18:32:00 +00002013-05-13T08:32:29.868-04:00 The entire group of official BbWorld 2013 bloggers are waiting to hear who will be promoted to VIP Blogger status. Several have been tweeting about the anticipation. With so many schools having graduation this weekend, I find it timely that Blackboard (Bb) is providing the same type of suspense for those official bloggers hoping for one of those three VIP Bloggers spots. While I am http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~3/XoWe5Fjid4E/who-will-be-2013-vip-bbworld-bloggers.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa Stange)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~4/XoWe5Fjid4E" height="1" width="1"/>http://btstwm.blogspot.com/2013/05/who-will-be-2013-vip-bbworld-bloggers.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185477289349784173.post-121588910877760695Fri, 10 May 2013 14:22:00 +00002013-05-10T10:31:51.666-04:00According to research conducted by The Rain Group (read the full report here), customers surprisingly ranked the 10 items below higher than they did "best price and best value" (James, 2013).  Bring New Perspectives and Ideas Be Willing to Collaborate Have Confidence In Your Ability to Achieve Results Listen, Really Listen, to the Customer Understand ALL the Customer's Needs Help the Customer http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~3/eKnF5iAL_aA/blackboard-gives-customers-10-things.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa Stange)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~4/eKnF5iAL_aA" height="1" width="1"/>http://btstwm.blogspot.com/2013/05/blackboard-gives-customers-10-things.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185477289349784173.post-1700193833997241896Thu, 09 May 2013 10:07:00 +00002013-05-09T06:09:22.112-04:00 Wondering what tool Blackboard (Bb) Learn has to discourage plagiarism?  Well that is SafeAssign. This tool is very similar to TurnItIn, except that it comes free from Blackboard, Inc. SafeAssign™ is a plagiarism prevention service, offered by Blackboard.  This service helps educators prevent plagiarism by detecting unoriginal content in student papers.  In addition to acting as a plagiarism http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~3/rkVLG_Uiceg/plagerism-prevention-is-part-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa Stange)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~4/rkVLG_Uiceg" height="1" width="1"/>http://btstwm.blogspot.com/2013/05/plagerism-prevention-is-part-of.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185477289349784173.post-3963654268721467376Wed, 08 May 2013 12:41:00 +00002013-05-08T09:06:07.155-04:00Where can you find 255 live mind blowing sessions, talk with over 2000 people, visit with lots of technology vendors, and have three days away from the office? That's right Blackboard World 2013! The BbWorld 2013 conference has live sessions, engaging keynotes, and professionals from around the globe. If you have not registered yet, do so today as you don't want to miss this event and an http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~3/mAybCnEXsek/255-live-sessions-2000-people-tech.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa Stange)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~4/mAybCnEXsek" height="1" width="1"/>http://btstwm.blogspot.com/2013/05/255-live-sessions-2000-people-tech.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185477289349784173.post-3819764197144348171Tue, 07 May 2013 10:17:00 +00002013-05-07T06:21:04.587-04:00 Like watching short videos instead of reading text for learning a new skill? Learn more about Blackboard (Bb) Learn through the On Demand Learning Center. The On Demand Learning Center includes short, interactive video lessons called Quick Tutorials and short documents, called Getting Started Guides, designed to get you familiar with a feature in 15 minutes. Many of the Quick Tutorials are http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~3/y0wKZcgoB7M/get-setting-up-your-summer-courses-from.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa Stange)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~4/y0wKZcgoB7M" height="1" width="1"/>http://btstwm.blogspot.com/2013/05/get-setting-up-your-summer-courses-from.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185477289349784173.post-8070645598402089097Mon, 06 May 2013 13:31:00 +00002013-05-06T09:41:12.370-04:00 Graphic From: www.thebloom.com The festival started for me as with most other "locals" with a day off work. Friday, May 3rd is an official local holiday and Shenandoah University is the host of several festival events; such as the Queen's Ball, Rock The Bloom concert, Jazz and Concert band competitions. While I did not physically have to go into work, by no means was it a day off. Up by 6a http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~3/zs7pjmiGaMw/review-of-apple-blossom-festival.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa Stange)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~4/zs7pjmiGaMw" height="1" width="1"/>http://btstwm.blogspot.com/2013/05/review-of-apple-blossom-festival.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185477289349784173.post-5573106108806801667Fri, 03 May 2013 10:37:00 +00002013-05-03T06:37:42.925-04:00Greetings, I am going to do a plug for my two #BbWorld13 sessions, but first if you have not registered or have not signed up to be a VIP Blogger do so now please by clicking here.  Otherwise, you might miss the opportunity to get 2000+ Blackboard (Bb) users input on how to solve your educational technology questions and talk in person with Bb's expert staff!  My first session is titled, http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~3/DHbDzrYZEFI/my-blackboard-world-sessions.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa Stange)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~4/DHbDzrYZEFI" height="1" width="1"/>http://btstwm.blogspot.com/2013/05/my-blackboard-world-sessions.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185477289349784173.post-1840592922676155977Thu, 02 May 2013 10:55:00 +00002013-05-02T06:55:25.969-04:00Now that you have gotten the approval to attend the big BbWorld 2013 conference in July, you need to be reviewing the schedule at a glance here and figuring out what you are going to do in your  down time. As most of your probably know, Las Vegas is a unique and lively place. National Geographic Vegas Guide Winona Dimeo-EdigerJanuary 28, 2013 provides a suggestion list here of 10 favorite http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~3/6FN7XnXnCWM/free-activities-during-bbworld13.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa Stange)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~4/6FN7XnXnCWM" height="1" width="1"/>http://btstwm.blogspot.com/2013/05/free-activities-during-bbworld13.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185477289349784173.post-5556456420220801057Wed, 01 May 2013 12:14:00 +00002013-05-01T08:14:32.734-04:00 This will be a short week for me due to the Apple Blossom festival which will be rocking Winchester this weekend. The one time a year the town almost completely shuts down to celebrate a fruit, the apple, that has such a strong history in the town. While not today, but in the past Winchester was the apple capital of the world. White House Foods have their home here. This short weeks means I http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~3/bbM_8k_H4fY/short-week-tips-tricks.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa Stange)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~4/bbM_8k_H4fY" height="1" width="1"/>http://btstwm.blogspot.com/2013/05/short-week-tips-tricks.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185477289349784173.post-944653329315646189Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:21:00 +00002013-04-30T07:21:20.756-04:00Blackboard's (Bb) Developers Conference also known as "DevCon" is a more technical conference, than BbWorld user conference is. The name "DevCon" sounds like a spy movie, but it fits the attendees because they are usually the system admins, programmers, and database admins who are constantly sneaking around in the system behind the scenes trying to find clues and solve mysteries. They are also http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~3/FovYj1NAYKo/be-adventurous-while-in-vegas-for.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa Stange)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~4/FovYj1NAYKo" height="1" width="1"/>http://btstwm.blogspot.com/2013/04/be-adventurous-while-in-vegas-for.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185477289349784173.post-679922756874622391Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:59:00 +00002013-04-29T08:59:37.522-04:00 Graphic courtesy of Chester Magazine This year I was unable to serve as a volunteer work at the Bloomin' Wine Fest, but I was still able to enjoy a "girls afternoon" with my mother and sister at the event. The weather was perfect, which  was very different usually I am attending in the rain. The event had to change its layout due to construction on the downtown walking mall. This year it was http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~3/wCW4D4RlpdA/review-of-2013-bloomin-wine-fest.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa Stange)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~4/wCW4D4RlpdA" height="1" width="1"/>http://btstwm.blogspot.com/2013/04/review-of-2013-bloomin-wine-fest.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185477289349784173.post-1302892537852596798Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:45:00 +00002013-04-29T05:45:53.377-04:00   I am a Certiport Certified professional instructor, a Microsoft Certified Trainer, Earned certificates in the Virginia Community College System's IDOL & TOPS teaching online program, participated in Bb's Exemplary Course MOOC, and my course has been through successful Quality Matters evaluation.  I have earned distinctions by helping others, providing continuing support in the areas of http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~3/UHMp6JLy4S8/thoughts-on-blackboards-exemplary.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa Stange)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~4/UHMp6JLy4S8" height="1" width="1"/>http://btstwm.blogspot.com/2013/04/thoughts-on-blackboards-exemplary.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185477289349784173.post-6080291967591588251Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:55:00 +00002013-04-26T10:58:33.078-04:00 Over the past 4 years I’ve had the pleasure of attending the Blackboard (Bb) BbWorld and Devon Conferences and have participated at various levels.  I am also a co-founder of the Virginia Blackboard User Group (VaBUG). Blackboard provides some tools on how to convince your boss to let you go, they even wrote the letter for you. Click here to download it.  I suggest being an official BbWorld http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~3/dejv8jY_O7I/what-to-not-to-do-or-forget-for-bbworld.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa Stange)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~4/dejv8jY_O7I" height="1" width="1"/>http://btstwm.blogspot.com/2013/04/what-to-not-to-do-or-forget-for-bbworld.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185477289349784173.post-2317590722882618336Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:01:00 +00002013-04-25T07:12:31.022-04:00Video Everywhere is a feature added to the Blackboard (Bb) Learn 9.1 SP10+ Content Editor (formerly Text Editor). When installed & activated within Bb a new icon will display among the content editor buttons.  When activated, users can record video and upload it directly to YouTube, by taking over control of the computers webcam. The feature initially has moderate privacy set with the initial 10http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~3/5i8CG-HEf4I/enhance-bb-video-everywhere-with.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa Stange)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~4/5i8CG-HEf4I" height="1" width="1"/>http://btstwm.blogspot.com/2013/04/enhance-bb-video-everywhere-with.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185477289349784173.post-8560972229011878107Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:40:00 +00002013-04-23T11:11:58.259-04:00 Photo: mike lowe/Flickr Is Bamboo a tree or plant? That is a question that has been long argued. According to the Hemp-Guide (2007) it is "woody perennial evergreen plant that is actually part of the true grass family" (para 4). The reason some thing that it is a tree, is probably because it can grow to towering heights. "Bamboo along with being one of the tallest grasses in the world, is alsohttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~3/sIV70s7Sdvk/bamboo-and-blackboard.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa Stange)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~4/sIV70s7Sdvk" height="1" width="1"/>http://btstwm.blogspot.com/2013/04/bamboo-and-blackboard.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185477289349784173.post-6063275889367544802Mon, 22 Apr 2013 11:52:00 +00002013-04-22T07:52:17.505-04:00Do you have Bitcoins? I do not have any, but many do. I realized though that many people had yet to hear about Bitcoins as I listed to my students at Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU) present on the topic. I received confirmation that many people had not heard of Bitcoins after I joked on Twitter with Blackboard (Bb) users about maybe next year being able to pay for Bb's annual BbWorld conference http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~3/vfbmlTh7qc8/do-you-bitcoins.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa Stange)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~4/vfbmlTh7qc8" height="1" width="1"/>http://btstwm.blogspot.com/2013/04/do-you-bitcoins.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185477289349784173.post-8152361333781746390Mon, 22 Apr 2013 11:50:00 +00002013-04-22T07:50:36.382-04:00 Cuando empecé a hacer mi lista de los cinco mejores cosas de ser un blogger BbWorld, rápidamente me di cuenta de que esto iba a ser una tarea difícil. Me he sentido muchas ventajas desde que ganó el concurso del año pasado. Pero me obligué a reducirlo, así que aquí están mis cinco mejores cosas de ser BbWorld Blogger: 1. Tienes la oportunidad de estar prioridad en todas las sesiones http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~3/F8rFjd10Hg4/las-5-mejores-cosas-sobre-ser-un.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa Stange)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~4/F8rFjd10Hg4" height="1" width="1"/>http://btstwm.blogspot.com/2013/04/las-5-mejores-cosas-sobre-ser-un.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185477289349784173.post-5399875414720832231Fri, 19 Apr 2013 16:53:00 +00002013-04-19T12:58:44.832-04:00For the past 9 years I have been teaching students about technology, yet I was not actually using things that I talked about such as Twitter, Blogging, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn etc... That all changed exactly 1 year ago today. On Apri1 19, 2012; I created my first blog post and made my first tweet to enter the Blackboard  Inc (Bb) BbWorld VIP Blogger contest. Click here to read my http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~3/fWB_ytmjfsc/thank-you-blackboard-for-changing-my.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa Stange)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~4/fWB_ytmjfsc" height="1" width="1"/>http://btstwm.blogspot.com/2013/04/thank-you-blackboard-for-changing-my.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185477289349784173.post-6647141400581929388Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:56:00 +00002013-04-15T12:58:42.531-04:00 I just signed up to be an official #BbWorld13 Blogger and if you are going you should sign up also. There are two options for blogging. You can sign up just to officially blog about the sessions you attended, which gets you a t-shirt, a following, and priority seating at keynotes OR you can participate in the VIP Blogger contest. For this contest Blackboard (Bb) will select 3 official http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~3/Q3ycH4AcbqM/blog-with-me-at-bbworld-bb-devcon-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa Stange)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~4/Q3ycH4AcbqM" height="1" width="1"/>http://btstwm.blogspot.com/2013/04/blog-with-me-at-bbworld-bb-devcon-in.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185477289349784173.post-312200281780908967Fri, 12 Apr 2013 14:44:00 +00002013-04-12T10:51:59.204-04:00 From: www.macgasm.net When I first heard about Apple's iTunesU Course Manager, I expected to see a better designed interface that loaded quickly, had Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) integration options, and possibly could be used instead of an Learning Management System (LMS).  Many Apple supports claimed that it would be the reason for institutions to stop using LMSs.  I think that thishttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~3/6hE24mSF-LA/lmss-still-out-shine-apples-course.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa Stange)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~4/6hE24mSF-LA" height="1" width="1"/>http://btstwm.blogspot.com/2013/04/lmss-still-out-shine-apples-course.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185477289349784173.post-6866463826050022246Thu, 11 Apr 2013 12:24:00 +00002013-04-11T12:01:50.964-04:00Mrs. Kathleen Morris posted on Friday, March 8th 2013 "The Benefits of Educational Blogging" which was actually and an update from older posts about the benefits of educational blogging, but simply explains the benefits that students get from blogging in the classroom. While Mrs. Morris is an elementary school teacher, but the benefits that she discusses are there for students of all ages. Thehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~3/eytxTytYqeQ/educational-blogging-benefits-simply.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Melissa Stange)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/vExOMb/~4/eytxTytYqeQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://btstwm.blogspot.com/2013/04/educational-blogging-benefits-simply.html