Spring Blackboard updates announced

Instructors using third-party tools in Blackboard may need to rebuild some course content over Winter Break as vendors continue to upgrade their technology. This is the next phase of the Blackboard integration updates (opens in a new window) that began in May 2022 and are expected to continue between semesters through December 2023. 

Spring updates will be made Dec. 14-16 to minimize interruptions during the semester. Instructors will need to rebuild content provided by Lumen Learning, Macmillan Learning, McGraw Hill, and Pearson. Instructors using Proctortrack will need to create new links, while instructors using Auralia and Musition should be prepared for a 24-hour outage. Cirrus by Paradigm, Evolve, and Ximera will be retired due to low usage.

Although the University is also in the process of selecting a new Learning Management System (opens in a new window) (LMS), Blackboard Learn will continue to be updated as needed until all courses move to the new platform, a process which is expected to take several years.

Instructors are invited to join the Teaching and Learning Technologies Advisory Community (opens in a new window) to learn more about Blackboard updates or the LMS evaluation, and instructional technologists (opens in a new window) are also available to assist with selecting new tools as needed.

An alphabetical list with details of expected updates and their impact are below. Any additional details or changes will be added to the Blackboard Integration Updates (opens in a new window) page. If you have questions or concerns about any of these updates, please contact the IT Service Desk (opens in a new window).

Cirrus by Paradigm

Cirrus by Paradigm will be retired based on low usage.

Evolve

Evolve will be retired based on low usage. 

Lumen Learning

Course content will need to be recreated for spring. Please reference Lumen’s instructor guide (opens in a new window) and contact your publisher representative for help if needed. 

Macmillan Learning

Course content will need to be recreated for spring. Please reference Macmillan’s instructor guide (opens in a new window) and contact your publisher representative for help if needed.

McGraw Hill (Connect and Create and Higher Education)

Course content will need to be recreated for spring. McGraw Hill has created instructor guides for both Blackboard Original (opens in a new window) and Blackboard Ultra (opens in a new window). Instructors may also schedule time with the McGraw Hill Customer Success Team (opens in a new window) for additional assistance if needed.

Pearson (MyLab and Revel)

Course content will need to be recreated for spring. Pearson has created instructor guides for both Blackboard Original (opens in a new window) and Blackboard Ultra (opens in a new window). Please contact your publisher representative for help if needed.

Proctortrack

Instructors will need to create a link to the new tool in each course, but existing test configurations should still work.

Rising Software (Auralia and Musition)

Existing links should continue to work, but the upgrade will require an outage of approximately 24 hours over Dec. 14 and 15.

Ximera

Ximera will be retired based on low usage.