What do you really know about Starfish

Do you really know about STARFISH?

 Starfish are also called Sea Stars. While they are most commonly shown
with 5 legs, not all species
have 5 legs. Some species have up to fifty legs.Their name also confuses people, because they are not actually fish. On thing that I found interesting is that they "do not have centrally located eyes as such but instead have
eyes at the tip of their arms,

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BbWorld, a big melting pot?

As we get closer to the national  BbWorld conference, I am looking forward to talking with peers from other countries.

I know Canada isn't that far away for some of us, but I love this country. I mean the country celebrates my birthday every year in a really big way, no really it is their Canada Day holiday. At BbWorld, I get to network with people from the United Kingdom...I could listen for

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Jeopardy Blackboard Style!

That's right, Blackboard will host a jeopardy game on Tuesday, July 10th from 6:30 – 6:40PM, no Alex Trebek will not be there, but I am sure our host will be interesting. I wonder if there will be daily doubles?

This is one of my families favorite game shows. Thankfully the real host, Alex Trebek, will be back to work soon after suffering a mild heart attack. Don't know who Alex is check out

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These BbWorld Vendors Are Ready For Your Questions

These BbWorld vendors deserve your time and you will get an opportunity to take the gift of "knowledge" back to your organization on how to expand your Blackboard (Bb) system. 



Echo360 (www.echo360.com) is a vendor who provides a cost-effective and collaborative platform for blended learning and
lecture capture. Over 500 institutions already use them in 30
countries. Make sure to go the

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Four Vendors To Visit At BbWorld 2012

The exhibit hall at BbWorld is always one of the things that many people wait with excitement for the doors to be open. Why, because this is a chance to talk to so many Blackboard partners in person and to experience the product first hand. Not to mention the vendor giveaways, prize drawings, button collection challenge, and great snack food. 



I know everyone is busy and you probably don't

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Orbitz, Macs, Windows & BbWorld

Do Mac users really make more money then Windows users? According to the NBC news cast on Tuesday, June 26 they do. The report said that Orbitz has studies that shows on average a Mac user a higher earning income then a Windows user. I would love to read a copy of their study, because Shenandoah University issues me a Mac as part of their IMLearning program and I use it when traveling away from

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Bb'ers, where will you eat dinner in NOLA?

Some of you have tweeted asking for places to eat, so I thought I would share a few with you. 

Bubba Gumps Shrimp Co. on Decatur Street, is a small chain of seafood restaurants that provide a casual
environment, a good meal and wholesome fun. Their menu of course has shrimp on it, but also dixie style baby back ribs, a dixie fishwich, a mushroom veggie burger, and Etouffee . Click here to see

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Are your online students who you really think they are?

One thorny issue for academics (both online K-12 and higher ed) is how to verify the identity of students. On the higher ed side this is important to prevent financial aid fraud, and both K-12 and higher ed want to ensure academic integrity.  While the best solution is for instructors to create a sense of community and give many low-stakes assignments rather than fewer high-stakes exams, there is

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What does Moisant Stock Yards and Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport have in common??

To start with Moisant Stock Yards (MSY) and the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport are the one and the same. The best thing that they have in common, is this is where all of us will meet if flying in for BbWorld.

While the airport has a lot of history through out for you to stop and read, I thought I would provide a little summary. NOLA city officials realized that the city's

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Will Blackboard Serve Muffalettas?

Graphic from Kevin D Weeks


Don't be surprised if Blackboard (Bb) provides Muffalettas at lunch or evening reception at BbDevCon, BbWorld, or the Collaborate Summit. According to Muffalettas and More in Covington, Louisiana "The muffaletta has several pronunciations, the two most popular being: “muff-uh
LOT-uh” and “moo-foo-LET-ta”. The muffaletta was invented by Signor Lupo Salvadore. He

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P2PU & A Badge or P2P & A Degree?

Peer 2 Peer University (a.k.a P2PU) is a learning location where people work together online to learn a particular topic by completing tasks,
assessing individual and group work, and providing constructive
feedback to each other. It is FREE and open to everyone who has an Internet connection. P2PU's website states that "P2PU creates a model for lifelong learning alongside traditional formal

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BbWorld Bloggers Learn Proper Wine Tasting

George Savors Rhapsody in Red NV

George Hoffman, fellow BbWorld Blogger, and I are participating in a summer staff health program at Shenandoah University called "Our Turn" and on Friday, June 22, we participated in a wine tasting with Shenandoah Vine Yards. We have to meet someone new, attend SU planned events, sleep for at least 7 hours each night, exercise for at least 30 minutes, and to

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Waypoint Outcomes & Blackbaord?

I received a flyer in the mail from WayPoint Outcomes. At first glance, I said why Blackboard Learn 9.1 (Bb) already has rubrics. I opened up the mailer because they portrayed Bb as an acorn and them as the big tree on the front, I had to learn more since they are an exhibitor at BbWorld (Booth 228). The company discription listed in their virtual booth says "Waypoint Outcomes is the software

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Bb Developers Will Be Styling At the House of Blues Soon

Are you attending  ‪#DevCon12‬ July 9-10 in NOLA? If you aren't you should register today! You will learn a lot, but you can also attend the First annual TrueBb Costume Party on July 9 at House of Blues in NOLA! Don't want to bring a costume on the airplane? I am sure they will understand, but if you attend the party you could still get your palm read and listen to some jazz music.Remember,

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Do you see Bb as David or Golith?

I have to admit today at church, while listening to the Pastor's sermon my mind wondered to BbWorld. Why, because I have only 10 business days left before I am at BbDevCon and I am so excited and very nervous with the obligation of VIP BbWorld Blogger. Blackboard has shown their trust in me and I don't want to let them or my fellow Bb users who will read my blog instead of attending down.

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Faculty can have a true student view in Bb Learn

Blackboard provides faculty a "edit" mode within Bb Learn that is toggled on and off to allow instructors to see how the course looks to students. However, this feature falls short in the aspect that it does not actually enroll the instructor as a student. Which means if you want to test an exam, you can go through the exam but when you submit it...nothing goes into the grade center. This means

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At Five O'Clock During BbWorld, where will you be?

If you are attending BbWorld in NOLA, July 10-12, then you will have to make a big decision at 5:00 p.m. each day. Will you try to squeeze one more wonderful session in or will you pick Margaritaville? If BbWorld was held on February 22, I would have to say Margaritaville would win because that is national margarita day.

Wondering why I picked 5:00p.m.? Maybe this video will help explain it.

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Bb Community System Add-on's

The Community System currently cannot be purchased without having Bb Learn, makes LEARN about more than just teaching and
learning. It allows delivery of a more customized experience in several ways. This does mean your school has to pay more to Bb each year, but the cost is worth it. According to Bb community it can help:


Promote easier online collaboration and communication for campus

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BAM, Experience Emeril dinning while in NOLA

Regardless of what you have heard Emeril Lagasse did not grow up in Louisiana. He actually grew up in Fall River,
Massachusetts While in high school, he mastered the
art of bread and pastry baking by working in a Portuguese bakery . He could have taken a scholarship to the New England Conservatory
of Music, but decided to do what he loved and got a culinary degree from Johnson and Wales

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Additional Mashups to Extend Bb Learn

A Mashup is defined as "a creative combination or mixing of content from different sources" by Dictionary.com. In respect to Bb that means bringing outside content (websites) into Bb Learn. 

The default mashups within Bb Learn. 

Flickr: a site for viewing and sharing photographic images. 
Slideshare: a site for viewing and sharing PowerPoint presentations, Word documents, or Adobe PDF

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Flash Cards, Bb Learn, and Building Blocks

Flash cards are a great study tool for students, I have used them myself. I use the electronic ones provided by Cengage in my Introduction to Computer Applications & Concepts classes at Lord Fairfax Community College.  I don't however think they should be required or the sole source of learning because some people cannot learn from flash cards.

Are flash cards just memorization tools or are

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How will you read the local news during BbWorld 2012?

Planning on having coffee and beignets while reading a hard copy of the local newspaper during BbWorld? You many need to adjust your plans a little. New Orleans Times-Picayune has announced reduction in daily print production of the newspaper in favor of an increase in digital publication. According to AFP, "The newspaper, which traces its history to 1837, will be home-delivered and sold in

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Best Colleges Online Blog

I recently received an email from Tim Handorf of bestcollegesonline.com whoes site is geared toward help guide people "toward challenging, satisfying academic programs that will propel" their careers. There site has career guides, college guides, advisors, and they uses social media to communicate their information. Just like many of us Blackboard users.

They have some very interesting stuff on

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Learn more about Blackboard Partners

According to Kiltie Tompkins Bb has more than 150 partners. These partnerships allow each institution using Bb Learn to expand Bb's functionality and truly make the installation fully meet their needs. As system admin at SU, one of my first questions to a vendor is "do you have a building block" for Bb? If not, are you going to create one? Some people wonder why I ask this, but the answer is

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The VCCS helps me and other learn to write clearer

For the last 2 weeks I have been participating in the Virginia Community College System's Total (Topics in online teaching & learning) writing directions workshop lead by Donna Levy from J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. Donna also attends BbWorld, if you find her and you show her one of your instructions, she might be willing to point out on something you need to improve on. You will enjoy

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As promised in my post on May 30th, I have more Blackboard or elearning higher education jobs for you to consider:

New York University
Position Summary:* Educational Technologist - Center for Innovation in
Teaching and Learning,* Stern School of Business
To apply go to:
https://www.nyucareers.com/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1337870988173 Posting Number 20093604

St.

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Oracle will be at BbWorld, will you?

Software Architect, Linda Feng will present Integrating Blackboard Learn with Oracle PeopleSoft Student Administration Integration Pack. The session will be on how "you can now use the SAIP to integrate
with Blackboard Learn, Release 9.1 almost out of the box." with Bb's SIS Data Integration Framework. This session will help you understand the 
the configuration and

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Firefox Add-on for word counter for Discussion Boards, Blogs, Journals, and Wikis inside Blackboard

Liberty University has created a Firefox add-on that gives you a word counter for
Discussion Boards, Blogs, Journals, and Wikis inside Blackboard! The
Center for the Advancement of Faculty Excellence (CAFE) at Liberty
University saw their faculty struggling to grade the number of words
in a posted thread. Going to Word and checking the word count then going
back to the Bb Discussion

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Who is BbWorld VIP Blogger Lacie Crone, really?

To find the answer to the question "Who is BbWorld VIP Blogger Lacie Crone, really?" you need to attend BbWorld and talk with Lacie. Or you could read Stephanie Carrill's post about Lacie on Blackboard's Blog, by clicking here.

I was surprised to learn that Lacie was an introvert, since she was a blogger and active on Twitter. This made me think maybe I did not know what introvert was so I

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Bb Stats an awesome FREE Blackboard building block

Graphic from BbStats


Hey Bb system admins, technology directors, and Provost; ever wonder what your schools Blackboard (Bb) system is doing? Once this awesome building block is installed on your Bb system, you will not have to wonder again.

First a little about its creator, Szymon Machajewski. I got to meet Szymon last year at DevCon in Las Vegas, as we plunged off the top of the

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Blackbaord Welcomes Edline To The Family

Blackboard (Bb) announced on Monday, June 11 that Edline become a true Bb family member by giving it a new name. The new name will be Blackboard Engage. According to the post by Megan Peddycor on the Bb blog , "now with more clients in K-12 than in higher education!" So I hope that means there will be more K-12 attendees at BbWorld in NOLA this July and more K-12 presenters at next years

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What is Oscelot?

The Oscelot organization website states that "Oscelot is a community that creates innovative open source solutions for the
challenges facing the eLearning community.  We believe in openness in
education, the application of OPEN standards, the power
of OPEN source, OPEN community, OPEN content, and OPEN education." This organization host Open Source Days (OSDs) and other events during the year.

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Pigs, A Discussion Topic When You Meet Me At BbWorld

I thought I would do something different and one of the thing my son suggested was a post about pigs. I wasn't sure how to connect pics to BbWorld at first.

So, that I thought mowing several acres and having to take
care of a garden was "farming" until my son turned 4 and decided he
wanted to enter the local fair greased pig scramble. I thought it would be cute
and was sure he would not

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Come to NOLA For BbWorld & Get a Dance Lesson

Now you can tell you boss that they should let you go to BbWorld in NOLA because you can talk in person with Bb employees, learn new Bb things, and get dance lessons. Now that is a great Employee Wellness Plan! Just think if you have to come back and present on what you learned at BbWorld, just think how surprised your audience would be if at the end you made them getup and dance a few moves.

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Don't Miss BbWorld..Register today for $777

Blackboard has been using social media this year to get news out about their upcoming conference (New Orleans in July) more than ever. Or maybe they always did and I just finally got up to speed. Either way, don't miss your lucky "second change" to attend BbWorld 2012 at a discounted rate.

As Blackboard CEO Michael Chasen says, “Technology isn’t changing education, the consumers are".  Join me

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Engagement..Have we forgotten part of the meaning?

Today's blog was hard for me, as I could not stay focused on a technology topic and the BbWorld conference, due to our communities loss of a little girl who was in 7th grade and felt the need to take her life due to bullying/teasing issues by peers at her middle school. Even worse there is evidence that the girl and her friends tried to get help from adults and could not.

Dictionary.com list

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Melissa Stange, VIP Blogger Introduction

Hopefully, you have been learning a little about me through my post, but this week Blackboard (Bb) interviewed me. That was a little scary, because generally I am a guarded person when it comes to revealing information about myself. Andrea was easy to talk with and made me feel relaxed, plus I am honor and very excited about being a VIP blogger.

To read more, go to the http://

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Bb SP8 Tab Re-ordering Warning!

SU went to service pack 8 (SP8) for Bb Learn 9.1 on Friday, May 18. It was one of the easiest upgrades we have ever had and our faculty love the re-grading tool. However, there is one issue that everyone should be aware of BEFORE you upgrade...system admins cannot re-order tabs at this time.  I submitted the issue back in February  and it was confirmed as a bug. Good news, is that as I was

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Where did pralines first appear in the U.S. & how do you pronounce it?

I thought I would talk about another yummy treat that has a strong NOLA history or at least I thought it did. During my five year residency in Louisiana, I learned that pralines were created in New Orleans, but after starting my information gathering for this post, I learned that some believe that pralines started in Texas and other Savannah.

All I really know is that sugar cane and pecan trees

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Bb'ers Beignets & Coffee in NOLA

If your going to Blackboard World in NOLA this July, I am sure you will be having beignets at least once. The word Beignet (pronounced Ben YAY with the accent on the second syllable) is French for "fried dough". They are post commonly served with confectioner's sugar on top, but can also be served with fillings such as maple or fruit preserves. Beignets were introduced in NOLA by the Acadians

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