Correct Java version for eClass Blackboard Vista on Windows

For best performance of eClass Blackboard Vista on Windows XP, Vista, or 7, users should avoid using versions 1.6.0_27 or 1.6.0_29. The best choice is to upgrade to the latest version, version 6 update 30 (1.6.0_30), as this has resolved the issues with the chat forum and quizzes that had been identified with version 29 (see the following support post for more information).

To get the latest version of Java, visit www.java.com and click on the ‘Free Java Download’ button.

If you have other system requirements that prevent you from moving to the latest version, the previous stable recommended version is 1.6.0_26.

If you have any questions, please contact us at ctl_at_ualberta.ca.

CTL Technology Services

Decommissioning Timelines for eClass Powered by Blackboard Vista

As we are in the final stages of our LMS transition, Spring 2012 is the last term that credit courses will be offered on eClass powered by Blackboard Vista. We encourage all instructors to run their courses on eClass powered by Moodle if at all possible. Instructors who require the ability to run Summer 2012 courses on eClass Vista can submit their requests to vpit@ualberta.ca.

The last date for instructors to access the eClass Vista system will be August 31, 2012. All static content (content pages, files) from eClass Vista will be backed up and available for migration to eClass Moodle via the course creation system. However, user-generated content (discussion posts, assignment submissions etc.) in eClass Vista will NOT be archived.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact ctl_at_ualberta.ca.

Emergency ePortfolio (Mahara) Outage Today (January 24, 2012) at 5PM

The eClass ePortfolio system (Mahara) will be unavailable at 5:00pm today, January 24th, 2012, for an emergency system update. The update should take approximately an hour to complete and will not affect regular eClass users.

Please postpone any teaching activities already scheduled for this time slot. All users should also ensure that they complete and save any work they might be doing on the system before 5PM today - any unsaved work may be lost.

We apologize for any inconvenience this required outage may cause - if you have any questions, please contact us at ctl_at_ualberta.ca or by phone at 780-492-9372.

RESOLVED: eClass Vista Problems with Java 6 Update 29

Java version 6 Update 30 has resolved the problems with the Blackboard Vista chatroom. For more information, see this support article. This support article is retained for reference only.

Unless necessary, all users of Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 should refrain from updating to the latest version of Java at this time.

Blackboard is aware of this issue and is working on a fix which we will deploy as soon as it is available. This issue will not affect users who only have classes on eClass Powered by Moodle.

If you have already updated your java and are experiencing issues using eClass Powered by Vista, you may need to roll back your java to the previous stable version, 1.6.0_26. Instructions for how to do this are available in this knowledgebase article: https://support.elearning.ualberta.ca/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=31&nav=0,10.

If you are still experiencing any issues, please contact us at 780-492-9372 or by email at ctl@ualberta.ca.

CTL Technology Services

eClass Upgrade on January 5, 2012

IMPORTANT: Proper Procedure for Logging Out of eClass

To log off all web applications including uAlberta applications such as BearTracks, Google Apps, and Moodle be sure to 1) click on the “Sign out” link at the top right hand corner of the web page and then 2) quit/exit the web browser application (not simply close the web window).

If you encounter someone else’s uAlberta session that is still active, please immediately log off and quit/exit the browse application.  Accessing someone else’s session is in violation of the IT Use and Management Policy.

eClass (Vista) Maintenance Outage on Nov. 27 from 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Dear eClass (powered by Blackboard Vista) users,

We want to remind you that the eClass (Blackboard/WebCT Vista) system will be offline for maintenance on Sunday November 27, 2011 from 7:00 – 10:00 AM. During that time we will be applying performance and reliability updates to the system.

Please do not schedule any teaching or learning tasks during this period. If you have any questions, please contact ctl@ualberta.ca

Thank you for your patience.

CTL Technology Services

Brief eClass (Moodle) Outage Monday November 21st, 2011

Dear eClass (powered by Moodle) users,

There will be a brief outage to eClass Powered by Moodle on Monday, November 21st at 7:00 AM. This outage should last no longer than 15 minutes, and it will allow us to perform some important plug-in updates.

If you have any questions or concerns about this outage, please contact us at ctl@ualberta.ca.

Thank you for your patience.

CTL Technology Services

Resolved - Moodle Submission Issue

New eClass Login

As you may be aware, the decision was made in Summer 2010 to switch the central eClass Learning Management System (LMS) from Blackboard Vista to Moodle (for more general information on this transition check the Moodle transition website).

There have already been over one hundred courses piloted on Moodle in Winter, Spring, and Summer terms this year. This Fall term is the first major phase of our campus-wide LMS transition and it will mean some changes for all University of Alberta eClass users.

During the transition period, there will be courses running on both systems: eClass Powered by Blackboard Vista (formerly WebCT) and eClass Powered by Moodle.

On August 24th 2011, students and instructors will be able to access all their courses on either system from a single portal page: https://eclass.srv.ualberta.ca/portal/. This URL is linked for easy access from the top right of the U of A home page.

The Portal login page looks very similar to the previous eClass Vista Login page: most users should select U of A courses and click Continue. They will then be sent to the campus’ Central Authentication page - the same login page as for Beartracks, Mail, and the Google apps - where they should enter their CCID and password.

Users who have no courses on Moodle will be logged directly onto Vista from this page.

Users who have courses on Moodle will be logged in to the eClass Course Overview page:

eClass Course Overview on portal

From this page you can access courses on either LMS by clicking the course name.

If you have any questions or issues, please contact us at ctl@ualberta.ca or by phone at 780-492-9372.

Regards,
CTL Tech Services