Scheduled Blackboard downtimes in July and August

The Blackboard service will be unavailable for 5 days during July and August 2009, specifically;

• Tuesday July 14th 5.00 pm - Thursday July 16th 5.00 pm
• Monday August 3rd 9.00 am - Thursday August 6th 9.00 am

These downtimes will be used to complete two major work packages; specifically an essential software upgrade and the implementation of phase 1 of the Blackboard  Resilience project. Together these two projects will both enhance the functionality and improve the stability of our online learning environment. We have attempted to schedule the downtimes so they have a minimal impact on your teaching and learning. We apologise for any inconvenience these scheduled downtimes will cause you.

More details on the downtimes are listed below:

• July 14th 5.00 pm - July 16th 5.00 pm - Upgrade of the Blackboard software to version 8. This work is needed as our current version of Blackboard is no longer fully supported by the software suppliers. The new version of the software offers significant improvements in functionality specifically; an improved gradebook *the gradecentre* and a self and peer assessment tool.
• August 3rd 9.00 am - August 6th 9.00 am - Implementation phase 1 of the Blackboard Resilience project. This work will implement our new, more powerful and load-balanced Blackboard hardware.

These downtimes were in part scheduled using data you have sent us about your *critical dates* - when it essential for you that Blackboard is available. If you would like to update us about your critical dates, or would like any additional information about the work being undertaken this summer please email bb-help@bristol.ac.uk.