eLearning Blackboard Upgrade Strategy
- Offer use of the new version to all staff as early as possible before the actual upgrade (September- 4 months for testing and familiarisation)
- Summer Semester Courses: Upgrade and run the Summer semester courses on “staging” system early, to protect them from the main system upgrade outage (Dec/Jan)
- Main Semester Courses: Upgrade main system late Dec/Jan .. during Summer semester, to reduce affect on sem2-2009 and sem1-2010
- Implement strategies to minimise main upgrade outage time; e.g. multiple dry runs, consult other universities, extensive test plans, collecting feedback etc.
- Offer face to face training, and online technical FAQs for both staff and students
Important Dates
The eLearning operational team collaborated with many org units to identify an outage date of least disruption. It was recognised that blackboard was a highly important system and there was no perfect time to have an outage.
The group thanks everyone for constructive cooperation. Important dates include, but not limited to, those listed below:
- Sem2-2009 exams (finish Nov 22nd)
- Summer semester start (Nov 30)
- Marking for Semester 2-2009 (Finishes Dec 4th)
- Semester 2-2009 supplementary exams (Dec 16-18)
- School of Medicine semester start (Jan 14th)
- Original upgrade outage period (changed with feedback) December 7th 11th
- Actual upgrade outage period Jan 9th to 13th
- Semester 1-2010 start March 1st
