FAQs - Moving from OWL to BbLearn

In an effort to serve you better, Dalhousie’s current learning management system (OWL) is being upgraded to the new Blackboard Learn 9.1 (BbLearn) in January, 2012. To help make the move as seamless as possible, Integrated Learning Online (ILO) provides a variety of options to assist with training and transition. Please email us at ilo@dal.ca or phone us at 494-3456 for more information.

1. What is BbLearn?
   
   BbLearn is Dalhousie University's instance of Blackboard Learn 9.1, a learning management system (LMS) that provides an online learning environment for Dalhousie courses and communities. BbLearn is the next-generation LMS software application from OWL (Blackboard CE8). One way to access BbLearn is directly at this URL: https://dalhousie.blackboard.com.
   
   
2. When is BbLearn going "live"?
   
   BbLearn is going live on January 1st, 2012. OWL will continue to operate in parallel with BbLearn until the end of the Winter 2012 term, at which time BbLearn will be the only LMS option.
   
   
3. How do I start using BbLearn?
   
   Dalhousie faculty and staff can request a BbLearn course shell (for an academic course, training sandbox, or community site) by emailing ilo@dal.ca.
   
   
4. Will my OWL course transfer over to BbLearn?
   
   Yes, content from OWL courses will migrate over to BbLearn. Please email ilo@dal.ca for help migrating a course between the two.
   
   
5. How do I get training and support?
   
   ILO provides a training resource website at iloworkshops.dal.ca. For BbLearn related resources, look for the green icons: Getting Started with BbLearn, BbLearn Communicating and Collaborating, BbLearn Grade Centre, BbLearn Assessments. You can also sign up for face-to-face workshops held in the Killam Library. And you can contact ILO for support at ilo@dal.ca or 494-3456.
   
   
6. What will happen to existing course material in OWL?
   
   Old and existing course material in OWL will be backed up and archived by ILO.
   
   
7. What's new in BbLearn?
   
   Here is a file from Blackboard that outlines the new features of "BbLearn: Blackboard Learn™, Release 9.1, New Features". Here is a web page that compare features in OWL to BbLearn: "Vista 8 to Blackboard 9.1 Comparison Chart".
   
   
8. What student resources exist for BbLearn?
   
   Blackboard provides an On-Demand Learning Center for Students using Blackboard 9.1 (BbLearn).