Upgrading to the Q2 2018 release? Use these resources to spread the word.

While communicating to your educators and students the details of a new release is necessary, we understand that creating these communications can be time consuming and tedious – we’re working to make it simpler.

Below you'll find a variety of customizable resources you can use to help generate awareness, excitement, and ultimately adoption of the new functionality and enhancements introduced in the most recent releases of Blackboard Learn (Q2 2018, Q4 2017, and Q2 2017).

Feel free to repurpose, modify, and distribute these resources to best meet your needs.

Resources that cover what’s new: No need to start from scratch

The following flyers and feature guide can be used on your institution’s web properties or distributed by email to generate excitement about the latest Blackboard Learn updates.

Flyers for Academic Technologists: Overview of the latest releases for you and your IT staff.

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Check the release notes for availability of the following two features: 1) Create recording for feedback, and 2) Cloud storage integration. These features will be made available after the general availability of the Q2 2018 release. Announcements regarding availability will be made through Behind the Blackboard and on Blackboard Help in the release notes.

Flyer for Educators: Overview of the latest releases for you to share with your instructors. These cover the Q2 2018, Q4 2017 and Q2 2017 releases of Blackboard Learn.

This flyer for Educators highlights new features released in the Q2 2018, Q4 2017, and Q2 2017 releases. Please see the Flyers for Academic Technologists above in order to customize this document based upon the release you are upgrading from.

Feature Guide for Educators & Students: Details the new end-user functionality within recent releases for you to customize and distribute to your educators and students.

Email templates for Educators & Students: Customize these email templates to spread the word about your Blackboard Learn upgrade and what’s new.

Web resources and webinars

The following list includes additional web resources and webinars that you may want to share with your educators, students, and academic technologists.

Communication checklist

Building a communication plan from the ground up takes time. That's why we've developed the checklist below to help guide your strategy.

Plus, check out the following blog post on the Blackboard Community Site: “Marketing” technology change: 5 tips to promote technology adoption.

Channel Suggestion
Web tiles and pages Add social tiles on key institutional webpages.

Build out a dedicated page or section to discuss what's new in Blackboard Learn.
Wikis and blogs Build knowledge repositories to share information.

Link back to one or two content pieces shared above.

Don't like writing? Then just re-post one of our blogs.
Email Announce upcoming changes via email.

Broaden your reach. Include administration, faculty, staff and students in your communications.

Attach the appropriate flyer(s) provided above to your emails.
Flyers Hang the 1-page flyer provided above around campus on faculty bulletin boards.
Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn Leverage social media to generate awareness and excitement.

Follow @Blackboard for relevant software announcements.
Faculty and student newspapers Faculty and student newspapers are a great way to get the word out.

Consider giving a student reporter a sneak peek at the new software so they can share reactions.
Key stakeholder meetings Many of the tools in the newest release are very compelling for Deans, Academic leaders, faculty and students so it's worth the time ensuring they all have visibility into this initiative.

Academic leadership meetings, Dean meetings, Faculty Senate meetings, and Student Senate meetings all provide a great opportunity to build awareness, interest, and support.
Faculty training Schedule training - online, in-person, or even one-on-one - whatever works best at your institution.

More Communication and Adoption Toolkits for other Learn releases and other products

If you have any comments on the tools you see on this page or if there is a tool that you want us to add, please send us your feedback.