NYU Classes

The NYU Classes online learning system enables NYU faculty to use the Web to enhance classroom instruction. Instructors can use NYU Classes to create full-featured, online course environments for the members of their class to provide content sharing, collaborative capabilities, assignment and other assessment tools, as well as Gradebook functionality. Students can use NYU Classes to connect with their peers and stay on track with assignments and due dates with a aggregated calendar for all of their courses.

NYU is transitioning from the University's current learning management system — NYU Blackboard — to NYU Classes over the next two years, with a targeted completion date of September 2013. Phase 1 of the transition is currently underway; for more information, see www.nyu.edu/nyuclasses-project/.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why is NYU moving from Blackboard to NYU Classes?
• Where can I find more information about this transition?
• Can I use Blackboard and NYU Classes to teach the same class?
• How do I access NYU Classes?
• Will I see what classes are using NYU Classes from the Blackboard Courses channel?
• Do I have to add my students to my course?
• How do I get help with NYU Classes?
• Are there training classes I can attend?
• Where can I get information on the status of the NYU Classes service?
• What features are not available in NYU Classes for Phase 1?
• How do I suggest new functionality for NYU Classes?

Why is NYU moving from Blackboard to NYU Classes?

On November 14, 2011, NYU announced the plan to replace Blackboard with NYU Classes, powered by the Sakai open source learning management system. Our current system — NYU Blackboard — requires a significant upgrade. When the Teaching Technology Committee, chaired by Senior Vice Provost Matthew Santirocco, took this opportunity to review NYU's learning management needs, they selected Sakai, which will power the new NYU Classes learning management system. This allows NYU to move away from a sole-sourced commercial product to an open source learning management environment that allows us significant say in the software's development. It also provides an open framework to integrate the other important tools to support teaching, learning, and scholarship, such as Google Apps.

Where can I find more information about this transition?

The transition from Blackboard to NYU Classes will take place over the next two years, with a targeted completion date of September 2013. The planning process will be overseen by the Teaching Technology Committee and will include broad consultation with the University community. For more detailed information, please visit www.nyu.edu/nyuclasses-project/.

Can I use Blackboard and NYU Classes to teach the same class?

You may not use Blackboard for the course(s) you are currently teaching through NYU Classes. During the transition from Blackboard to NYU Classes, NYU will have two systems running in parallel, and to avoid any confusion, we ask that you make a clean break. Choosing to use only NYU Classes for a course you are teaching will help your students access the correct system during the transition, and will help faculty to not need to maintain two sites for the one course.

How do I access NYU Classes?

Eligible community members can access NYU Classes via the Blackboard Courses channel within the NYUHome Academics tab. A valid NYU NetID and password are required to log into both NYUHome and NYU Classes.

Abu Dhabi community members can access NYU Classes via Academic Services. Students can also access NYU Classes via the Quicklinks menu in the Student Portal.

Will I see what classes are using NYU Classes from the Blackboard Courses channel?

No. If you have access to NYU Classes, you will see the NYU Classes button at the top of the Blackboard Courses channel, but you will need to log into NYU Classes in order to see the list of course sites you have access to. The courses that you see under the "Current" and "Past" tabs are only Blackboard course sites.

If you do not see the NYU Classes button at the top of the Blackboard Courses channel, you do not have any courses using NYU Classes at this time. If you believe there is a mistake, please contact the IT Service Desk.

Do I have to add my students to my course?

No. For official courses taught through NYU Classes, user management is linked to the official enrollment data from NYU's Student Information System (SIS). Data feeds from SIS to NYU Classes are updated every hour, from 6:00am to 10:00pm ET.

Students who are taking a class that is using NYU Classes will automatically get access to the system, and should be able to log in via the NYU Classes button at the top of the Blackboard Courses channel in NYUHome.

How do I get help with NYU Classes?

For immediate assistance, consult the Ask ITS knowledgebase at www.nyu.edu/its/askits; Ask ITS provides examples of common usage scenarios for course instructor and students, as well as answers to frequently asked questions.

For problem resolution, support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via the IT Service Desk. Issues will be addressed by the next business day. Problem resolution time is dependent on the complexity of the issue and available resources.

Are there training classes I can attend?

One-on-one training for NYU Classes is available upon request by submitting a request to the IT Service Desk; a member of the NYU Classes support team will be in touch to schedule an appointment. A full training schedule will be available this summer through NYU iLearn in preparation for Phase 2. On-demand training videos will be coming soon as well via NYU Stream.

Where can I get information on the status of the NYU Classes service?

For maintenance and outages, information will be posted on the IT Service Status page at www.nyu.edu/its/status. Clients may also subscribe to an IT Service Status notification list to be informed of maintenance and outages via email. For more information and to subscribe, see www.nyu.edu/its/status/notices/.

For general service updates and information, clients may join the LMS Portfolio Updates Group.

What features are not available in NYU Classes for Phase 1?

During the first phase of the transition to NYU Classes, we will not be able to replicate the integrated functionality within Blackboard. The integrated features not included in NYU Classes are:

• TurnItIn Originality Software
• Turning Technologies (Clickers)
• Echo 360 Lecture Capture
• Accordent Lecture Capture
• WebAssign

How do I suggest new functionality for NYU Classes?

ITS will accept requests for new functionality in NYU Classes via the IT Service Desk. Research and evaluation of the functionality will be undertaken through the Summer semester in preparation for deploying new functionality before the start of the Fall semester.

Page last reviewed: April 16, 2012