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Moving to NYU Classes
NYU is in the process of transitioning from the NYU Blackboard learning management system to NYU Classes. Phase 3 of the transition, in which most schools are beginning to use NYU Classes, is now underway. For more information, explore this and the NYU Classes project website.
General FAQs
What is 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.
Why is NYU moving from Blackboard to NYU Classes?
NYU's long-time learning management 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.
What other universities have done this?
The University of Michigan, Stanford, the University of California, Berkeley, Duke, and Columbia University have had successful and positive experiences with Sakai, as has NYU's own School of Medicine.
Are other learning management systems being retired?
No. At this time, NYU Blackboard is the only learning management system to be retired through this project. Therefore, other systems such as Epsilen and NYU Poly's Blackboard 9 will not be affected. NYU Blackboard will be retired on August 15, 2013.
Can I continue to access Blackboard?
Yes. Instructors, teaching assistants, and students can continue to access Blackboard through August 15, 2013. For most schools, new courses as of spring 2013 will be created in NYU Classes (see Rollout by School).
Where can I get training for NYU Classes?
See the training tab of this website to learn how to sign up for Webinars, hands-on workshops, remote training modules, and individual and group consultations.
FAQs for Faculty
How do I log into NYU Classes?
To access NYU Classes, log into the NYUHome Academics tab, then click the button at the top of the Course Sites channel.
I don't see the NYU Classes button. What should I do?
The NYU Classes button to activate your course site will appear if you previously taught a course and used your Blackboard course site from Summer 2011 to present, or if you are teaching in the current or next semester. If you don't see the NYU Classes button, and you believe you should, please contact AskITS@nyu.edu.
When do I get to start using NYU Classes?
Most will begin using NYU Classes starting with the spring 2013 semester courses, with a few schools starting in summer 2013. For a complete list of when schools are rolling out, please see Rollout by School.
I'm teaching a winter / January term course this year, what do I use?
If your school is coming over to NYU Classes in spring 2013 (see Rollout by School), your winter- or January-term courses are still using Blackboard. To activate your winter 2012 course, please use the Course Request Form.
When are spring 2013 courses available, and how do I activate my course sites?
Spring 2013 courses are now available in NYU Classes. One of the features in NYU Classes is the ability to create your own course site, without needing to type in the Course ID. In just three steps, your course site can be created and ready for use, including information from Albert, by following these instructions, or visit the NYU Classes Training and Support Wiki for more details.
My course is cross-listed, can I have all the students in one course site?
Yes! Rosters for cross-listed courses will be combined automatically for you when your activate your site through Setup Course Sites.
Can someone else activate my course for me?
Yes. Please contact AskITS@nyu.edu for details on how to designate course site creation to someone else.
I have content in Blackboard that I need – what will happen to it?
Recognizing the tremendous investments members of the NYU community have made in their Blackboard content, we have transitioned activated course sites from summer 2011 forward into NYU Classes. If there is a course site that you wish to have access to that is older than summer 2011, you can either request to have the site moved by contacting AskITS@nyu.edu and providing the Course ID. Please view Transitioning content from Blackboard into NYU Classes for details and other options.
I have content in the ATLAS Network Pilot – will that content be transitioned too?
We are working closely with ATLAS Network Pilot users to determine the best options for their content. Please contact AskITS@nyu.edu if you have concerns over any content in the ATLAS Network Pilot.
What content comes over from Blackboard?
Instructor-generated content from three main Blackboard content areas will be moved into the new system:
- Announcements come over in draft form.
- Content Areas, such as folders, files, assignments, and external links are all transitioned to your NYU Classes Resources folder.
- Test & Survey Manager questions, such as essay, fill in the blank, multiple choice, multiple answer, and matching all transition over into NYU Classes.
Please refer to What comes over in a Blackboard archive import for details.
How do I reuse transitioned Blackboard content in my new courses in NYU Classes?
If you wish to reuse the content transitioned over from Blackboard into NYU Classes, please view How to reuse transitioned Blackboard content, or visit the Training and Support Wiki for more details.
The past Blackboard course I need is not there, how can I get it?
All archives from summer 2011 to present have been moved into NYU Classes automatically. If you do not see the site you require, and wish to request a Blackboard course archive to be moved into NYU Classes from before summer 2011, please contact the IT Service Desk via AskITS@nyu.edu and include the complete course ID, including term, of the course you wish us to move into NYU Classes.
I have Blackboard archives on my personal computer, what can I do with them?
If you wish to obtain an article or item out of a course you taught in the past without importing it into NYU Classes see Using bFree to unlock Blackboard archives.
If you wish to import your archive into a new course or project site in NYU Classes see: Transitioning content from Blackboard into NYU Classes.
How do I save student work from my Blackboard courses?
If you wish to download student work from your Blackboard site, including submitted papers, test or quiz results, and other Grade Center details, please view Best practices for extracting content from Blackboard.
What tools and functionality are available in NYU Classes?
The functionality you have come to expect in an LMS is present in NYU Classes, as well as some new functionality too. Please view the NYU Classes Tool Comparison guide to learn more.
Can I move my organizational (non-course) sites in Blackboard into NYU Classes too?
Yes. Requests to move existing Blackboard Org Sites can be submitted to AskITS@nyu.edu to be moved into an NYU Classes project site.
My students said they can't see my course. What do I do?
Students can only see published sites; to publish your course site, please see the view Publishing your course, or visit the NYU Classes Training and Support Wiki for more details.
Where do I get more help on how to use NYU Classes?
The NYU Classes Training and Support Wiki has information on self-paced training modules, instructor-led workshops and consultations, as well as support and documentation.
FAQs for Students
How do I log into NYU Classes?
To log into NYU Classes, log into the NYUHome Academics tab, and find the Course Sites channel. You will see a button at the top of this channel to log into NYU Classes.
Where are my spring 2013 courses?
Most will begin using NYU Classes starting with the spring 2013 semester courses, with a few schools starting in summer 2013. For a complete list of when schools are rolling out, please see Rollout by School.
Why can't I see my current courses in NYUHome?
Click on the NYU Classes link within NYUHome to login to the service, and sites in NYU Classes are listed across the top of your screen in tabs, and within the My Active Sites tab. If you still do not see your course site, please check with your instructor to verify they have published the site. Students will not see unpublished sites.
Where are my past courses?
Past courses will remain in NYU Blackboard. Please check the "Past" tab in NYUHome's Course Site's channel to view your past courses.
About Sakai
What is Sakai?
Sakai is an open source software for learning management and is developed by the higher education community. NYU is a member of the Sakai Foundation. NYU Classes is powered by Sakai CLE 2.8. Sakai CLE (Collaboration and Learning Environment) is supported by a community of open source developers and academic institutions which constantly contribute to supporting educational platforms for teaching and learning purposes. To find out more about Sakai CLE, please visit About Sakai CLE.
What is "open source"?
Open source software is computer software that is available in source code form: the source code and certain other rights normally reserved for copyright holders are provided under a software license that permits users to study, change, improve and at times also to distribute the software. Open source software is therefore very often developed in a public, collaborative manner.
Page last reviewed: January 4, 2013