Bb Backpack @ OUHSC              

Blackboard Backpack is a new desktop application* tool with several innovative and unique features:

• Take Blackboard offline. Blackboard Backpack provides offline access to course documents and other study content by allowing students to create a personal copy of Blackboard course materials that can be used without an Internet connection.

• Access web research offline. In addition to instructor-provided content, Blackboard Backpack makes it easy to store and access a personal collection of knowledge from Acrobat PDF files, Microsoft Office documents, or library resources and public information offered on web pages.

• Get Organized. As new or updated course material is added to the Blackboard Learning System™ these changes are synchronized to Blackboard Backpack upon the next mobilization. Through the “What’s New” feature students don’t have to hunt for new items added to Blackboard by the instructor —new items are flagged for the student to quickly allow them to access the updated information.

• Find answers instantly with Blackboard Backpack search. Blackboard Backpack includes a powerful search tool that can be used to find any word on any page stored in the Blackboard Backpack content collection. This includes the course materials created by instructors, personal research or annotations, or notes created by the student.

• Manage assignments, tasks, and due dates through completion. Blackboard Backpack comes with an integrated assignment and time management system that organizes assignments, tasks, and due dates for every class. Students can create reminders, and mark assignments and associated tasks as completed.

• Work efficiently and save money with digital paper and notes. Blackboard Backpack includes a special printer that creates and adds digital pages to the Blackboard Backpack. Rather than printing to paper, students can store Microsoft Office documents, Acrobat PDF files, web pages, and more in Blackboard Backpack’s database, saving printing costs. Add annotations to lecture notes. Students can take notes on their computer or add annotations to course documents. Blackboard Backpack also supports digital ink on Tablet PCs, making it easy to take fully searchable handwritten notes. Share notes or research with instructors or classmates via email. The “Send To” feature makes it easy to share notes via email. Notes can be shared as fully searchable, editable files with other Blackboard Backpack users, or as images with non-Backpack users.

* Blackboard Backpack requires the Windows XP operating system with Service Pack2. No Macintosh OS version is currently available.