Stay informed with the latest CTL news about GSU Blackboard, Collaborate Ultra, VoiceThread, Respondus, Via and other online teaching and learning software.
End of Life - VoiceThread
We regret to inform you that the Center for Teaching and Learning will no longer support VoiceThread after the Spring 2025 semester. We encourage users to transition their VoiceThread work by/before June 2025, as VoiceThread will no longer be available starting Summer 2025.
Panopto is a secure media streaming server, similar to YouTube, that is integrated with Blackboard. Panopto is an all-in-one platform for lecture capture, video recording, editing, and management. It also contains analytic tools to assist with managing student engagement. Panopto is more secure than YouTube, and allows for a more controlled and ad-free viewing experience for our campus community. Videos within Panopto can be set not only to publicly-viewable, but can also be viewable only by specific GSU faculty/staff users or by students only within Blackboard shells. Other features within Panopto allow for quiz creation that can integrate within the Blackboard gradebook, interactive components such as links and embedded YouTube videos within the Panopto player, and students can now submit video and audio to discussions and other assignment prompts within Blackboard.
Please see email communications and the Blackboard Institution page for further details
Spring 2025 Term - Ends
May 12, 2025 marks the last day of the Spring 2025 semester.
Final Grades are due by May 19, 2025.
Multi-Factor Authentication Process for Students
To improve security at Governors State University, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) will be enabled for anyone who uses/accesses GovState systems when off-campus starting April 7, 2025.
When MFA is enabled, you will be prompted for a second form of authentication when signing in. You must set up MFA for your GovState account as part of this process. Please complete this task before April 7, 2025. Microsoft Authenticator Instructions are provided here and in the GovState portal ITS Tutorial Library listed under the Microsoft accordion.
Action required:- Set up MFA for your GovState account by April 7, 2025. Microsoft Authenticator Instructions
- Starting April 7, you will receive a Multi-Factor Authentication push notification using the Microsoft Authenticator app when accessing GovState systems off-campus. You will be given a 2-digit number on your device (computer/laptop). To complete the approval, type that number into the app (on your cellphone).
Any questions, please contact ITS Help Desk at 708-534-4357, on campus x4357, or email to: Help@govst.edu.
Course Creation and Instructor Enrollment
Summer 2025 courses are created and ready for Instructors to build their online, hybrid, or web-enhanced courses.
Students will not be enrolled into Blackboard until 05/05/2025, but will not have access to Spring 2025 courses until 05/19/2025.
Webex Departure and Use of Microsoft Teams Video Conferencing
Starting April 1, 2025, Webex will no longer be available as a video conferencing option at GovState. Moving forward, Information Technology Services (ITS) will exclusively support the Microsoft Teams video conferencing platform. This transition will enhance communication capabilities, as Teams integrates seamlessly with Outlook desktop, Outlook.com, and Blackboard.
Please note that the Webex link will be removed from Blackboard courses by March 14, 2025. Instructors will have the option to add Microsoft Teams to their course menu in the Original view and enable it in the Details & Actions menu in the Ultra view. We encourage Instructors to review the tutorial available to assist with this process.
For those interested in learning more about Microsoft Teams and its features, we encourage you to visit the myGSU Microsoft Teams portal page.
Thank you for your attention to this transition. Should you have any questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the ITS Help Desk at help@govst.edu or 708-534-HELP (4357).
Blackboard Cross-listing Deadline
If cross-listing is not completed by the deadline, the system will create multiple Blackboard shells, which may be confusing to both students and instructors.
If you cross-list before the deadline, however, there will be only one shell created in Blackboard. This is a better situation for both instructors and students, so that no confusion arises about what shell either instructors or students should be working in during the Summer semester.
Please note: Once the cross-listing courses are entered into Colleague, please refrain from making any changes to the "primary course status" of the courses. Making changes to the cross-listed sections after the courses have been created, will also generate multiple courses in Blackboard. Doing so has major implications for Colleague, the Registrar and Blackboard.
If changes occur after end of March, please contact blackboard@govst.edu so that we can make any appropriate adjustments.
Your cooperation is highly appreciated by The Center for Teaching and Learning! We look forward to working with you for a successful Summer 2025 semester.
Spring 2025 Term - Begins
Today marks the first day of the fall semester. Students will not be able to access spring 2025 courses in their Blackboard Course List until January 21, 2025. Please note, late start courses will be available in Blackboard on the date the late start course begins.
2025 Blackboard Student Orientation Course
In previous terms, the Blackboard Student Orientation course displayed the “Original” view within Blackboard Learn. However, with the transition to the “Ultra” view, the Blackboard interface will be completely different. Beginning Spring 2025, students may experience two separate interfaces as faculty begin teaching in the new Ultra interface. Therefore, both Original view and Ultra tutorials are included within the Ultra Blackboard Student Orientation course shell.
Another change will be the certificate students used to receive when completing the course. Ultra will issue a digital badge upon completion, instead of certificates. The Orientation course offers how students can save their badge, so they may provide to any instructors who may request it.
Updated Student Email Address and Login Changes
Over the holiday break, the Information Technology Services (ITS) team replaced the STUDENT email address ending with @student.govst.edu with a new STUDENT email address ending with @govst.edu. With the new change, students and employees will have the same email extension, @govst.edu. For more information, please visit the Student Email Changes page.
Example- Jax Jaguar’s current student email address: jjaguar@student.govst.edu.
- Jax Jaguar’s NEW student email address will be: jjaguar@govst.edu.
As you can see the word “student” has been removed which makes the new email address shorter.
Note: Jax’s username did NOT change, it remains jjaguar.