An update to a Web site used by the majority of Miami University students now makes using the online grade book easier for both professors and students. Blackboard, an online tool widely used by Miami students and faculty, allows students to look at their grades and contact professors, as well as see weather and news updates and even look for employment opportunities on campus.

The system, updated from version 7.3 to version 8 in mid-May, now permits faculty to input students' grades to the system using a spreadsheet and allows for features like calculating averages, according to Cathy McVey, director of IT (Information Technology Services) customer relations and communication.

The annual license fee for the university to use Blackboard and its features is $188,000, while there are no additional charges of version upgrades because of a maintenance contract Miami holds with the service.

"I think certainly that the little tweaking and improvements will help students," McVey said. "(Blackboard) will function more easily for faculty and hopefully more will use it."

McVey said this past semester just more than 75 percent of faculty members had at least one Blackboard site. She said she doesn't expect that all faculty use Blackboard all of the time.

"IT provides a number of technological tools," McVey said about Blackboard. "Faculty choose to use the ones that enhance their teaching."

Ibrahima Poda, an instructional design and technology specialist, thinks that the updates are a great advantage to faculty as well.

"I believe it's going to provide them with more flexibility in managing their grades," Poda said.

He added students could more easily monitor their classroom achievements and grading as well.

"The new system allows for smarter views to investigate the students' performance and professors can take action to help them," Poda said.