Repetitive strain injuries (RSIs), also commonly referred to as musculoskeletal disorders, are a category of injuries that can affect our muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and joints. Some work-related risk factors that can increase the chance of an RSI developing include forceful actions (gripping, lifting, reaching, pushing, pulling), awkward postures and movements (bending, twisting), static postures (standing or sitting for a long time), and of course, repetitive actions.

RSIs not only impact our ability to successfully perform our work, but they can negatively affect our life outside of work. Consider the following prevention techniques:

• Change your posture throughout the day.
• Avoid lifting heavy objects or get help if you need to lift.
• Minimize carrying tasks: use a cart if you need to move something.
• Reduce awkward postures by properly setting up your workstation.
• Take breaks: after every hour of working, get up and move around for a few minutes.

Humber’s Occupational Health and Safety Services (OHS) team has recently developed a new Office Ergonomics Training Module that is open to all Humber and University of Guelph-Humber employees. Please review this module to learn how to properly set up your office workstation.

For more information on RSI Awareness Day, or RSIs in general, please visit the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety or contact the Humber OHS team at healthandsafety@humber.ca.

Here are the highlights of this month’s new and improved features in Blackboard Ultra. For more details, please follow the links below:

AI Design Assistant – Context picker for test question generation

The AI Design Assistant is an AI-based tool which generates various items according to the course content, description, and configuration settings. Instructors can now also select the most relevant items in the course content for a Test to auto-generate test questions. This feature aids in creating more targeted test questions for each Test.

To use this feature, create a Test, then click the + sign to choose "auto-generate question". Click on the "Select course items" button to associate the most relevant items in the course content. Remember to review and edit the generated questions prior to saving your Test.

No Due Date assessment setting

When creating Tests and Assignments, the due date gets automatically filled. However, not all assessments require a due date. There is now an option to select “no due date” for assessments. This makes it clear to both students and the instructor that the assessment has no associated due date.

Last used view state of flexible grading side panels preserved

In the flexible grading panel from Gradebook, you can open the left and/or right panel. Once you leave the panel, the view will revert back to the default setting. To improve usability, the last used option of the panel is preserved from this release.

Gradebook item statistics

Statistics related to grades are crucial for understanding students' performance and their progress towards achieving the learning outcomes of the course. In this release, the key metrics including the following are accessible from the Gradebook.

• Minimum and maximum value
• Range
• Average
• Median
• Standard deviation
• Variance

To access statistics, you can select it from the grid view,

or from … from the gradable items view.

Send messages to students from the Student Activity report for assessments on small and medium devices and the mobile app

Some instructors use small- and medium-size devices to access Blackboard Ultra. Being able to send messages from the Student Activity report section using these devices enhances productivity for instructors.

Announcement indicators and mark as read/unread

Now, there is a number indicator next to the Announcements tab, signaling the number of unread announcements. This prompts students to read important announcements. For consistency, Messages tab also displays a numerical indicator. The purpose of this new feature is to draw users' attention to unread announcements or messages.

The full list of March updates is available on the Blackboard Help Center website.

The full article is also posted on BB Hub: New and Improved Features in Blackboard Ultra – March 2024 Update

Need additional support? The IL Support Centre is here to help!

Watch the Longo Faculty of Business in action at the National Home Show on March 8-10 and 13-17.

Join us for skills sessions presented by students and alumni from Culinary Skills, Culinary Management and Baking & Pastry Arts programs. Watch stdents team up with Chef Shonah Chalmers to showcase knife skills, sustainable food tips, flavour enhancement techniques, cooking methods and more.

Don’t miss our demo sessions to see renowned guest chefs prepare full recipes with samples to share.

Visit humber.ca/business/homeshow to see the show highlights, plan your day and get a $5 discount code off your ticket.

Attention all Humber teachers:

We are looking for participants for our research study Artificial Intelligence Application Acceptance Survey (REB # 0360). This research project aims to learn more about what affects post-secondary instructors’ intentions to use generative artificial intelligence (genAI) in their teaching practices. The recent surge of genAI applications has created demands for the post-secondary sector to consider in the context of student learning. It has become clear that these applications are expected to continue to develop, improve, and become ubiquitous in the work we do. It is important for us to understand what influences teachers in their uptake of different artificial intelligence applications as we are learning that the use of these applications can support student learning.

Our research questions are:

• Main research question - What predicts post-secondary instructors’ intention to adopt artificial intelligence in their pedagogies?
• Secondary research question - What specific factors influence the integration of generative artificial intelligence in the pedagogies of post-secondary instructors?

Your participation will be confidential, anonymous, and private. Visit the following link where you will receive an explanation and access to the study. The study will be open until March 15, 2024. We hope that you will consider participating. If you have any questions you can reach out to jennie.miron@humber.ca.