Slides from 1/29/10 CTL new media conference "Is your Blackboard course student approved?." Kathy Keairns explored the top 5 recommendations DU students have about efffective Blackboard use. Mike Keables showcased one of his Bb courses.
Food Chain and Food Web (Ecosystem) EVS, B. Pharmacy 1st Year, Sem-II
Is Your Blackboard Course Student Approved
1. Is your Blackboard course student approved? Kathy Keairns, CTL Mike Keables, Geography
2. Agenda Recommendations from students Top 5 Blackboard recommendations Video – Student perspectives Selected Comments from Survey Example Blackboard Course Strategies for designing a “student-friendly” Bb course Discussion and Q&A
3. What recommendations would you give to your professors to better use technology in your courses? Better Blackboard (LMS) use (139) Improve faculty technology literacy (121) Better PowerPoint Use (52) No Suggestions/Doing well (50) Make sure technology actually benefits learning (38)
4. Top 5 Bb Recommendations Post Materials/Use more features Post Grades Organization/Keep up-to-date Require Use Utilize Communication Tools
5. Link to Video Video Clip – Example of a Poorly Designed Bb Course
6. Post Materials/Use more features “Also, if professors could post homework assignments and announcements from class for those who missed class, came in late, or simply forget it would be a HUGE help.” “It is frustrating when some professors fully utilize Blackboard while others do not. PLEASE DO NOT LET OTHERS INSTANT MESSAGE DURING CLASS. IT IS HIGHLY DISTRACTING.” “…I love it when professors use it fully, posting grades and assignments online as well.”
7. Post Grades “Posting grades online with Blackboard is extremely helpful and makes preparation for my classes easier, because I can be constantly aware of my position.” “One thing that would be really useful is if teachers kept up on posting grades on blackboard so that I know where I stand and how I'm doing.”
8. Require Use “USE blackboard. I want to have access to course materials and be able to see my grades.” “Some professors don't use Blackboard. This is a very useful tool for students.” “Actually make use of blackboard. Only some professors actually use it.”
9. Organization/Keep up-to-date “Organize blackboard better. Some teachers post way to much information and it is not organized into folders or easy to find without having to search all over the place. “ “I would say updating blackboard more, it really helps the student.” “I think that all professors should use blackboard and regularly update it, rather than setting it up but never using it.”
10. Utilize Communication Tools “I really like when professors use online tools like Blackboard to facilitate discussion. As an introvert, I benefit from having the chance to reflect a bit before/after class and participate through writing journals/chats that can supplement my face-to-face interactions with classmates & instructors.” “ I have had a few classes where my instructor would actively use blackboard and blogging and it provided such a great way to communicate and share ideas.”
11. Mike Keables: NATS-1201 – Environment Systems (Course overview directly from Blackboard) Example Bb Course
12. Strategies for designing a “student-friendly” course Solicit Feedback Colleagues, Students, Formal Review Make a plan to organize your materials to make it easy for students to navigate your course and find materials Look at your course from your student perspective Participate in the Bb Exemplary Course Program as a Course Reviewer or Course Submitter
13. Links to Blackboard Resources 10 Tips for Designing a “Student-Friendly” Blackboard Course Blackboard Basics Online Course registration form Blackboard Tutorials & Handouts Blackboard Basics “How-to Guide” Email blackboard@du.edu to schedule a one-on-one training session or to learn about the Blackboard Exemplary Course Program
14. Kathy Keairns – kkeairns@du.edu Mike Keables – mkeables@du.edu http://portfolio.du.edu/newmedia DiscussionQ and A
Hinweis der Redaktion
Doing this workshop during the conference is because Bb is very popular and the number one technology referenced in the student technology surveyAssociate Dean and CFAB representative
How would you prefer to communicate with your instructors outside of class? (Check all that apply)DU is preparing you to successfully use technology as a business/professional tool when you enter the workforce.What recommendations would you give to your professors to better use technology in your courses? 578 responded to this opened-ended questionOver 1120 students completed
Other Recommendations: record and post lectures online, integrate digital media, teach technology skills to student, better email protocol, consistent use of technology and post pwoerpoints online, actually use laptops in the classroom, use collaborative and social networking software578 responses…Ask for Guesses from the audience on Bb
15-40 references to above themesBb student survey in 2006 – themes are similar – students reported they loved it when professors used the gradebook…Student Video Next….
Example of a poorly designed Bb course from the student perspective – Grad tech assistants took some of the survey comments and created this video
Blackboard is truly a great tool that helps students understand the class as well as have access to class materials. Overall, students really seem to like Bb.
Bb Student survey in Winter 2006 – 1821 students completed – Access to grades online was one of the top benefits of courses the use Bb from that survey
Bb usage is definitely growing, especially in light of the H1N1 threat when the administration was strongly encouraging that everyone use Bb – but according to the students, there are still a lot of professors who are not using it
I have literally missed entire assignments because I didn't know they were assigned, because I don't know where to find them allMirrored many of the comments from the 2006 Bb survey – “It is unorganized & confusing” – Common complaint
International students participation and perspective…More comments about Bb – stop by the Bb table during the Digital Poster Session
Example of a well-organized/Student Approved Bb Course – uses a variety of tools. One disclaimer, the course he is showing is an “online” course it is more robust than just a web-based supplement to a F2F course which is how the majority of you probably use Bb.
DistributeHandout – Ask for other strategies…We would also like to work with faculty to submit their courses to the “Bb Exemplary Course Program” - Think we have convinced Mike to submit his course – Great way to receive feedback from 3 external reviewers. Also opportunities to review other courses…
This presentation will be posted on the site - We are developing some discipline specific Bb workshops and are looking for faculty partners within each division to show how they are using Bb.
