Feedback from students calling for a consistent look and feel in Blackboard (Interact 2) subject sites has resulted in Charles Sturt University (CSU) investigating the development and implementation of a standardised template. The presentation will discuss the background to the project including what, when, and why in terms of template and cover feedback from staff and students that have used the templates. Discussion will be garnered from the audience on their thoughts on our implementation process.

1. Jonathan Wykes & Linda Ward
Standardising Navigation in Blackboard
Sites

2. WELCOME
2

3. Background
3
• Multi-campus University
• Campuses - Bathurst, Wagga Wagga, Albury, Dubbo,
Canberra, Orange, Goulburn, Manly, Parramatta, Port
Macquarie
• Centres – Brisbane, Sydney & links to TAFE
• 2015 – 40,303 students with 59.9% Online mode
• Every subject offered has a Blackboard site
Image sourced from: www. csu.edu.au

4. Introduction
• CSU students requested consistency in Interact2 (Blackboard Learn)
subject sites
• Consultation period with Faculty, Schools & to investigate
standardised template that could be included into all CSU subject
sites
• It was agreed that a standard Interact2 (Blackboard Learn) template
be implemented for CSU
4
Image sourced from: http://cep-probation.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/research.jpg

5. Findings
Feedback from academic staff was:
• Require a consistent starting point and professional look
• To be seen as a minimum set of guidelines for site setup
• Not to be locked down thus still allowing for flexibility, innovation and
creativity throughout content
• Reduce workload in setting up sites for new sessions e.g. provision of
additional support
• Variations of the template to allow for three faculty styles that include
faculty banner and icons and a generic version for Study Skills subjects
5 Image sourced from: http://www.henley.ac.uk/hwss/13HWimageuploads/rep-publishes-major-new-findings-on-link-between-
energy-efficiency-and-house-prices-3_3-World%20in%20hand.jpg

6. Recommendations
6
• A standard CSU template be implemented but with following
variation by faculty
– Three faculty styles that include individual faculty banner and icons
– A generic version for Study Skills and divisional led Graduate
Certificate subjects
Image sourced from: http://safehouse.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/recommendation-stamp-photo.jpg

7. What would the template include?
• Consistent naming of Blackboard tools
• Standard grouping of the menu items
– Home
– Subject Community
– Learning Content & Activities
– Additional CSU Support
• Faculty individual items include
– A set of navigational icons
– Faculty banner
7
Image sourced from: https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7702/17078225817_744ab2b298_b.jpg

8. How will the template be implemented?
8
• Template will be implemented into all subject sites for 2017 through
site provisioning by DIT in September 2016
• Academics will then be able to import content from previous sites
Image sourced from: http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/224001/Implement.jpg

9. How will the template be supported?
9
• Professional development sessions
• Interact2 Help & Support Site
• Division of Student Learning (DSL) Educational Designers &
Educational Support Coordinators
Image sourced from: http://www.deakin.edu.au/__data/assets/image/0014/340133/support-sign.jpg

10. 10 Image sourced from:
http://www.dibspayment.com/sites/corp/files/pictures/DIVERSE/HERO/sub%20pages/demo%20signup/DEMO_illu.png

11. Question time
11
• What are your initial thoughts?
• Do you think consistent navigation across the
university is a good idea?
Image sourced from: http://www.slideshare.net/BaltimoreNISO/niso-bibliographich-roadmap-meeting-carpenter-
welcome-and-overview-of-bibliographic-infrastructure-copy

12. Learning Design Templates
12
• A learning design - sequence of teaching & learning
activities. Plan for potential activities with learners (Dalziel
et al, 2016)
• Teaching strategies - Active Lecture, Cooperative Learning,
Problem Based Learning, Scenario Based Learning,
Portfolios, Reflection
• An approach to teaching that uses a particular sequence of
teaching & learning activities based on pedagogical
assumptions
Image sourced from: lifehubeducation.com/learning-methods/

13. Why introduce learning templates
13
• Professional development
• Promote use of evidence based teaching strategies
• Templates
– Easily imported into subject sites
– Use of multiple strategies
– Activities are created within Blackboard
– Tools support learning activity

14. Example
14

15. Thank you
15
• Final questions, comments or concerns
Image sourced from: http://www.edselby.com/convert-atheist/monkey/

16. References
• Uys, P. (2016). Proposal for a CSU Template for Interact2 Subject Sites. Charles Sturt
University.
• Dalziel, J., Conole, G., Wills, S., Walker, S., Bennett, S, Dobozy, E., Cameron, L., Badilescu-
Buga, E. & Bower, M. (2016). The Larnaca Declaration on Learning Design. Journal of
Interactive Media in Education, 7(1), 1-24.
16