A cleaner slate
Blackboard receives upgrades with some smudges
Sarah Jacobsen
Issue date: 10/1/09 Section: News
This fall, SIUE's course management system, Blackboard, acquired several new features with its update from version 6.3 to version 8.0.
According to the Information Technology Services Web site, Blackboard 8.0's interface is virtually the same, but the grade center and discussion boards have acquired new features. ITS made workshops and online tutorials available to interested faculty members to help them transition between Blackboard versions smoothly.?
Many faculty members have familiarized themselves with the new system and identified its added features. Mass communications professor Musonda Kapatamoyo said the Blackboard's new enhanced features have increased its functionality.
"I can easily download paper assignments in the grade center, grade them online and post grades with comments without printing a single paper," Kapatamoyo said.
Professor of psychology Mike Dudley said not much is different in terms of posting items in Blackboard 8.0.
"The new version does provide professors with some pretty nifty assessment and evaluation tools, however," Dudley said.
According to mass communications professor Tom Atwood, not all of Blackboard 8.0's updates are positive.
"The main difference I have noticed is the new version does not give students a running total of possible points during the semester, so it is more difficult for them to see where they stand," he said.
The new Blackboard still has a few kinks as well, according to Dudley.
"Links work OK on some computers, but not others, or [students] are sometimes prevented from retaking self-assessments, which are set up to all student to take them as many times as they like," Dudley said. "Overall, though, I definitely feel as though the advantages of Blackboard far outweigh the minor inconveniences it sometimes poses." ? ?
Students and faculty have found that Blackboard contributes both benefits and detriments to teaching and learning. Individual faculty members make decisions regarding the use of Blackboard as a classroom resource.
According to the Information Technology Services Web site, Blackboard 8.0's interface is virtually the same, but the grade center and discussion boards have acquired new features. ITS made workshops and online tutorials available to interested faculty members to help them transition between Blackboard versions smoothly.?
Many faculty members have familiarized themselves with the new system and identified its added features. Mass communications professor Musonda Kapatamoyo said the Blackboard's new enhanced features have increased its functionality.
"I can easily download paper assignments in the grade center, grade them online and post grades with comments without printing a single paper," Kapatamoyo said.
Professor of psychology Mike Dudley said not much is different in terms of posting items in Blackboard 8.0.
"The new version does provide professors with some pretty nifty assessment and evaluation tools, however," Dudley said.
According to mass communications professor Tom Atwood, not all of Blackboard 8.0's updates are positive.
"The main difference I have noticed is the new version does not give students a running total of possible points during the semester, so it is more difficult for them to see where they stand," he said.
The new Blackboard still has a few kinks as well, according to Dudley.
"Links work OK on some computers, but not others, or [students] are sometimes prevented from retaking self-assessments, which are set up to all student to take them as many times as they like," Dudley said. "Overall, though, I definitely feel as though the advantages of Blackboard far outweigh the minor inconveniences it sometimes poses." ? ?
Students and faculty have found that Blackboard contributes both benefits and detriments to teaching and learning. Individual faculty members make decisions regarding the use of Blackboard as a classroom resource.
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Musonda
posted 10/02/09 @ 11:10 AM CST
Good job Sarah.
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