Internet Course Module

Denise Radaker

SLM 521

Blackboard

Goals: To provide teachers with a better understanding of how to use Blackboard as an instructor to serve the needs of students to be independent learners. Also to help teachers see that Blackboard is useful for high school level as well.

Content Overview: Introduction: With more responsibility being placed on the instructors to help students obtain a passing grade, teachers need to provide as many avenues as possible for the students to help themselves and keep up with the course. Blackboard provides this opportunity in many ways. Having used Blackboard for this course, some students may not realize the other aspects of this program to help an instructor. In this tutorial, additional information will be provided for teachers as learners to utilize Blackboard for their own courses.

Reading and Discussion:

1. Read the information in this article. Although it generally relates to an Education Psychology course, it addresses the fact that the faculty is ‘under’ using the Blackboard program. It provides great information.

http://www.ncolr.org/jiol/issues/PDF/3.4.1.pdf

2. Now, imagine you as the instructor of a course in your subject area that is using Blackboard to instruct and organize a course. What aspects would you use the majority of the time? What aspects would you use rarely? How would you incorporate the use of Blackboard for a face-to-face class? What might be the advantages of having this program? Disadvantages?

Submit your posting to the Discussion Board under ‘Blackboard’. Read others’ posting and respond to at least one with your thoughts.

Activity:

1. Read over the aspects that are available for the Blackboard Learning Systems (far left). Read the capabilities of each part.

http://www.blackboard.com/products/as/capabilities

2. Think about the aspects that you would use most. Think about specific ways in which you could use this program in your course.

Assignment:

Create a ‘mock’ Blackboard page with links to the specific areas you would utilize. Then describe what would be listed or accessed under each link. Give specific examples how you would use each link and in what way. Also describe what part of Blackboard you would not use and why.

The description should be at least 350 words.

Submission: Save your assignment as a Word document and email it to your instructor as an attachment. Remember to use the format: SLM521-lastname-assignment in the subject line. You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt of the assignment.

Rubric:

Students will be evaluated using the following rubric:

Category	Unacceptable	Developing	Acceptable
Length	Less than 300 words	Between 300 and 350 words	350 or over words
Links	Listed but no additional links or access given	Listed but only a few details for additional links or access given	Listed with specific details for additional links or access given
Areas to Utilize	Listed but no uses given	Listed but few details given for use for areas	Listed with specific details for use for each area
Non- use	No information given	A little information given with vague reasons given for non-use	Detailed information and specific reasons given for non-use

Additional Reading:

For additional information regarding Blackboard, check these links:

http://www.pharmacy.umaryland.edu/CompServices/Blackboard/

http://www.trinity.edu/rjensen/blackboard.htm

http://www.micsymposium.org/mics_2003/Johnson.PDF

ISTE Standards:

This module addresses the following ISTE Standards:

II. Planning and Designing Learning Environments and Experiences

A. Design developmentally appropriate learning opportunities that apply technology-enhanced instructional strategies to support the diverse needs of learners.

B. Plan for the management of technology resources within the context of learning activities.

III. Teaching, Learning, and the Curriculum

B. Use technology to support learner-centered strategies that address the diverse needs of students