VSpace improves

Blackboard replacement continues growth

August 24, 2007 —

Using VSpace should be easier than ever this semester, thanks to numerous upgrades, tweaks and fixes over the spring and summer. And thankfully so - over 700 course sections have requested accompanying VSpace sites already. For purposes of comparison, as of press time, 64 Blackboard sections have been registered, signifying that SVSU may be near the end of the crossover process.

One of the more important features implemented over the summer is a mailing module called Mailtool. According to Noah Botimer, one of the University's VSpace specialists, Mailtool was implemented largely as a response to faculty demand.

"One thing that a lot of our faculty have been keenly interested in is the ability to e-mail their students or selected groups of their students," he said.

The new tool replaces the old Message Center module in VSpace, and aims to streamline and simplify the process of e-mailing site participants. For instance, a faculty member could select a group of students from a list and simply e-mail them en masse.

Another new feature set to debut in the fall is the Page Order Helper function, which will enable site managers to easily rename, reorder, add and remove tools easily from the site menu (the box with all the links in it on the left side of the page). For example, an instructor or other type of site manager could rename the Resources link "Course Documents," or the Schedule link to "Important Dates."

Some new features are still being worked on, and not yet ready to be implemented in the fall. One such item is the Testing Center, which is being evaluated by faculty members. Testing Center is just that - a tool that allows tests to be administered over VSpace. Strong feedback on VSpace testing since its inception prompted ITS to revisit it, and the new Testing Center could be ready for general implementation by the winter semester.

"Our users have had a little bit of exposure, but they haven't used testing very much yet," Botimer said. "So we have had a lot of feedback as to whether they love or hate the delivery of it."

That feedback was used in developing Testing Center to better fit the faculty's needs.

Dan Tyger is responsible for coordinating SVSU's online learning programs. He encouraged students to remember that VSpace is not just for classrooms, but that it can be used for a variety of purposes - projects, research, and clubs.

"Many student clubs, groups, and organizations have already set up shop in VSpace. We hope even more student-led projects find uses for our new collaborative learning environment," he said.

With that, the transition to VSpace will be nearing completion.