Blackboard Instructor Survey
Describe how Blackboard assisted your
teaching process. Please be specific.
It allowed the students to really get to interact with each other.
Blackboard forced me to really think about the content of my
courses. It added a layer of structure that helped me be
more organized. The gradebook function was a great
way for students to check their grades without having to try to contact me and
ask the question: What is my grade so far? The digital drop box documented
exactly when they sent in homework. Blackboard added a level of accountability
both for the student and for me.
Activities were required in which the students completed responses
and then we shared them during class. The discussions and examples of students'
responses proved invaluable for each particular activity. We also completed
group projects that allowed the students to interact and share their strengths
and weaknesses.
It propelled students to critically analyze ethical issues and to
challenge one another in a "safe" environment.
Students are required to post information for others to read,
meaning even the quiet ones end up participating in active discussion and
learning.
I could change some assignments to be completed totally on
Blackboard, so there was less paperwork turned in. Where websites were required to be listed by
students, I could visit their selections. I also appreciated to see the
frequency of use by my students.
Blackboard enables me to update course content from one semester
to the next without printing hard copies of course materials.
Students posted newsletter drafts so that others could review,
comment, and collectively we could keep a large complex collaborative project
moving forward outside of class time.
Students really like my posted copies of handouts, powerpoint lectures, quiz hints
pages and announcements. They like
seeing their grades as soon as I have assignments and tests marked. Students don't have to be on campus to be
informed about class happenings.
I am an adjunct faculty and I use what the regular faculty member
had set up.
Students are more prepared. Students are more motivated. It allows
good solutions to class absence/attendance/travel/illness type issues.
I appreciated the easy to use gradebook. I could also have the students
double check the scores with what I returned to them in case I missed someone
or recorded it wrong.
Record keeping and student info for those who couldn't
bring themselves to come to class.
Blackboard enabled me to answer questions from my students in a
timely manner. I felt that the enhanced communication between my students and myself was a definite reason to use Blackboard. Also, students had easy access to
assignments, syllabi, and handouts if they had misplaced the hard copies. This saved me time making extra copies.
Announcments to student
teachers, weekly journals posted by student teachers and responded to by
instructor, e-mail.
It allowed my students in Discussion Board to discuss and
synthesize multiple course readings; it also allowed a faculty
"guest" to participate with each group. It allowed me to design a collaborative
project with a colleague and students from Poznan
University of Technology which was an incredible learning experience for all of
us, and a very satisfying interaction. I
also like the gradebook feature.
It took away the time limitations of the traditional classroom. It
allowed more one-on-one faculty/student interaction than the classroom. It kept
students organized, ie they could always check their
grades, check announcements etc Communication with students improved because I
didn't need to wait a week to announce something Theory application increases
with BB because students had more time to formulate responses than in the
classroom
Blackboard has helped me organize my courses better than I had
been able to do; it allows me to present material to students in a
professional, technical venue. It allows
me to use technology an an
efficient way and to model that for students.
I now design my classes around Blackboard capabilities: often students send email to me or to each
other; they discuss their readings in the group discussion area; and they
travel to the internet for pertinent information given in external links.
-It allowed for student flexibility. -It
allowed students to communicate at a much deeper level. -It allowed for unique assessment
opportunities. -It allows for groups to
collaborate via the computer. -Many
students commented how they feel much more proficient with computers after
their experience with Blackboard. -Most
students stated they love the use of Blackboard with a course.
Blackboard allows me to have students interact with each other
without using class time to do so. It also allows me to prepare students for
upcoming material. I have few problems with grades because students always know
exactly where they stadn.
It was possible to communicate with the whole class so "I
didn't know about...." was never an option.
On-line assessments are great, I no
longer have to grade the exams. Blackboard give the users two different ways to assess
students. I alsow like the gradebook feature.
Students can look up their own scores and look for missing work.
The class had a major team project, and Blackboard allowed them to
have options as to how they would communicate with each other and me. It also
allowed me to communicate with them more effectively during non class times.
I was able to conduct class discussion when the students were
quieter and therefore more willing to discuss in Blackboard rather than aloud
in class. Discussions were richer because more points of view were read and
responded to. I was able to email, post announcements, post documents for the
students in case they were absent or had forgotten handouts or assignment requirements.
In one class, I set up group collaboration-exchanging files, virtual classroom,
etc., but they preferred to communicate in other ways outside of class.
Easy to get messages to entire class. Grades
readily available to students. Course information
readily available to students.
Blackboard Instructor Survey
What
were some of the drawbacks of using Blackboard? What was difficult for you?
Bringing a story up but just one time out of many.
In the digital dropbox, when I am done
downloading their work, I can only delete files one by one. Is there a way to
select and delete a range of files?
The only drawback is my inability to utilize all the resources
found within Blackboard. I will attempt to expand my knowledge base so I can
incorporate additional varied instruction.
Some students have difficulty maintaining a connection,
therefore I don't use it for quizzes anymore.
Time committment is great for set-up and
for evaluation of assignments.
I had some enormous time-constraints, so I didn't use the gradebook as frequently as I had intended. This wasn't
really a drawback of Blackboard, but it's the one thing I wish I had used more
frequently. I was able to post final grades, though, before students received
them in the mail.
I cannot think of any drawbacks, and the program is very easy to
use, in my opinion.
A few students had problems getting regular access. This put them
at a disadvantage.
A small but definite fraction of the class just will not use
Blackboard, or at least will not use it consistently despite my pleas. These people are missing out of a pile of
class resources but that doesn't seem to matter--I don't know what more to say
to motivate them.
I do not use it enough to keep familiar.
Not having backed up my own gradebook
often enough. When the system was down for maintenance. Students not having
access at home. Not having enough access "on demand" for the normal
fluctuations in examination scheduling and being able to use a lab on the day
of exam...
I don't like all the screens I have to go through. When I submit the grades on an assigment, I don't need another OK screen and then to be
taken back to a screen that has to search again. Should hold original screen like the
"back" button does. I also did
not like having to go through multiple screens repeatedly when setting up the
book. If I am in enter mode, let me keep entering until I request to get out of
entering mode.
problems with students
computers and gerneral student cop-outs. Operator
error when trying to set things up too quickly.
The only drawback was not Blackboard's fault. I had some students in lower level courses
who just failed to take responsibility for getting their password and actually
accessing the program. The other problem
was with the SVSU connection which apparently was my server's and SVSU's
problem. I have Speednet
wireless and for the past week or so have had difficulty connecting to the SVSU
website at all. The connection this week
has been fine. But, when I can't get
online to the SVSU site that is a MAJOR problem.
Remind you that this class runs both Fall
and Winter semesters. Don't put anything in archives. Also, the course needed
to be running by mid-August since that is when student teaching begins.
We had no significant drawbacks or difficulties.
Testing, retesting and testing again everytime
I changed something. For instance, when
the new server went up, things that used to work didn't anymore.
The gradebook is a drawback for me: I list the assignments in the gradebook space, but since I use letter grades, the point
system doesn't work for me.
It's more time consuming than traditional teaching, though it is
worth it.
I wish I could post the same forum to several groups at a time. I
really have no complaints
It is not possible to upload a text file without the formatting
destroyed. Also, the display of statistics with the grades confuses many
students. I wish the statistics could be shut off.
In the digital dropbox, there was not a
sort function. I would like to have
sorted the documents either by students or by title.
Students were not always able to access materials posted on
Blackboard, and on a few ocassions, I was not able to
access documents sent to me.
I'm still new to the process-would like suggestions on using it
more effectively.
Time!!! Full
time elementary teacher, Adjcunt at SVSU.
Blackboard Instructor Survey
What has Blackboard allowed you to do that
you could not do before?
Interact more with students, communication, meeting deadlines.
Blackboard allows me to experience group dynamics among the
students in a way that is impossible to see if I were in the room with all my
student groups. In the classroom filled with groups, the best I can do is walk
from group to group and eavesdrop on the group conversations and have them
summarize their group experiences. With Blackboard, as they interact in their
electronic groups, there is a saved and archived copy of all their interaction
and conversation. I can see who talked the most, who were the emerging leaders,
and how they accomplished their assignment.
Communicate mainly. It's been great having the students be able to
utilize the email feature. I also like the information that I can share with
students - not only on general course information, but individual assignments as
well.
It has assisted me to push students toward a higher level of
analysis. It also allows students to see
their grades on an ongoing basis rather than contact me to know how they are
doing.
Provide flexible scheduling for students.
Communicate with my students when we were not on campus. My class
met on campus just four weekends, so the balance of communication was through
Blackboard. Also, students could send assignments to me through e-mail.
Save PDF files that students can download.
Quick responses to drafts from me and from peers. Allowed for considerably more interaction.
Make my lecture notes available to students. I would never have done this if it mean scads of hard-copy printing each week. I also like being able to notify them of
happenings. Two-way contact has
definitely improved via the email.
Students are able to print lecture notes and rubrics to have ready
for class and assignments.
Meet the needs of students off campus. Have more individual
attention to students. Meet individual learning/instructional needs of
students.
No Response
maintain student standing
and provide info on a continual basis not just during class time.
Post assignments, make last minute changes, keep in touch much
better with the students who actively use Blackboard. Also, if students could not make it to class,
they could still hand in their assignments by mailing them to me. That helped a great deal for students who
were sick or had car trouble. Bottom
line--no excuses for a late assignment.
Daily contact with students.
See question 19. Also, I
posted pictures of SVSU and Poznan U. of Technology
students before the virtual chats so they could see who they were interacting
and collaborating with.
Keep course statistics easily Delve more indepth
into some assignments--go beyond the surface
It allows me to teach with technology--to use the smart podium
effectively and to encourage students to do well, too.
Organize groups from home.
Allow my classes to collaborate without having to meet. Students can post ideas/share/collaborate at
a much greater level.
See above
Communicate with the whole class at once.
Randomize the exam questions.
More timly communication and
transfer of information during non class time.
I am now always able to communicate with students, provide them
with course documents and assignments, and encourage shyer students to discuss.
Get a message to all my students quickly.
Blackboard Instructor Survey
What
activities did you spend the most time on while using Blackboard to enhance
classes? Examples include developing materials, posting materials, downloading
student work, etc...
Being on the Discussion Board
Putting together quizzes were pretty time consuming since I had to
type in each question separately. Once I had the questions in a pool, then it
was easy to select them.
The discussion board and group forums proved to be the most
utilized and most appreciated by the students during class. Outside of class, I
spent the most time uploading information the students needed on a class by
class basis.
developing materials, and
posting materials
Developing materials, downloading work, evaluating work.
Posting materials. I hope to
use this more often in my
next class, now that I have a scanner. I also hope to have
students submit more of their work online rather than printing out paper copy.
This is a great way for adjunct faculty to work.
Posting materials
Used it most extensively for the newsletter
project--downloading the work, responding, and then making general responses to
class through announcements or email.
Developing and posting materials, answering email, posting grades.
N/A
Developing lecture materials... Developing examinations &
question pools- secretarial support is minimal for this kind of thing- would
like more training for them :)
Setting up the grade book and posting materials.
posting materials.
Posting materials and answering e-mail.
Responding to student journals.
Downloading student work, monitoring discussion boards,
and creating and monitoring collaborative group projects.
Developing and posting materials Formulating responses to student
work. Reading discussion forums
Creating external links was big the first year with Blackboard;
then I spent time developing prompts for group discussions of the topic at
hand. Now I want to know more about
handling the digital dropbox--I can teach students
how to save as rtf and send their files, but I want to know how to comment on
their papers in an efficient manner...yellow highlighting or something. I also want to know how to teach students to
develop their own personal webpages in Blackboard.
Developing materials and checking postings. I taught an overload this semester, so I had
four Blackboard courses. This will not
be typical. I spent a great deal of my time on Bb.
developing materials/forums
for the blackboard.
posting materials,
loading grades
There was two things I spents most of my
time with. The first was viewing the
digital dropbox records. Second was setting up the
assessments questions.
Posting assignments, course materials, and e-mailing results.
posting materials and
reading discussions
Most of my time was for clerical work. I am very fortunate to work with Dr. Sullivan
and she has developed the blackboard information for our class.