1 Phillips Andover Academy 2/22/ :30 – 10:30 Darek Sady Blackboard Learning System (Release 6.3) Most Helpful Functions for Teaching (and hidden treasures)

2 Introductions Darek Sady Education –Utica College of Syracuse University –University of North Carolina Greensboro Professional Experience –6 Years in Academia –Faculty Development Trainer –College instructor for 3 Years –Director of IT 2 Years with Blackboard

3 Introductions and Expectations Please introduce yourself… Name, Position/Title, Courses that you teach Experience using Blackboard Planned use or current use of Blackboard Expectation(s) for this workshop Interesting tidbit about yourself or a local favorite restaurant

4 Thinking outside of the Blackboard “Box” Potential benefits of Organizations Reducing redundant communication Making the Content System easier for end users Alternatives for e-portfolios Other uses of Learning Objects Catalog Blackboard Backpack Facilitating course development

5 Potential benefits of Organizations Self-enrollment with access code option –Great for self-serve information Same tools as courses –Assignment tool great for collecting files and providing feedback –Adaptive release can be used for user controlled pacing –Discussion boards for asynchronous, recorded collaboration – avoid meetings! Enrollment list can be used to directly share content system objects Organizations can serve as robust “mini-portals” for student and staff groups across campus Multiple leaders can help delegate organization building

6 Reducing redundant communication Avoid for FAQ’s, FYI’s, and general information. Instead: –Announcements in Organizations –Portal Modules –Tasks and Organizational Calendars Delegated module administration: –Eliminate the “middle-man” for information dissemination –Pull users into Bb for more than just their courses –Empower administrative groups to centralize their informational updates Rave Wireless Building Block: –Users can opt-in to receive SMS text alerts to their mobiles phones in real time.

7 Making the Content System easier for end users Web Folders –Best way to encourage direct collaboration –Linking to a GUI CS window with access to a “Web Folder” button –Use of the “My Network Places” shortcut –Novell NetDrive Bookmarks –Reduce the clicks into a “deep” CS area –Content Collection Bookmarks Module Saved Searches –Create custom module to link directly to saved searches Metadata –Make finding documents easier –Customize metadata fields and formats for better organization

8 Alternatives for e-portfolios Organized “How-To’s” Staff: –Merit-Pay example –résumé, –statement of teaching philosophy, and –reflective tools to demonstrate professional growth Students –Accomplishments –Mini web presence –Demonstration of education: lege_careers_go_online?mode=PF lege_careers_go_online?mode=PF Comment function –Great for feedback Easily shared inside courses and organizations ePortfolio portal module

9 Other uses of Learning Objects Catalog Does not HAVE to be traditional student-focused content (assignments, images, question pools) Provide standard organization to staff specific content Build organized catalog of “Best Practices” learning content Enable content “experts” to place learning objects in specialized “buckets.” Control access by institutional role Learning objects can be linked to courses, organizations and portal modules

10 Blackboard Backpack Allows students the option of working offline Announcements, tasks and calendar items can be pushed down to students Students can annotate/print directly on their own local copies of Blackboard course content

11 Facilitating course development Enable instructor collaboration by enrolling multiple instructors in a development template course Create shared areas in “Institutional Content” so instructors can manage shared documents Use workflows to allow course development facilitation Encourage collaborative course development with the course copy, course export and content system linking to “master areas.”