1. Supporting Multiple Teaching and Learning Styles with the Blackboard Academic Suite™ Presented by Melissa Anderson, Pedagogical Advisor, Blackboard Kate Bishop, Solutions Engineer, Blackboard April 13, 2005

2. Today’s Agenda Session Objective: –To show how the Blackboard Academic Suite enables faculty to teach and students to learn efficiently Results/Outcomes –Interactive discussion and sharing of best practices, covering the teaching and learning experience using Blackboard® the development and management of course content, multiple approaches to collaboration, communication and assessment, and, the strategic use of ePortfolios and learning objects/repositories.

3. Today’s Approach Dialogue DemonstrationInformation

4. Our Teaching Community

5. The Networked Learning Environment A true networked learning environment exists when any student or teacher can: –view instructional content –collaborate with educators –evaluate academic performance –access any learning resources at any time to achieve their educational objectives.

6. MISSION CRITICAL EXPLORATORYSUPPORTEDSTRATEGICTRANSFORMATIVE: THE NETWORKED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT Phase I Phase 2Phase 3Phase 4 Phase 5 INSTITUTIONAL BENEFITS The Benefits of a Networked Learning Environment™ Evaluations & Outcomes Management Student Centered Learning Access to High Quality Content Instructor Efficiency Anytime / Anywhere Access

7. MISSION CRITICAL EXPLORATORY TIME SUPPORTEDSTRATEGICTRANSFORMATIVE: THE NETWORKED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT Phase I Phase 2Phase 3Phase 4 Phase 5 Driving forces behind the Networked Learning Environment Educational & Industry Standards Client Input Open Development Environment

8. Client Input Optimized for incorporating feedback: Application Packs –Rapid development cycles enable quick responses to our clients and the market –Product updates with new features and maintenance enhancements released quarterly –Clients encouraged to upgrade when they see fit Blackboard develops its products by working closely with our clients and partners –Client Listserves –User Groups –Blackboard® Days in Region –Client-Blackboard Strategy Sessions (100+ each year) –Support and Enhancement Requests –The Blackboard Idea Exchange™

9. Blackboard incorporates industry and technology standards focusing on: ● Usability and accessibility ● Content interoperability ● Data integration ● Authentication Supported Standards: 508 Compliance (Accessibility)  ADL SCORM 1.2 LMS-RTE3  ADL SCORM 2004 (under development)  NLN  MS LRN  IMS Metadata  IMS Content & Packaging  IMS Question & Test Interoperability  IMS Enterprise  IMS ePortfolios (under development)  RSS Channels  uPortal / JA-SIG  LDAP  Kerberos  Shibboleth  ATHENS (UK)  A-Select (NL)  Kerberos LRN RSS Channels Educational and Industry Standards

10. Blackboard's open architecture - Building Blocks™ - enables you to: –develop your own product extensions –leverage partner-developed applications –integrate with existing institution systems –leverage industry standards and open source initiatives Blackboard Developers Network: –a freely available SDK (software development kit) –over 125 academic institutions and commercial vendors as members –an annual Developers Conference More than 115 community-developed applications available in our Blackboard Building Blocks™ catalog An Open Development Environment

11. 36 Capabilities Instructor Efficiency Course Management Teaching & Learning Tools Versioning Syllabus Builder Workflow Disk Space & Bandwidth Management System Integration Anytime, Anywhere Access Multi-Language Support Multi-Institution Branding & Management e-Commerce Personal Information Management Wireless / PDA e-Marketplace Enterprise Scalability Standards Portal Web Services Building Blocks (Open APIs) Access to High Quality Content Content & File Management Learning Object Catalog Role-based Information Delivery Content Authoring Channels / Modules Collaborative Web-enabled File Storage e-Reserves Student Centered Learning Discussion Board Adaptive Release e-Portfolios Group Projects Learning Units Online Textbook Content (Course Cartridges) Virtual Classroom / Collaboration Tool Community Building Tools Evaluation & Outcomes Management Assessments & Surveys Gradebook Reporting & Performance Dashboard Assignments

12. Content Management in the Networked Learning Environment Faculty-created content can either reside in a specific course or in a content manager, allowing for maximum efficiency and flexibility. Content can be shared in a number of ways: individually, through sub-areas designed for a specific purpose or across the institution via a learning object repository.

13. Content Presentation Control identification and sequencing Release content based on varying criteria (date, user, group, item status, attempt, or grade) Cross-link content within and across courses Allow content viewing alongside (and within) synchronous or asynchronous discussions

14. Content Management Store and share any type of content Use Web Folders (WebDAV) to load mass content, and to edit content inline Leverage a visual text box editor for editing and embedding content Use more content, click less

15. Content Resources Publisher partners provide 2000+ course cartridges Access the MERLOT catalogue Share learning objects with other institutions

16. Communication in the Networked Learning Environment Communication occurs throughout a users’ participation in a course (or within the larger networked community). Communication tools must be accessible to anyone at all times, as designated by the instructor and/or facilitator.

17. Asynchronous Communication Use email addresses, or leverage an internal messaging system Search threaded discussion boards Support anonymity in discussions as needed Integrate voice-based communications through Blackboard Building Blocks partnerships

18. Synchronous Communication Reduce complications with a simple text-based chat Facilitate content/collaboration sessions with a virtual classroom Use Private Messaging as needed

19. Group Communication Set aside areas devoted to small-group collaboration and communication Easily create and manage groups through Blackboard Building Blocks utilities

20. Collaboration in the Networked Learning Environment Providing collaboration around content is critical to teaching and learning success. Collaboration practices must allow for the granular dissemination of rules and permissions, as well as the use of tools that maximize efficiency. These tools must be available to anyone within the learning community.

21. Learning Objects and Repositories E-Portfolios support collection and presentation of academic or professional work The Learning Object Catalog is controlled by designated managers, but allows for easy submission from faculty content collections.

22. Assessment in the Networked Learning Environment The assessment of student achievement should be supported by tools that are flexible enough to fit all teaching styles and approaches, yet structured enough to meet a department’s or institution’s strategic goals.

23. Quizzes, Tests and Surveys Reduce in-class time spent on quizzes, and eliminate tedious multiple-choice grading – the results of all objective assessments are automatically reported to the Gradebook Deploy tests with whatever parameters you wish, within a wide matrix of options Create question pools to share test banks with colleagues, and facilitate test reuse Implement anonymous surveys (now with Likert scale questions!)

24. Collect Assignments Provide an easy way for students to submit written work online, and use a suite of utilities to facilitate management of all that material Check for plagiarism via a Blackboard Building Block partner

25. Review Student Outcomes View or download responses and analysis for quizzes, tests, surveys and assignments Sort the gradebook by category, item, or student Leverage the Performance Dashboard for a snapshot of all activity, progress, and results from one student

26. Manage and Evaluate Grades Use a variety of scales, grade types, and category weighting Export the Gradebook to Excel for advanced calculations, analysis, charts, and mapping trends over time Export grades to other databases Grade discussion participation via a Blackboard Building Block partner

27. Demonstration