Chemical Education Today
Association Report: 2YC3
Blackboard Overview by a Technology Coordinator by Sue Rodgers
Have you ever wished you could find an easier way to get course materials and other information to your students? Would you be interested in improving communication between you and your students? Over 1600 colleges, universities, and K–12 schools have discovered and adopted a software package that can do just that: Blackboard’s CourseInfo, a Web-based course delivery system (http://www. blackboard.com). At San Jacinto College we are using CourseInfo to facilitate classes taught in a distance learning format and to support classroom-based classes through webenhanced learning activities. Features Blackboard’s CourseInfo has special editors that make it possible to enter or upload course content such as announcements, syllabi, class schedule, handouts, assignments, and other types of information. A quiz and survey generator supports several question types: true/false, multiple choice, fill in the blank, matching, ordering, and essay. Assessments can be administered online and grades are stored in an online grade book. Teachers can view and edit individual grades and Editor’s Note Next month the Journal will continue the theme of using current technology to teach with an article about WebCT, a course management system.
display a variety of course statistics. The resulting grade book can be exported to an Excel workbook, if desired. There is a CourseInfo account for each user. Teachers can allow access to their course sites by enrolled students only or can allow guests to access any or all parts of the course. Students enroll in the course site for each individual course. A calendar displays course events for all CourseInfo courses a student is enrolled in. Communication options include email between teachers and students and among students. A virtual chat room provides opportunities for real-time discussion among students and faculty. Teachers can place notes, problem sets, or review sheets in a digital drop box for all students to see, and students can return assignments the same way. Advantages Students benefit when their teachers use Web-based communication. Different learning styles are accommodated through text, sound, images, and video. Students have a chance to share perspectives on course content and communicating using the Web seems to promote a greater sense of equality. Students have 24-hour accessibility to course materials and resources. Their instructors tend to be more accessible in a greater variety of ways: office time, voice mail, email, chat, discussion board, and dropbox. Sue Rodgers is Coordinator of the Technology Learning Center, San Jacinto College, Pasadena, TX 77501-2007.
JChemEd.chem.wisc.edu • Vol. 77 No. 6 June 2000 • Journal of Chemical Education
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