Blackboard @ Palomar

Episode 11 - Assessments - How Are We Doing

Palomar College Academic Technology dgray@palomar.edu — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 11:23:56 -0800

In this episode we ask the question: "How are we doing?" The discussion then covers different tools in Blackboard to allow instructors to assess their students in various ways. Overviews are given of several assessment tools such as Surveys Assignments Test Plagiarism Detection

Episode 10 - Connections and Considerations

Palomar College Academic Technology dgray@palomar.edu — Thu, 2 Oct 2008 07:58:45 -0700

In this episode we review the material covered to date, and suggest taking time out to consider how the chosen methods are working. Some other (non-Discussion Board) methods of communication are referenced, in keeping with the first of the "Seven Principles of Effective Teaching: A Practical Lens for Evaluating Online Courses" article, available online at http://technologysource.org/article/seven_principles_of_effective_teaching/.

Episode 9 - Encouraging Contact, part 3

Palomar College Academic Technology dgray@palomar.edu — Fri, 5 Sep 2008 13:21:51 -0700

In this episode we get technical with the Discussion Board conversation. We walk, step-by-step, through the process of adding a forum; at each step we discuss the different ways in which each forum option may be used.

Episode 8 - Encouraging Contact, part 2

Palomar College Academic Technology dgray@palomar.edu — Fri, 23 May 2008 16:00:43 -0700

In this episode we continue with the Discussion Board conversation without getting too technical. Topics covered include corresponding forum structure with course content, how to make your students invested in the online conversations, and references to several useful writeups.

Episode 7 - Encouraging Contact, part 1

Palomar College Academic Technology dgray@palomar.edu — Wed, 7 May 2008 14:36:55 -0700

In this episode we discuss using the Discussion Board as a means of encouraging contact between students and faculty, both online and in conjunction with an on-campus class. During this episode we raise the following questions:
Blackboard Discussion Board - What is it and how can I use it?
What should I tell my students about it?
How can I design some good Discussion Board questions?
What is my role after setting up the Discussion Board?

Documents referenced in this episode are:
Examples of instructions to students (http://daphne.palomar.edu/psyc100/Blackboard/Bb@Palomar/DB%20Instructions%20to%20Students%20-%20Two%20Examples.pdf)
An excerpt from "A Framework For Designing Questions For Online Learning" (http://daphne.palomar.edu/psyc100/Blackboard/Bb@Palomar/Designing%20DB%20Questions.pdf)

Episode 6 - Yellow Wood

Palomar College Academic Technology dgray@palomar.edu — Tue, 8 Apr 2008 16:00:09 -0700

In this episode we review the course construction covered to date, and decide on where to take the discussions next. As per the "Seven Principles of Effective Teaching: A Practical Lens for Evaluating Online Courses" article, available online at http://technologysource.org/article/seven_principles_of_effective_teaching/ , we will continue our building of an exemplary Blackboard course site by examining communication tools, starting with the Discussion Board.

Episode 5 - Filepalooza!

Palomar College Academic Technology dgray@palomar.edu — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:11:18 -0700

In this episode we discuss a variety of file types suitable for posting in Blackboard for student consumption. Some recommended file types are Adobe Acrobat (PDF) and Text/Rich Text Format (TXT/RTF), and of course web page (HTML) formats.
The instructions mentioned on how to save and post PowerPoint presentations into Blackboard are online at http://www.palomar.edu/atrc/Bb/misc/PPT_for_Blackboard.pdf .

Episode 4 - Developing Course Content

Palomar College Academic Technology dgray@palomar.edu — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:29:34 -0700

In this episode we discuss possible organizational structures for the bulk of the course content and student assignments, with reference to avoiding student information overload. Several informational handouts and checklists are referenced, as linked below: What does a high quality online course look like? CSU Chico has developed a rubric that is being used by many institutions in California and elsewhere. (http://www.csuchico.edu/celt/roi/rubric/ood.shtml)
Maryland Online received a government grant to develop review criteria that can be used to assess quality in an online class. Each review standard is tied to research literature. (PDF document) (http://www.qualitymatters.org/Documents/Matrix%20of%20Research%20Standards%20FY0506.pdf)
What do students think is important in an online class? The American Journal of Distance Education (Vol. 20, 2), 2006 reports. (http://jolt.merlot.org/Vol2_No2_Laubsch.htm)
To hear a discussion of this topic, including some suggestions for how to organize the materials in your Course Documents area, listen to the audio recording in MP3 format. (http://www.palomar.edu/atrc/Bb/audio/bb0804.mp3)

Episode 3 - Developing Course Information

Palomar College Academic Technology dgray@palomar.edu — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:00:30 -0800

Blackboard @ Palomar is an ongoing series whose purpose is to begin with an undeveloped Blackboard course and systematically develop it, discussing each step in the process. In this episode we discuss some recommendations for using a Course Information content area and introduce the strategy of grouping information into folders.
Technical issues discussed in this episode include creating a folder structure in a Content Area, and adding an item with attached file.

Episode 2 - Focus on the Course Menu

Palomar College Academic Technology dgray@palomar.edu — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 09:15:13 -0800

Blackboard @ Palomar is an ongoing series whose purpose is to begin with an undeveloped Blackboard course and systematically develop it, discussing each step in the process. In this episode we describe and discuss the Course Menu.
Technical issues discussed in this episode include how to add a Content Area to the Course Menu in Blackboard.

Episode 1 - Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

Palomar College Academic Technology dgray@palomar.edu — Fri, 1 Feb 2008 08:55:26 -0800

Blackboard @ Palomar is an ongoing series whose purpose is to begin with an undeveloped Blackboard course and systematically develop it, discussing each step in the process. We begin with a discussion of the Announcement tool.
Technical issues discussed in this episode include how to make an Announcement display in Blackboard.

Episode 0 - What is Blackboard @ Palomar?

Palomar College Academic Technology dgray@palomar.edu — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 15:44:22 -0800

Join with David Gray and Haydn Davis of Academic Technology as they work through the process of building and refining a course site in Blackboard. Technical and pedagogic issues will be discussed at all steps in the process of constructing and managing a course site.
Technical issues discussed in this episode include how to make a Blackboard course available to students and how Palomar faculty can unsubscribe from this newsletter.