- Address Book
- Blog Tool
- Calendar
- Digital Dropbox
- Glossary
- Homepage
- IDEA Online Surveys
- My Grades
- Personal Information
- Podcast
- Tasks
- User Manual
- View Grades
- Wiki Tool
Figure 32 - Course Tools
The Address Book should be more readily accessible through the email program and integrated with the UAA email. Additionally, a view all feature should be added, rather than the scaled down search feature that is now available (Figure 33).
Figure 33 - Address Book
The Blog Tool is another nice feature; however it appears to be very sparce (Figure 34). Ideally it would have all of the features as something like Blogger.com (Figure 35).
Figure 34 - Blackboard Blog Tool
Figure 35 - Blogger.com
The Calendar feature can be accessed from the Blackboard homepage. It has the basic features one would want in a calendar.
The Digital Dropbox is a good idea in theory (Figure 36); however, in practice there have been may complaints about documents getting lost in the process. These complaints need to be resolved and then this feature may be useful. Another option would be to set up this area like an ftp site.
The IDEA Online Surveys are a relatively good idea, but uneven in execution. In all of my courses, this function had no content (Figure 38). For surveys, the feature could aim to work like survey monkey (Figure 39). For evaluations, a site like RateMyProfessors seems to work well (Figure 40).
The Digital Dropbox is a good idea in theory (Figure 36); however, in practice there have been may complaints about documents getting lost in the process. These complaints need to be resolved and then this feature may be useful. Another option would be to set up this area like an ftp site.
Figure 36 - Digital Dropbox
A Glossary is not a bad idea, but it is dependent on what the Faculty member adds.
Figure 37 - Glossary
The Homepage is supposedly linked to the roster, but did not function when I tried it.
A Glossary is not a bad idea, but it is dependent on what the Faculty member adds.
Figure 37 - Glossary
The IDEA Online Surveys are a relatively good idea, but uneven in execution. In all of my courses, this function had no content (Figure 38). For surveys, the feature could aim to work like survey monkey (Figure 39). For evaluations, a site like RateMyProfessors seems to work well (Figure 40).
Figure 38 - IDEA Online Surveys
Figure 39 - Survey Monkey
Figure 40 - RateMyProfessors
Figure 39 - Survey Monkey
Figure 40 - RateMyProfessors
The My Grades section is only as effective as the Instructor chooses. If Instructors use it, the feature can be useful.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, the Personal Information section needs to be reviewed and overhauled by IT.
The Podcast feature may have some future use, but for now, it is usually empty.
The Tasks section may have some use, but for now it appears to be difficult to add a task and associate it with a specific course. This feature should have most of the functionalities of the tasks feature is Microsoft Outlook, or in the tasks feature within Yahoo! email.
The User Manual appears to be a very valuable feature (Figure 41). The help icon on the top of the page could be linked to this manual. Another link to this manual could also by created on the Blackboard homepage under the Tools module. This feature might be the most useful and most overlooked part of Blackboard. On a technical note, the horizontal navigation bar described as Section 4 is missing from this page.
The View Grades Feature appears to be a duplicate link with the My Grades. One of the two could be eliminated (Figure 42).
The final Course Tool - Wiki Tool - is confusing to operate, but is a good idea with a high potential for usefulness once some of the design kinks are worked out.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, the Personal Information section needs to be reviewed and overhauled by IT.
The Podcast feature may have some future use, but for now, it is usually empty.
The Tasks section may have some use, but for now it appears to be difficult to add a task and associate it with a specific course. This feature should have most of the functionalities of the tasks feature is Microsoft Outlook, or in the tasks feature within Yahoo! email.
The User Manual appears to be a very valuable feature (Figure 41). The help icon on the top of the page could be linked to this manual. Another link to this manual could also by created on the Blackboard homepage under the Tools module. This feature might be the most useful and most overlooked part of Blackboard. On a technical note, the horizontal navigation bar described as Section 4 is missing from this page.
Figure 41 - User Manual - Most Useful and Overlooked Course Tool
The View Grades Feature appears to be a duplicate link with the My Grades. One of the two could be eliminated (Figure 42).
Figure 42 - My Grades and View Grades Duplication
The final Course Tool - Wiki Tool - is confusing to operate, but is a good idea with a high potential for usefulness once some of the design kinks are worked out.
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