Figure 14 - My Courses Module
From the My Courses Module, you click on any listed course.
Generally, the page will look something like Figure 15.
On occasion, the Professor might modify the look a bit, as shown in Figure 16; however, the informational architecture is generally consistent. The content will vary significantly based on how involved the Instructor is.
The standard Course homepage could be divided into five main sections (Figure 17). The first section is similar to the Blackboard homepage - a horizontal navigation bar. The second section is also similar to the Blackboard homepage - a set of horizontal navigational tabs. The third section is a vertical navigational bar at the left margin. The fourth section is a new horizontal navigational bar below section two. The fifth section is a content section.
In Section 1, the same critiques apply as mentioned in the Blackboard Homepage blog entry - The home icon should be designated UAA home, and Blackboard Home icon should be added, and the help icon should connect to some kind of help information (rather than the distant education homepage). Furthermore, if the UAA icon is listed on the top left of the Blackboard homepage, it should be listed in the same place on all other Blackboard pages for consistency.
In Section 2, again, the same critiques apply as mentioned in the Blackboard homepage blog entry - there is no real need for a Courses tab, and the tools information from the Blackboard homepage could be placed in tabs.
Skipping Section 3 for a moment, Section 4 is a very nice addition - it is a compact navigational map that shows you where you are in the website. I rate this section 10.
Section 3 is a nice example of a vertical navigational bar that stays consistent on all webpages within the course.
Section 5 is where all the content exists. It is a good sized space - not too small and not too large.
Generally, the page will look something like Figure 15.
Figure 15 - Standard Course Homepage
On occasion, the Professor might modify the look a bit, as shown in Figure 16; however, the informational architecture is generally consistent. The content will vary significantly based on how involved the Instructor is.
Figure 16 - Modified Course Homepage
The standard Course homepage could be divided into five main sections (Figure 17). The first section is similar to the Blackboard homepage - a horizontal navigation bar. The second section is also similar to the Blackboard homepage - a set of horizontal navigational tabs. The third section is a vertical navigational bar at the left margin. The fourth section is a new horizontal navigational bar below section two. The fifth section is a content section.
Figure 17 - Sections of a Standard Course Homepage
In Section 1, the same critiques apply as mentioned in the Blackboard Homepage blog entry - The home icon should be designated UAA home, and Blackboard Home icon should be added, and the help icon should connect to some kind of help information (rather than the distant education homepage). Furthermore, if the UAA icon is listed on the top left of the Blackboard homepage, it should be listed in the same place on all other Blackboard pages for consistency.
In Section 2, again, the same critiques apply as mentioned in the Blackboard homepage blog entry - there is no real need for a Courses tab, and the tools information from the Blackboard homepage could be placed in tabs.
Skipping Section 3 for a moment, Section 4 is a very nice addition - it is a compact navigational map that shows you where you are in the website. I rate this section 10.
Section 3 is a nice example of a vertical navigational bar that stays consistent on all webpages within the course.
Section 5 is where all the content exists. It is a good sized space - not too small and not too large.
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