Monthly Update

New developments have taken place in Blackboard. There are several areas on the test server that have been updated with the view to updating the live site. The login page, help tab and e-community tab have all be re-vammped with links, images, new modules produced and the incorporation of web 2.0 tools and videos to aid engagement of both the student and the academics that use Blackboard. The help tab has been updated for both the staff and students wiith more accessible information and a more interactive and appealing user interface.

The e-community tab has been re-designed from that on the live site. The tab area includes more resources that are available to the overseas students, with a view to incorporating a variety of new software tools that will aid in collaboration, retention and engagement of students that study both part-time and who study from a distance.

We have been looking at a wide variety of software tools that we intend to pilot for a range of different features. We are currently looking to create learning objects on a range of distance learning courses, and we have looked into using Articulate to facilitate us in this approach. To aid in online collaboration of students, we have downloaded the Learning Objects Campus Pack building block into Blackboard. This allows uses to create blogs, wikis, podcasts etc within Blackboard. As an addition to this tool, we are also looking into piloting Wimba collaboartve suite, that feature tools such as virtual classroom so a lecturer can run a live classroom to students overseas, and Pronto which is an interactive messaging service allowing students and tutors to communicate vai the aid of Blackboard.

more to follow..