Blackboard = Learning
Blackboard is a key tool for modern learning
By India Holland
JOMC Journal Reporter
Blackboard is one of the most innovative advanced tools available in education today. Blackboard is a never ending resource for learners of all avenues. Dr. Shelia Whitley of NCAT Mass Communications and Journalism Department says blackboard has advantages for the professor and the student. It helps streamline the course work for both by allowing the options for quick access to course documents, assignments, tests, quizzes and grades at a quick glance.
“There are many advantages to blackboard for both the student and the professor. I post all of my course content material there. I don’t have to worry about if the student received it. If the student loses it they can go back and retrieve it immediately,” stated Whitley.
“I don’t think I could have survived without Blackboard,” said Tiffany Wright, a graduate student from High Point University. “It saved me on many test and quizzes throughout my college career. Many of my friends didn’t use Blackboard like I did and their GPA suffered for it.” Why aren’t more students at NCAT using blackboard?
According to www.blackboard.com, blackboard is an online tool that helps streamline the learning process by using the Internet, mobile apps and interactive capabilities such as online chats. It is found in thousands of higher education institutions, K-12, professional, corporate, and government agencies, providing them with an easy and engaging educational experience. Blackboard was founded in 1997 by two college friends; today it has 21 locations. It has access in more than 70 countries, over 1,700 employees and over 20 million daily users. Blackboard has more than 17 billion student transactions each year.
Blackboard’s mobile application called Blackboard Mobile Learn, allows the students and professors to access Blackboard while on the move.
“Blackboard keeps me organized. I like the features that update you on assignments,” says NCAT Sophomore Kayla Jackson. Jackson is an Electronic Media student and uses blackboard extensively. “I like the mobile app because I don’t have to log on to my computer all the time. I get class update and information through the app pretty quickly.”
Today’s students want their learning experience to be accessible, collaborative, engaging, and very convenient. Learning has to fit their lifestyle. It has to be digital and portable. Blackboard is that especially with the mobile application.
This also allows flexibility and savings. An option that some professors have utilized at NCAT is having an online discussion via blackboard verses attending a classroom setting at least one day a week. This saves times and gas for the commuting students and professor and holds everyone accountable for their contribution to the discussion. Blackboard is accessible on many mobile devices including iPhones, Androids, Blackberry, HP webOS, and iOS powered devices.
“I use blackboard extensively,” said Whitley. “I use it to communicate with my students via announcements, email tool and I put all my test there. Blackboard gives the students more flexibility around when they can take the assessments and they get feedback immediately.” Whitley also added about the blackboard grade book option, “Another advantage for the student is they have a pretty good idea where they stand all times.”
Wright agreed that using blackboard made the decision to go to graduate school easier. “After graduation I got a job and within weeks I was laid off. I decided to go back to graduate school. It is a competitive market in any field today and any help that gives you a leg up I am taking it and backboard did that for me in college,” she added. “Companies use Blackboard as a part of their day to day technology and communication process and already having a background in it gives me an advantage.”
After polling 100 random students, only 30 percent they used blackboard on a consistent basis. They also said it helped them tremendously when focusing on test and when needing clarity on assignments. Another 50 percent said they us it occasionally and the final 20 percent said they do not use it at all.
The question is why isn’t the other 70 percent using Blackboard on a consistent basis? Some say it is because all of the instructors do not use it or they have different ways of using it; making the process more complicated; or the instructors put too much information on Blackboard and they lose the content of the message. Finally some students believe what they are currently doing is working for them and unless they have to change; they will stick to their current process.
“I don’t find blackboard very helpful. Not all professors post assignments on it; I only check it when they tell me to. I have no complaints about it. I just don’t use it very often,” says NCAT freshman, Dele Odumosu.
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