How do we use Blackboard in Teaching and Learning at UCS?

As part of the VLE review, I've undertaken a short review of how we are currently using Blackboard at UCS in our teaching and learning.

This is a preliminary review on assessing the methodology (sample size is 91 or 8.4% of current (2010/11) active Blackboard modules). It will be repeated to include a much larger and statistically significant sample size (n=284) in the near future.

The findings suggest the use of Blackboard by staff at UCS is as an online admin support model.

This implies, it is as a repository for electronic information as the focus of the teaching and learning takes place in the classroom. The online material in Blackboard is likely to include; administrative information (such as course announcements, contact information, and calendar dates), the course handbook, readings, teaching material (presentation), and submission of assignments (formative and summative).

In terms of the quality of the learning experience, it can be suggested that if the student did not access the course and only attended the face to face events and was provided a printed handbook their learning experience would not be significantly effected. This is because the learning activities, and assessment and feedback are undertaken in the face to face environment, and could be supported through the module / unit handbook.

The report is available from: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xexQH1jNjYD0hAiz13NY2LDUP9Or6rchKQn2mL9axFw/edit?hl=en&authkey=CPCHuPsB