Blackboard: A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives

Blackboard: A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives Patricia A. Suess, Ph.D. Jyoti Pande, Ph.D. Abby Deshane Dorrine Bergjans Irina Shirer St. Louis Community College

Objectives of the Session • To share our findings of two surveys of Blackboard use, specially as a tool of teaching and learning • To share implications and lessons learned for faculty, trainers and IT professionals • Share best practices within this group A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives

St. Louis Community College Profile St. Louis Community College is the largest community college district in Missouri and one of the largest in the United States. Fall 2007 -- 24,567 college creditstudents. Continuing education enrollments bring the total number of students served to approximately 65,000 per semester. Faculty: 420 full-time, 1,227 part-time. STLCC offers 11 college-transfer options and more than 90 career programs in the areas of art and design, business, civil and community service, engineering and technology, health and office professions; we also offer continuing education, developmental, and business/industrial training programs. Following a visit in January 2008 by the Higher Learning Commission, the college was granted continued accreditation until the year 2018. A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives

St. Louis Community College Profile • STLCC provides access to our programs with four main campuses strategically located throughout the St. Louis Metropolitan area, from the very north in Ferguson at the Florissant Valley location, to the city's central corridor at Forest Park, to the southwest area of the county at the Meramec campus, to the bourgeoning West County area at our new Wildwood campus which opened in August 2007. • The college also operates three education centers throughout the service area and offers courses and programs at numerous area high schools, community centers, libraries, churches, hospitals and museums. A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives

St. Louis Community College Profile: Locations FV MC WW FP A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives

Background and Survey Implementation • The College Instructional Delivery and Technology Advisory Group (CIDTAG), a district-wide group of faculty, technical staff and instructional designers was formed in December 2006; sponsored by the Vice-Chancellor of Technology. • The College adopted Blackboard in the year 2000 and a survey of end-user needs and recommendations for future services was necessary. • Surveys were conducted using the survey tool “Student Voice” licensed by the college. A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives

Survey Implementation • In Fall 2007 separate surveys were administered to all STLCC full-time and part-time faculty and students. • Faculty survey was sent via college email and student survey was inserted in all Blackboard courses. • There were 324 faculty respondents (19.7% return) and 1,752 student respondents (7.1% return*). A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives

Demographics Comparison Student Survey Faculty Survey Response Rates A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives

Demographics Comparison Student Survey Faculty Survey Distribution of Respondents Across Locations A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives

Demographics Comparison Student Survey Faculty Survey Classification of Respondents A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives

Faculty Demographics A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives

Student Demographics A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives

Blackboard Comparison Student Survey Faculty Survey Type of Course A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives

Blackboard Uses Faculty Survey A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives

Blackboard Uses Student Survey A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives

Tools Other than Blackboard Faculty Survey A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives

Blackboard Tools Satisfaction Faculty Survey A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives

Blackboard Training Faculty Survey A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives

Blackboard Comparison Student Survey Faculty Survey Issues with Blackboard A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives

Blackboard Comparison Student Survey Faculty Survey Assistance with Blackboard A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives

Student Blackboard Use A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives

Student Benefits of Blackboard Use A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives

Student comments • “Overall, I like using Blackboard and think it is very convenient. The only problem I have had is that it kicked off when I was partially through a test and I had to call to have the help desk reset it.” • “I feel that not enough Instructors utilize Blackboard. I feel it should be mandatory for all classes. Also the Instructors who do utilize it (not all of them) trickle off and stop posting things on it as the semester goes.” • “I would strongly encourage all faculty to utilize Blackboard as a means of communicating with their students…” • “I think it’s ridiculous to rely on technology to turn in your homework.”

Student comments • “I feel motivated to work on class projects after checking my grades. This is a great tool.” • “A Psych instructor used video & audio lectures that were MP3 downloadable…When she did this, my average increased dramatically! I noticed that that class average increased as well.” • “…I was hesitant to use it at first…it seemed like an extra step, more work than was necessary. After logging in a couple of times, I couldn’t imagine NOT using the program.” • “I enjoy corresponding with instructor (sic) and other students on Blackboard. I tend to speak out more when corresponding via Blackboard…”

Faculty Comments • “Although many faculty whine about the adequacy of Blackboard, I think it has proven its worth to us time and time again. It has standardized the production of our online and hybrid courses.” • “I can’t imagine teaching w/o Blackboard…I have used (it) for surveys and exams, which the students really enjoyed, they told me.” • “I love Blackboard and think it helps make students responsible and involved in their learning.” • “I love using Blackboard, but it often cumbersome and time consuming. The Gradebook issues may cause me to stop using it completely.” • “We do not have adequate assistance in designing online courses.” • “My only complaint is the way the Gradebook figures weighted grades.”

Questions??Comments?? Presented by SLCC: Pat Suess, PhD Jyoti Pande, PhD Abby Deshane Dorrine Bergjans

In conclusion… Thanks for attending our session. Enjoy the rest of your conference.

Student Demographics A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives 41

Student SLCC Computer Use A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives 42

Student Own Computer Use A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives 43

Student Internet Connection A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives 44

St. Louis Community College Profile: Education Centers A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives 45

Blackboard: A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives