Zero to Sixty … and Beyond

1. Zero to Sixty … and Beyond Jeremy Mortis, IT Web Services Heather Weiland, IT Client Services

2. Outline • The UofC and its Academic Plan • Choosing and implementing Blackboard • Student and Instructor Satisfaction • Looking to the Future

3. North America

4. North America Calgary

5. The University of Calgary • 6th largest University in Canada • Research intensive • 30,000 students, faculty & staff

6. The University of Calgary

7. The Academic Plan Principles To enhance the learning experience To enhance research, discovery and creativity To promote multi-disciplinary inquiry To give back to the community Priorities To be leaders and innovators in energy and the environment To promote understanding of human behavior, institutions and cultures To create technologies and manage information of a knowledge society To advance health and wellness

8. Connected Campus Enabling the learning, research, administrative, and community goals of the UofC, through the effective and efficient use of technology; allowing people to access information when they need it, at the required time, in the desired location, and in the appropriate format.

9. Very Brief History … • “Exploring” the Wild West • Plato on Multics • TenCORE on Windows • Many other smaller experimental systems • “Homesteading” • WebCT: 4 years, ~400 courses, provincial funding

10. A Sustainable Solution • The tipping point • A collaborative effort amongst the faculties, the “Learning Commons”, and Information Technologies • Investigation started in fall, decision made in winter, tested in summer, and full production in fall. • Funding challenges

11. Why Blackboard? • Ease of use • Ease of use • Ease of use

12. Why Blackboard? • Ease of use for • Professors • Course Developers • Students • Good experience in one Faculty • Flexible licensing • A change re-energizes people

13. Transition Team • Directors of IT & Learning Commons as Sponsors • Project Divided into “Threads” with Small Teams • Migration • Technical Infrastructure & Testing • Communications & Training (we took the “show on the road”) • Engaged IT staff within faculties/dept as CA • Website to support communication to campus

14. We were successful!!!! First Year (2003-2004) Fall/Winter Stats Total registered students: 27,526 • Course shells: 1,081 • Students in a Bb course: 18,692 Continuing Education Division • Course shells: 200

15. Continued Support Model - then and now • Technical Support • Information Technologies • Students & Faculty • Email and phone (extended hours) Support Center • In class orientation for students • Design Support • Learning Commons • Regular scheduled classes • Giving help to departments/faculties in customized templates • Faculty Support • Course Administrators (extended IT privileges)

16. University Support – then and now Infrastructure - WE NEED MORE: • Computer labs • Printers • Classrooms with Ethernet • Wireless • 100% of all student areas today (2006) are wireless!

19. Surprises! • Interest in other IT Services • Email, Webdisk, Virus scan • Student groups • Staff Workgroups • Senior administration is now using BB for executive searches

20. Students Using Blackboard

21. Blackboard Student Survey Fall 2004 • Why do a survey of the student body? • Number of students responding to survey • 5554 respondents (5423 unique) • Collaboration by IT, Learning Commons and the Bb Course Administrators Group

22. Types of Questions 15 questions … • Could you find a PC to access Bb on campus? • Where do you access Bb most often? • Most effective use of Bb • Least effective? • What would make it better? • How was the technical support?

23. Blackboard Student Survey Results Question 2

24. Question 11 • Notes & Course Materials • Review notes after class • Sample exams & assignments • Announcements • Discussion boards • Input from both students & prof • Group projects • File exchange & email • Grades • Assignment submission

27. Instructor’s Survey – Fall 2005 • Why do an Instructor survey? • Number of Instructors responding to survey - 335 out of 1400 approx. • Collaboration by IT, Learning Commons and the BB Course Administrators Group • This resulted in questions on support, training and whether blended learning objectives are being met

28. What did they have to say? Types of questions: • Rate your overall experience using BB • The majority of instructors surveyed rated their experience with Blackboard as good (58%) or excellent (34%) • Do you plan to use it again? • 98% said they planned to use Blackboard again • Blackboard is easy for me to use • 43% strongly agree and 46% agree that BB is easy to use • Blackboard is easy for my students to use • 27%strongly agree and 56% agree • If you could change or add a BB feature what would it be? • 29% grade book, assessment deficiencies

29. Blended Learning … • What advice would you give to students considering a blended learning course for the first time? • The need for access to a good computer equipment/internet connection and the importance of checking to make sure that you can access all the technology systems properly before the class begins • Be willing to take on a greater level of responsibility in a blended learning course, especially within the online component • Be sure to schedule time on a regular basis to participate in the online component of the course but also be careful to monitor the amount of time you are spending online • Be sure to read the course expectations/instructions • Have an open mind and be patient • Attend the face-to-face sessions for the course • Don’t be afraid to ask questions and for assistance • Attend an orientation seminar and/or recommend that your instructor provide one • Always check the technology twice

30. Blended Learning Answers Compiled • What do you like most about your blended learning courses? • Increased access and flexibility • Ability to provide a variety and diversity of formats for learning • Easier and increased communication with students • Assessment and feedback efficiencies • Increased opportunities for student reflection • Increased student preparation and readiness for face-to-face activities allows for greater and richer classroom interactions • Facilitates the development of a learning community - peer learning and support system • Increased opportunities for students to learn how to take responsibility for their own learning and develop critical thinking skills • Ability for students to work at their own pace and develop greater independence • Ability to expand the classroom • Increased student engagement within the course • Cost savings for students and conservation of paper • Ease of facilitating group work

31. Success Factors • Ease of use • System availability • Multiple support modes • Quickly reaching “critical mass” • Don’t count on Bb for everything

32. Add-ons • ElluminateLive • Breeze • Freebie Building Blocks • Viewlets • Locally developed building blocks • WebWorK integration • ERP integration

33. Summer projects • Upgrade to 7.0 • Fix I/O throughput problems • Automatic creation for all courses • Increased use of templates • On-site (within the faculty/dept) training • More deputy Course Administrators • Encourage use of ElluminateLive

34. Where to now? • Blackboard as a “framework” • Continue to encourage adoption • Buy/build new building blocks • Further integration • New governance model

35. Questions?

36. Sites to take a look at • This is our current elearn support site: http://elearn.ucalgary.ca/ Note: we are currently working on a more comprehensive student support site. Stay tuned. • Here is the link to our “blended learning” initiatives:http://commons.ucalgary.ca/teachingresources/itbl.html

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