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BlackBoard and Beyond. Fall 2005 Faculty Workshop LeTourneau University Lauren Bitikofer. BlackBoard usage. I use BlackBoard in all the classes that I teach to some degree. As a minimum I use it to post grades and to communicate with the class.
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BlackBoard and Beyond Fall 2005 Faculty Workshop LeTourneau University Lauren Bitikofer
BlackBoard usage • I use BlackBoard in all the classes that I teach to some degree. • As a minimum I use it to post grades and to communicate with the class. • At it’s maximum I use it for 98% of the homework
Flight Science 1 • Freshman level class • 40-50 students • Unknown abilities as there are no prerequisites • The course covers a lot of material some of it is just rote knowledge and some requires applied math and physics • Primarily a text book based course
Flight Science 1 • I needed a way to “force” “encourage” “manipulate” the students to spend time with the book between each class period. • I want a track record of the student’s progress and discipline. • When I get the call from Mom or Dad I can easily identify whether “Johnny” is doing the work or not. • I give a lot of homework. • BlackBoard is the tool.
Flight Science 1 • I have developed question pools for each reading assignment from the text • Each pool may be 40-60 questions • I add/modify each semester • For the 2nd class day they are assigned Chapter 1 to read and take a quiz over the chapter on Bb • All Bb assignments are open book
Flight Science 1 • The quiz might be randomly selected using about ½ the questions in the pool. • Would probably force completion during one session so they can’t print it out, then look up the information log back in and complete it. • Would probably set a time limit to about 1 minute per question to force them to at least go through the chapter to know where to find answers before they start the quiz. • Every quiz is different due to random selection from a pool.
Flight Science 1 • On class day 2 I cover the really important parts of Chapter 1 or the parts that easily misunderstood. • If a student has done their homework, they’re ready for the lecture • I have a record of their effort for the day
Flight Science 1 • All quizzes go off line at 7:00AM on the day they are due. • I always include the due dates in with the quiz title. • Chapter 2 (1/14/05) • I don’t post quizzes ahead and expect them to remember that’s it’s due in a week or two or three.
Flight Science 1 • Day 3 • Quiz due over Chapter 2 • Quiz due over Chapter 1 • Lecture on Chapter 2 • Day 4 • Quiz due over chapter 3 • Quiz due over chapters 1 & 2 (combined) • Lecture on chapter 3
Flight Science 1 • Bb becomes a drill tool that keep the students engaged between class periods. • This works well for the rote subject material. • I also quiz the computational material and Bb 6.3 has new features that will make this work even better. • The last thing I want is for a student to come into a test not knowing whether or not they understand the material.
Flight Science 1 • Over 100 quizzes that counted for grades • 205 question pools loaded • Practice area that doesn’t count toward class grade • Homework done on Bb is counted for 15% of the class grade.
Respondus • www.respondus.com • Fantastic tool for managing Bb quizzes • Import questions from text files • Write questions • Use previous questions as basis for new question • Publish to Bb • Print for written test
Respondus • Easy to add graphics to questions • Has an equation editor • I do not save Bb course quizzes from semester to semester because • Respondus jumbles the material on Bb in such a way that’s it’s almost impossible to trace • I keep changing and tailor what I put up for each class
Respondus • 30 day free trial • $79 for single copy • Can be installed on home computer and office computer • Great customer service from Respondus