Mangosuthu University of Technology MUT Blackboard

Mangosuthu University of Technology MUT Blackboard

What is Blackboard?

The Mangosuthu University of Technology MUT Blackboard is a tool that allows faculty to add resources for students to access online. Powerpoint, Captivate, video, audio, animation, and other applications are created outside of Blackboard and added into Blackboard courses for students to enhance teaching and learning efforts.

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Here are some examples of how technology is used to support effective teaching and learning at Mangosuthu University of Technology

Multiple Learning Styles: Blackboard (Bb) can allow you to provide multiple content formats (text, images, sound, audio, animations, graphs, etc.), which allows for students to find material based on their preferred learning style.Repetition: Bb provides an area to place information about the course, assignments and exams in multiple locations. In the Syllabus a list of Course Goals/Objectives should be available. Repeating these goals/objectives within the assignment or content areas will direct the student through a learning path.Audio/Video: As with this Italian course, students benefit greatly by watching an Italian movie clip. Seeing and listening to native Italian speaking people is at their fingertips anytime, anywhere. Small movie clips can be added into a Bb course or larger files can be linked to the Media Streaming Server.Games: Who said education can’t be fun? Play Jeopardy, Who Wants to be a Millionaire or provide crossword puzzles for students to use in Bb or in class.

Online Content: You can provide materials online to allow students to review (syllabus, lectures, links, etc.) information on their own schedule. Access to PowerPoint presentations, old exam questions, homework answers, etc., can provide students with study tools that will improve their grades.Assessment Tool: You can create quizzes in Bb to allow students to test their knowledge on practice exams to verify their understanding before taking the exam in class.

Assignments: Bb will allow you to create an Assignment that is placed anywhere within the content area. The student can read the information and submit the file for grading. Once the file is submitted, it can be accessed by the instructor via the Grade Center. The instructor can view the file, score, post comments for the student and themselves and submit the file back (Microsoft Word: track changes, comments, etc.)

The Assignment tool also allows the instructor to download all the files at once and remove them all at once when finished.

Discussion Tool: Bb provides a threaded discussion, which allows students and instructors the ability to share concepts, ideas, questions and answers. One way to use this tool is for Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). Create a Forum that allows students to see FAQ questions/answers. They may be able to help each other and you can post all questions/answers there instead of emailing to individuals.Discussion Forums can also extend class time discussion by providing tools outside of class. You may find using a Forum for exam-related questions very helpful as well.

Group Tools: Bb provides a collaborative area for student groups to discuss within a threaded discussion board, chat (synchronously) with their group members, exchange files for review or additions, and/or send email to each other. Students today have many responsibilities and finding a time and place to meet can be very difficult. These Group tools allow all users to meet on their own timelines.Virtual Classroom Tool: Students and instructors may communicate on a topic in the synchronous chat room within Bb. Real-time communication with Whiteboard tools can be used for collaboration and off-site office hours.

Interactivity: Interactive applications such as this Timber Structural animation can be placed into your Bb course. These applications can allow students to view information in multiple views with movement, graphics, and text. This provides multiple information for many different learning styles.

Discussion Tool: Have students post their papers for peer evaluation during the developmental time. Then again after the final paper is turned in so that their peers can see how the paper progressed. Students are encouraged to create professional documents when they are published for others to view.Simulations: By simulating real life problems/issues students are able to repeat steps without extra expense or danger to others. These simulations can be performed at home or anywhere there is internet access.

Digital DropBox & Grade Center: With the collaboration of the Digital DropBox and the Grade Center, students can submit assignments, that instructors can return with comments and changes (Word Track Changes feature). Once the final assignment is submitted, instructors can add the grade to the Grade Center. This way, the students are informed of their progress in the course and have ample time to adjust, if needed.