Sorry to gripe, but I do. This is the first class I have taken in Blackboard, and it's annoying how much time I am spending hunting for things. It's not that I was necessarily in love with EPIC, but Blackboard seems so much harder to navigate.
I miss having everything neatly packaged in one module...readings, assignments, quizzes, etc. I also miss having a handy task lisk to show me what I needed to do, and the fact that items - once completed - would drop off the list. I am able to make Blackboard work; it's just not nearly as streamlined, it seems.
Am I just not using Blackboard correctly, or is anyone else experiencing this?
I take classes at OU, and while they are held in physical classrooms, there is A LOT of Bb useage.
I had navigation problems the very first time I used Bb. Since then, things have been smooth unless the professor is unorganized and has everything all junked up. That being said, even the good Bb courses are still kinda poop. I wish the calendar and To-do stuff would update on the Bb homepage. That would be super convenient!
I have used Blackboard in the past - and will not change my mind about it. I agree, it is up to the instructor to set it up. So far, it isn't set up very well. Editing posts has to be set by the instructor and that has not happened in this class. Also - we have it ingrained in us (especially those of us that are almost done)to type in word and copy/paste to the discussion board. Not in Blackboard - won't work. PITA are the words that come to mind .....
I copied and pasted my DB post. TA said don't worry about formatting. I hope she means it!
I don't like BB either. I've used in the past at another college. This college ended up switching to Desire2learn (which I like enough). Having to come back to BB wasn't easy, but I guess it's gonna have to work.
I use blackboard in another college where I am teaching. I am more familiar with it as an instructor than as a student, although as a student I liked Epic better. I think the problem is that the TAs haven't had time to learn all of the enhancements and workings of Blackboard. They were hit with the transition to semesters and transition to blackboard at the same time. It is a bit intimating as an instructor when you first have to use it if you weren't given classes to learn it.
I am sure that they will get better at it as they go.
It really depends on the instructors experience and competence with it that makes or breaks it.
Cold Stethoscope
130 Posts
I nominate this for the Most Constructive Comment of the Week award.