--- Forwarded Message from "Mauricio Miraglia" <[log in to unmask]> --- >From: "Mauricio Miraglia" <[log in to unmask]> >To: "Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum" <[log in to unmask]> >References: <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: RE: #6184.1 blackboard class (!) >Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 15:41:28 -0500 ------------------ I've just gotten acquainted with blackboard and would like some advice on how to better prepare / parse / deliver the content by this means. Are there any tutorials available. I'm working with a group of teachers and would also like to know if it's a good idea for them to present the content in ppt presentations on a first stage prior to the real thing ie blackboard. thanks a lot Mauricio Miraglia NLC. ----- Original Message ----- From: LLTI-Editor <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2001 12:37 PM Subject: #6184.1 blackboard class (!) --- Forwarded Message from Lauren Rosen <[log in to unmask]> --- >User-Agent: Microsoft-Entourage/9.0.2509 >Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2001 10:32:38 -0500 >Subject: Re: #6184 blackboard class >From: Lauren Rosen <[log in to unmask]> >To: LLTI message <[log in to unmask]> >In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]> ------------------ Tommy, I taught a short summer course in blackboard on integrating technology into the FL classroom. I will be teaching it again this summer in July. The biggest disappointment my first time around was in trying to get them to have small group discussions. As much as I encouraged them to share with each other and I gave them specific topics to discuss, it seemed that they would all write to me and not respond to each other although I had specifically asked them to do so. I have decided this time around to actually make it part of their grade, similar to a participation grade which is common in a language class. It seems odd to do this with adults but I'm not sure how else to get them to talk with each other. I also asked them to do their final projects in groups but found that the only ones who really worked together were those who lived near enough to each other to meet in person. That was fine but I would have liked more of them to work in groups over the network. I believe if the course were longer and they had more opportunity to really meet each other over the web, that might have fostered better communication. I found blackboard itself easy to work with and I did use the quizzing and survey features to collect data along the way. Many of my students were not hardly familiar with email when they started the course, much less a system such as blackboard, but they seemed to do fairly well with it anyway. I also held online office hours through instant messenger where some of my students contacted me. Posting their profiles in the beginning worked well for getting them used to posting materials to blackboard. Also using the assignment area for attaching word documents that were their worksheets as well as describing a daily calendar worked well. I didn't use all the features as I think it would have become confusing in a short course to implement everything at once. I did find myself sending them email messages telling/reminding them where in Blackboard they needed to go to do the required work for that day/week. I'm not sure of all the changes I will make between now and July as it was my first time doing the course online last year and it was a last minute decision to do it that way. Feel free to contact me in August after I have been through it again and I might have some more feedback for you. Lauren Lauren Rosen Collaborative Language Program Coordinator University of Wisconsin 618 Van Hise Hall 1220 Linden Drive Madison, WI 53706 [log in to unmask] 608-262-4066 (voice) 608-265-3892 (fax) ********** Check out Language Links *************** Resources for teachers and learners of languages http://polyglot.lss.wisc.edu/lss/lang/langlink.html *************************************************** On 6/18/01 8:31 AM, "LLTI-Editor" <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > --- Forwarded Message from "Tommy B. McDonell" <[log in to unmask]> --- > >> From: "Tommy B. McDonell" <[log in to unmask]> >> To: "Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum" >> <[log in to unmask]> >> Subject: blackboard class >> Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2001 20:17:25 -0400 >> Importance: Normal > > ------------------ > Hi. I'd be interested in hearing from those of you who have taught a totally > online class, especially if it was on blackboard. > > What were some of your successes and failures. What do you wish you had > known before you did it? > > What specific suggestions would you make for those of us who do it? > > Thanks for any help. I'm developing a business writing class for Pace > University that will be piloted this summer and taught in the fall. > > Tommy McDonell > > Ms. Tommy B. McDonell > Adjunct, Marymount Manhattan College > La Guardia Community College and > Online Developer for Pace University. > Click On @ the Library Instructor > [log in to unmask] > h:212-358-1233 before 9:30 PM > f:212-358-1230