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Denise King, a full-time faculty member in the Information Systems Management (ISM) program at Carlow University, has been teaching with technology for several years. Not only does she instruct students in her program, she also teaches business management courses in Carlow's accelerated adult degree program (CAP). When teaching in the CAP format, she races against the clock to cover the concepts with three contact hours in the classroom for only eight weeks. King states, "What has helped me get through the material is using Blackboard (Carlow's online course management tool). I use it as a one-stop shop, similar to the strategy used by superstores such as Walmart. Students only need to go to just one place for course information." Students can access the syllabus, homework assignments, grades, lecture notes, links to supplemental Internet resources, and more with a few clicks of the mouse, anywhere they have an Internet connection. With a clear organizational framework, students using Blackboard become more efficient learners. Also, since CAP classes meet just once per week, Blackboard provides an additional bonus. It removes communication barriers by providing mechanisms for facilitating conversations such as discussion boards, chat sessions and e-mail.
One of King's favorite quotes is "Technology, like art, is a soaring exercise of the human imagination" (Bell, 2005). With Blackboard, she finds innovative ways to engage students in the learning process. For example, she used Blackboard to supplement an in-class course, BSM304 Principles of Finance, during the summer of 2005. This course is feared by many students due to the complexity of the subject matter. However, the students in the summer course were very receptive to using Blackboard as a way to enhance the learning process. During the eight weeks, assessments were administered online to reinforce learning. In addition, weekly evaluations were conducted where the students reflected on their learning through anonymous surveys. King states, "I would review my students' reflections to find ways to engage them in the learning process." For example, when students indicated they had difficulty understanding time value of money concepts, she created study guides with relevant examples to augment student comprehension. Denise King has used Blackboard in a number of ways: as a supplement to courses, for completely online courses, and as a resource for program information for ISM Advisees. She says, "Best of all, you don't have to be a technological guru to use Blackboard. It is a very user friendly tool." The opportunities Blackboard offers are endless. |
