Blackboard

Blackboard is a convenient way to consolidate all of the class information in one place online. Teachers can put assignments and other information for the class. Both students and teachers can communicate with each other via discussion boards as well as email. Students can submit assignments electronically. Students also have a place to store assignments until they are ready to be submitted. Blackboard is like a virtual Assignment Notebook for classes.

There are a few main problems with Blackboard. To be completely dependent on Blackboard is unsafe because it is often temperamental. Teachers need to be understanding about these problems and need to have backup plans for presenting information about the class. This cannot be the sole way to communicate and give information to students.

Also, the Albert system that is part of Blackboard is not very user-friendly. I remember using the Banner system at U of Illinois, and it was easy to use and navigate. Albert makes you fill out the same tabs when you need to go back and change information. It is time consuming and unnecessary to do this every time. You cannot always hit the back button. And if you hit the wrong button you need to exit out of Blackboard completely and login all over again. I understand that this is due to privacy issues, but there could be a better way to do it.