Blackboard Replacement Transition to Begin January 2010

In January 2010 LTS will begin a process of transitioning from Blackboard to a new course management system. This process will be complete by the 2010 fall semester when the new system, Course Site, is in place for all courses.

Three factors contributed to the decision to move to this new environment:

1. Faculty and student feedback on the annual Blackboard survey has shown an increasing desire for enhanced, easy-to-use features. Course Site provides an intuitive environment, improved grade book, enhanced discussion forum capabilities, along with many other features.
    

2. Course Site will allow the University to save significantly on our annual licensing cost, allowing these dollars to be shifted to support other teaching and learning initiatives
    

3. A new version of Blackboard has been released which is very different from our current version. The amount of re-training that would need to be done to familiarize faculty, students and staff with this new environment is considerable and would not necessarily result in appreciable improvements for the people using this system

Three very successful Course Site pilot tests were run throughout the spring, summer and fall 2009 semesters. These pilot courses spanned all four colleges and included undergraduate, graduate, and distance education students. Positive feedback from faculty and students provided the impetus for making this move campus-wide. Here are some of those comments:

“I now use the grading spreadsheet function. Bb's was not worth the effort. I really like being able to add my own grading scales.” - Instructor

“Pictures of students with all references to their names is GREAT!” – Instructor

“MUCH better discussion forums...have been able to do a lot more with it.” – Instructor

“The discussion boards are more user-friendly and provoke discussion.” - Student

“Students can have more control over submitting their work -- I like this. For example, I'll often ask for initial draft, then final draft. In Bb, this would have to be two separate assignments. In Moodle, it's all the same drop box -- makes more sense.”- Instructor

Multiple opportunities to learn about Course Site as well as training and faculty development sessions will occur in December and early January for those faculty wishing to move their courses for the Spring 2010 semester. Additional learning opportunities will also be available throughout the Spring and Summer 2010 semesters.

For more information on this ongoing project go to: http://www.lehigh.edu/coursesite

--Sherri Yerk Zwickl
 

Article posted November 18, 2009

 

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