Blackboard: A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives

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Blackboard A Comparison of Faculty and Student
Perspectives

• Patricia A. Suess, Ph.D.
• Jyoti Pande, Ph.D.
• Abby Deshane
• Dorrine Bergjans
• Irina Shirer
• St. Louis Community College

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Objectives of the Session

• To share our findings of two surveys of
  Blackboard use, specially as a tool of teaching
  and learning
• To share implications and lessons learned for
  faculty, trainers and IT professionals
• Share best practices within this group

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St. Louis Community College Profile

• St. Louis Community College is the largest
  community college district in Missouri and one of
  the largest in the United States.
• Fall 2007 -- 24,567 college credit students. 
  Continuing education enrollments bring the total
  number of students served to approximately 65,000
  per semester. Faculty 420 full-time, 1,227
  part-time.
• STLCC offers 11 college-transfer options and more
  than 90 career programs in the areas of art and
  design, business, civil and community service,
  engineering and technology, health and office
  professions we also offer continuing education,
  developmental, and business/industrial training
  programs.
• Following a visit in January 2008 by the Higher
  Learning Commission, the college was granted
  continued accreditation until the year 2018.

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St. Louis Community College Profile

• STLCC provides access to our programs with four
  main campuses strategically located throughout
  the St. Louis Metropolitan area, from the very
  north in Ferguson at the Florissant Valley
  location, to the city's central corridor at
  Forest Park, to the southwest area of the county
  at the Meramec campus, to the bourgeoning West
  County area at our new Wildwood campus which
  opened in August 2007.
• The college also operates three education centers
  throughout the service area and offers courses
  and programs at numerous area high schools,
  community centers, libraries, churches, hospitals
  and museums.

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St. Louis Community College Profile Locations
FV
MC
WW
FP
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Background and Survey Implementation

• The College Instructional Delivery and Technology
  Advisory Group (CIDTAG), a district-wide group of
  faculty, technical staff and instructional
  designers was formed in December 2006 sponsored
  by the Vice-Chancellor of Technology.
• The College adopted Blackboard in the year 2000
  and a survey of end-user needs and
  recommendations for future services was
  necessary.
• Surveys were conducted using the survey tool
  Student Voice licensed by the college.

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Survey Implementation

• In Fall 2007 separate surveys were administered
  to all STLCC full-time and part-time faculty and
  students.
• Faculty survey was sent via college email and
  student survey was inserted in all Blackboard
  courses.
• There were 324 faculty respondents (19.7 return)
  and 1,752 student respondents (7.1 return).

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Demographics Comparison
Student Survey Faculty
Survey Response Rates
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Demographics Comparison
Student Survey Faculty
Survey Distribution of Respondents Across
Locations
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Demographics Comparison
Student Survey Faculty
Survey Classification of Respondents
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Faculty Demographics
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Faculty Demographics
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Faculty Demographics
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Student Demographics
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Student Demographics
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Blackboard Comparison
Student Survey Faculty Survey Type of
Course
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Blackboard Uses
Faculty Survey
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Blackboard Uses
Faculty Survey
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Blackboard Uses
Faculty Survey
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Blackboard Uses
Faculty Survey
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Blackboard Uses
Student Survey
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Tools Other than Blackboard
Faculty Survey
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Blackboard Tools Satisfaction
Faculty Survey
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Blackboard Training
Faculty Survey
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Blackboard Comparison
Student Survey Faculty Survey Issues with
Blackboard
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Blackboard Comparison
Student Survey Faculty Survey Assistance
with Blackboard
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Student Blackboard Use
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Student Benefits of Blackboard Use
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Student Benefits of Blackboard Use
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Student Benefits of Blackboard Use
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Student Benefits of Blackboard Use
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Student Benefits of Blackboard Use
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Student Benefits of Blackboard Use
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Student Benefits of Blackboard Use
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Student Benefits of Blackboard Use
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Student comments

• Overall, I like using Blackboard and think it is
  very convenient. The only problem I have had is
  that it kicked off when I was partially through a
  test and I had to call to have the help desk
  reset it.
• I feel that not enough Instructors utilize
  Blackboard. I feel it should be mandatory for
  all classes. Also the Instructors who do utilize
  it (not all of them) trickle off and stop posting
  things on it as the semester goes.
• I would strongly encourage all faculty to
  utilize Blackboard as a means of communicating
  with their students
• I think its ridiculous to rely on technology to
  turn in your homework.

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Student comments

• I feel motivated to work on class projects after
  checking my grades. This is a great tool.
• A Psych instructor used video audio lectures
  that were MP3 downloadableWhen she did this, my
  average increased dramatically! I noticed that
  that class average increased as well.
• I was hesitant to use it at firstit seemed
  like an extra step, more work than was necessary.
  After logging in a couple of times, I couldnt
  imagine NOT using the program.
• I enjoy corresponding with instructor (sic) and
  other students on Blackboard. I tend to speak
  out more when corresponding via Blackboard

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Faculty Comments

• Although many faculty whine about the adequacy
  of Blackboard, I think it has proven its worth to
  us time and time again. It has standardized the
  production of our online and hybrid courses.
• I cant imagine teaching w/o BlackboardI have
  used (it) for surveys and exams, which the
  students really enjoyed, they told me.
• I love Blackboard and think it helps make
  students responsible and involved in their
  learning.
• I love using Blackboard, but it often cumbersome
  and time consuming. The Gradebook issues may
  cause me to stop using it completely.
• We do not have adequate assistance in designing
  online courses.
• My only complaint is the way the Gradebook
  figures weighted grades.

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Questions??Comments??

• Presented by SLCC
• Pat Suess, PhD
• Jyoti Pande, PhD
• Abby Deshane
• Dorrine Bergjans

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In conclusion

• Thanks for attending our session.
• Enjoy the rest of your conference.

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Student Demographics
A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives
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Student SLCC Computer Use
A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives
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Student Own Computer Use
A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives
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Student Internet Connection
A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives
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St. Louis Community College Profile Education
Centers
A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives
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