100 Reasons to Use Blackboard 9

A nice post from Gonzaga University

100 Reasons to Use Blackboard 9

1.    New Drag-and-Drop user interface
2.    No More control panel, now just hit an edit tab and edit.
3.    List daily assignments.
4.    Post course description.
5.    Provide syllabus.
6.    Post classroom guidelines.
7.    Provide teacher biography.
8.    Create groups.
9.    List external URLs for pertinent web sites.
10.  Add videos and audio clips
11.  Post a quotation for the day.
12.  Use discussion board-all students must post a response (thus reaching the quiet ones).
13.  Monitor student use of the site.
14.  Provide review questions.
15.  Track student progress on review quizzes and tests.
16.  Email all students.
17.  Conduct "office hours."
18.  List required texts.
19.  Link to online textbook resources.
20.  Enter dates that appear on students' calendars.
21.  Post lecture notes.
22.  Post PowerPoint presentations.
23.  Create task lists.
24.  Allow self-enrollment for other teachers and students.
25.  Combine forces with team-teacher to minimize duplication of efforts.
26.  Offer extra credit activities for those who visit or participate in discussion groups.
27.  Post passages to which students must post a response.
28.  Create a discussion group for students to discuss the latest books that they have been reading.
29.  Create leaning units that allow students to self-pace.
30.  Post a poem of the week for discussion purposes.
31.  Model appropriate "netiquette" behaviors.
32.  Provide instructions for download Adobe Acrobat Reader (a free utility that displays PDF files).
33.  Create an inviting banner using free software. (http://www.flamingtext.com/)
34.  Post rubrics for class assignments.
35.  Update assignment due dates changed because of unexpected school closures.
36.  Import course content from colleagues.
37.  Create a virtual art gallery pertinent to class readings.
38.  Allow students to read or listen to material repeatedly for understanding.
39.  Include glossaries pertinent to your units.
40.  Provide on-line homework help.
41.  Encourage collaborative learning - group papers.
42.  Send specific emails only to a sub-set (group) of students.
43.  Conduct student surveys for quick feedback.
44.  Create drill and practice exercises.
45.  Post test review materials.
46.  Conduct peer editing within groups.
47.  Reduce printing, copier costs, and number of handouts needed.
48.  Provide models for writing assignments.
49.  Collect students' favorite quotations.
50.  Control time-access to documents and assignments.
51.  Create and use new Group Blogs.
52.  Access course content from anywhere at any time.
53.  Provide FAQs to eliminate the repetition of those nagging classroom questions.
54.  Eliminate late papers - all can be submitted via the new assignment tool.
55.  Collect papers electronically; add comments via Word; return papers to students electronically without touching a page.
56.  Have students discuss a film after viewing it by using the discussion group feature in Bb to save class time.
57.  Provide tasks and assignments for a variety of learning styles.
58.  Create categorizing activities.
59.  Allow multiple attempts on review materials.
60.  Import test banks that grade-level teams use.
61.  Create sub plans for as many days as you are on leave.
62.  Create groups that can collaborate on-line when they cannot find time to meet.
63.  Share your course with a colleague by archiving it.
64.  Take your course with you when you move to another school or system.
65.  Develop your materials during the summer when you have time to explore possibilities.
66.  Add a colleague as an instructor to share the burden of curricula development.
67.  Combine like classes into one section to reduce the number of postings and entries.
68.  Invite reluctant learners to become a part of your class.
69.  Provide opportunities for students to post reflective writings.
70.  Assist students to become efficient users of distance learning.
71.  Let students create and use online journals
72.  Post field trip forms.
73.  Post minutes of meetings.
74.  Track individual use of Bb site.
75.  Track group use of Bb site.
76.  Track content area use of Bb site.
77.  Provide opportunities for administrators to see your work.
78.  Post models and guides pertinent to specific assignments, i.e., Works Cited examples.
79.  Grade papers electronically.
80.  Post glossaries for your units of study, i.e., poetry, drama, fiction.
81.  Change the language in which your course appears.
82.  Track which parts of the course students are reviewing.
83.  Set conditions under which students can see new content. i.e., students who pass an assessment get new assignments; students who do not pass get review materials.
84.  Permit students to save answers to test questions after each answer.
85.  Randomize the order of multiple choice questions.
86.  Upload an image and mark part of it as the answer to a question.
87.  Build a glossary of terms pertinent to the course.
88.  Use the import feature to share grade-level glossaries, review items, surveys.
89.  Alert students to course content that is new since the last time they logged in.
90.  Place an item on the task list in a course so that it will show up in the students' task list.
91.  Make your life in the classroom easier!
92. Ok...so there's not 100, but working on it still :)

Originally from:
"75 Reasons to Use Blackboard." Instructional Technology Development. 16 Dec. 2005. 27 Jul. 2006. <http://www.itd.depaul.edu/website/documentation/75ReasonstoUseBlackboard.pdf >

"Blackboard Tip Sheets and Tutorials." Geisel Library. Saint Ansel College. 9 May 2005. 27 Jul. 2006. <http://www.anselm.edu/henceforth/blackboard/tipsandtuts.htm>

"Flaming Text Generator." 27 Jul 2006. <http://www.flamingtext.com/>.
100 Reasons to Use Blackboard Susan Latour, SBTS at WSHS Page 3 of 3 2/12/2007