Some students still believe that if they can’t find it on Google, it must not exist. That doesn’t bode well for their online courses, which are usually locked away on a secure server, accessible only with a password and a Blackboard account.
Realizing this, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill designed software called bFree, which extracts information from a Blackboard course and puts it on an independent Web page. This way anyone can gain access to whatever is in the course.
It also allows students to use Google and other search tools to find course information, such as a syllabus or lecture material. The software is free and can be downloaded from the university’s Web site. —Dan Carnevale
Developing online and blended learning programs requires research and collaboration. Learn how top technology companies are partnering with campuses across the country to advance online learning as it becomes an increasingly important aspect of higher education.