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[caribbeangirl]

Greetings All,

Prytania 3 has suggested that I post my question on the forum.

Help anyone? Have been told to prepare a presentation of my choice....no direction and or other info given other than should be 15 min.

Now since this particular college is online/distance learning ----instead of my research topic---would it be best to prepare a demonstration/presentation of my technology skills and how I have used online tools?

I am a bit verbose....so I must practice and tailor the presentation for a mixed audience of professionals and academicians.

I thought I might do 5 min on my diss research---few slides (Powerpoint) and the rest of the alloted time focus and demonstrate on my use of blackboard with a class that I previously taught.


First timer....Thx in advance for all info

[zharkov]

First, does this school use Blackboard?  Many don't, but use Moodle, eCollege, WebCT, or other platforms, instead of Blackboard.  Spending a lot of time demonstrating your BB skills isn't the best use of that time for a Moodle school.

What would be good is to show how you can communicate your research or diss via technology.  Either by giving examples of how you have done it with a class or real time at your presentation.  This last option assume they have all the technology you need to pull it off.

Good luck!

[caribbeangirl]

Thank you Zharkov. They use the Angel network.

[big_giant_head]

ANGEL rocks.  i like it better than Blackboard.  And I HATE WebCT.

Just had to throw that in.

My question, though, is why are you using 5 minutes to talk about your own research?  If this is a teaching-only position for an online-only school, which was the impression I got from your post, I would think they really just care about how you will teach the classes.

In my recent interview, which was for a CC and not an online position (just to qualify my statements), my dissertation never even came up.  They know that I'm working on one, but that's the extent to which they care about it. 

If I'm right about your interview, I think you should use all the time they give you to impress them with how you would use the course management platform, how you can facilitate online discussion, how you structure your assignments, et. 

[_touchedbyanoodle_]

Blackboard bought out WebCT; they're now called Blackboard. Just FYI.

[big_giant_head]

Oh, yes, I had heard about that.  Our institution was horrified by some glitches in the latest version (intead of BB 6.0, they called it BB 666), so they kept WebCT as long as they could and then switched to ANGEL.  So in my head, WebCT still exists, kind of like places you used to visit as a child, that, even years after they've been torn down or blown up, exist in your head in all their sepia-toned glory.

[caribbeangirl]

Thank you "compgrunt"....Your advice makes complete sense...I think I was trying to cover around the world in 20 minutes!

I do have a question for you..How familiar are you with Angel? What do you see as the benefit as opposed to Blackboard?

[big_giant_head]

I like ANGEL because it's so easy to customize it when you're creating a class.  I like the way you can put everything, from links to the discussions, assignment drop boxes, instructor notes/lectures, and links to outside resources, into "week one" so that it's in one place for students to see. 

I don't hate Blackboard.  I use both systems right now, at two different schools, and BB works fine as far as I can tell. 

[big_giant_head]

I don't know if that last post will make sense to people who aren't familiar with ANGEL.

In other systems I've used, you have less freedom to organize your assignments.  In BB, you put your assignments into the assignments tab, course documents into the course documents tab, and then students have to go and bring up the drop box when they want to submit their work.  To participate in discussions, they have to leave the assignments tab and bring up the discussion tab.

In ANGEL (it's an acronym, btw), the instructor can arrange the different elements of the class anyway he or she sees fit.  I can have a week of coursework that includes file-sharing, discussion, essay submission, or whatever.  I can set it up so that the students don't have to mess with elements that aren't being used during each week, or unit, of the class.  They just bring up the Unit 1 or Week 1 tab, and all of those diverse "pieces" of the course are right there together. 

That's why I like it.

Now: I don't use "cartridges" or publisher-designed course packages.  At our school (one of the two I've been adjuncting for, and the one that just hired me as full time faculty), faculty design and set up their own classes.  Another reason I'm very happy to be working for them now. 

[caribbeangirl]

Once again  Compgrunt, thank you.

You explained your points clearly and succinctly.  I have worked with Blackboard and it is a bit quirky at times, especially when you are creating an exam, at least that has been my experience.

Angel sems to be a little more user/faculty friendly.

Will let you know how things work out....once again much thanks!

 

[big_giant_head]

Yes, that's it--"faculty friendly."

Most course management systems seem to have been designed by people who don't teach classes, and often can't be modified to work better by people who do. 

[zharkov]

I can set it up so that the students don't have to mess with elements that aren't being used during each week, or unit, of the class.  They just bring up the Unit 1 or Week 1 tab, and all of those diverse "pieces" of the course are right there together. 
 

Moodle works like that as well.  The prof can put everything into a Week or Unit area: discussions, files to download, quizzes, etc. etc.

[big_giant_head]

I've heard great things about Moodle, but I've never used it.

[helpful]

I can set it up so that the students don't have to mess with elements that aren't being used during each week, or unit, of the class.  They just bring up the Unit 1 or Week 1 tab, and all of those diverse "pieces" of the course are right there together. 
 

Moodle works like that as well.  The prof can put everything into a Week or Unit area: discussions, files to download, quizzes, etc. etc.

Yes, but you can't mix the layout as being both Weeks and Themes. For example, in one course I teach classes on a monthly basis. There is no way to incorporate that in the design?

In another case, I want to put a whole bunch of important documents in one area called Class Background. I don't want to put it in a Week but in a Theme box. But I also want Weeks boxes. Is there a way to do that?

The problem with our university is theyuse Moodel because it is free open source but they don't provide tech support and just suggest we go to the Moodle community to find out how to customize!

[caribbeangirl]

Thank you everyone for your input....I will forge ahead and let you know how things work out.....