Office of Academic Technology :: Spring Arbor University

The effect of the social environment on the online learner (Part 3)

We have been discussing things that can be done in the online learning environment to enhance student motivation and interaction. One of the things we mentioned last week was the critical importance of timely feedback in the online context specifically. This week, we will talk further about feedback and further implications.

Continue reading...

The effect of the social environment on the online learner (Part 2)

Last week, we talked about the social nature of learning theory and how this can play out in the online learning environment context. This week, we will flesh out what what this might mean for us as we design and deliver distance education courses.

Continue reading...

Blackboard Grade Center Basics Tutorial

Our colleague Simone Laughton is a Technology Liason Librarian from the University of Toronto Mississauga.  She has shared a great presentation on Grade Center Basics in Blackboard 9.  The Grade Center is a great tool that records, calculates and communicates student grades.  Check it out below. This work has been shared with the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial Share Alike [...]

Continue reading...

Learner Motivation as it Relates to Pedagogy

So, one day you wake up and the moment your feet hit the ground you are ready to go and tackle whatever the day has to offer you. Whatever project or task comes your way doesn’t stand a chance to your ferocious tenacity to ‘get er done’. Then another day comes around and takes everything within [...]

Continue reading...

Blackboard Grade Center Tutorial

Our colleague David Wicks from Seattle Pacific University, is a leader in helping develop, dream, and implement relevant teaching and learning using Online tools.  He recently made an incredible screencast of the Blackboard Grade Center and agreed to share with the SAU community.  We think this is one of many amazing resources from SPU and [...]

Continue reading...

November OATmeal focuses on Grade Center

One of the major updates to that came along with the Blackboard 9 upgrade this summer included a transformation from what used to be called the Grade Book to what is now called the Grade Center. Director of Academic Technology at Spring Arbor University and Professor Randy Meredith has been teaching workshops, giving personal training [...]

Continue reading...

Clear Formatting Tip for Font Issue

Some have come across an issue in Blackboard 9 where they go to edit information in an item and the font shrinks to a smaller size. Blackboard is aware of this bug and is working on it, but this is a brief tutorial on a work-around at the moment for removing the formatting so that this does not happen.

Continue reading...

Blackboard 9 Course Menu Quick Tip

In this quick tip Blackboard 9 tutorial, you will be shown how to enable the folder view and toggle between the folder view, list view, displaying the course menu in a new window and using the refresh button within the course menu.

Continue reading...

Ellis Previews Blackboard Content

Smarter, Not Harder Curt Ellis, Associate Professor of Graphic Design, loves to innovate.  Many of his face to face courses are hybrids with interactive learning objects in Blackboard.  He has integrates video, Flash, Keynote, as well as Photoshop and Illustrator files.  Each section utilizes the same elements which have to be copied over to the next [...]

Continue reading...

Blackboard Community Takes Center Stage

With the advent of Blackboard Community, the Office of Academic Technology is pleased to continue to grow a Blackboard Community site created specifically for faculty at SAU.  The site contains hundreds of PDFs, video tutorials, resources, help files, strategies, and contact information.  Most all faculty should be enrolled.  However, as new faculty are hired and [...]

Continue reading...