How Blackboard Programs Can Be Used

Audience Profile

The document targets individuals in the remote villages of India such as North Eastern Area of Tripura. According to James (2012), most of the areas have been under insurgency between 2000 and 2008. Consequently, the ability to use classroom-based teaching was disadvantaged significantly. However, several organizations have invested in online learning to help tap the talents of children from low-income families and give them hope for a better future. The children have no prior exposure to the Blackboard program. Due to hostilities and instability, internet penetration, and computer usage levels are inadequate leading to very low computer literacy as well as technical expertise. Chief anticipations are that the children are ready to learn diligently despite the lack of figures of authority. Moreover, I anticipate that there is sufficient investment on online classes amongst the target audience. The main fear and apprehensions are that the target audience may give preference to their survival hence little or no regard to online learning. As such, the article may ne unfruitful. However, despite the setback, I expect that there are few focused members in the audience who will utilize my guidance hence succeed in using Blackboard programs.

Abstract

The memo focuses on the challenges that student new to Blackboard learning faces as they venture into online education. Through personal experience as an online learner and deep research from other experts, the paper outlines some challenges coming to students new to the Blackboard learning environment. The memo addresses issues such as problems in the discussion rooms, difficulties in accessing course material, and problems with the respondus during exam times. Besides, the paper offers some tips that new students could utilize to ensure they become adept at using the backboard with the shortest time possible. Such approaches include taking time to learn the environment, observing personal determination, and endeavoring to become technologically well informed.

Blackboard is a learning management system that is revolutionizing the way teachers and students learn. Numerous stakeholders in on-line distance learning have adopted Blackboard as the essential means of delivering content to their scholars. The students and teachers have a lot to gain by using onl9ine learning platforms such as Blackboard. However, from a personal experience, there are myriad problems those students new to the system faces leading to most of them losing motivation to using such platforms. However, in areas such as Tripura where classroom-based learning is less developed hence the students need to overcome these challenges if they wish to advance academically. Accordingly, the memo identifies problems that new students face in utilizing the Backboard program and how they can overcome these challenges.

Challenges to Utilizing the Blackboard

There are numerous fundamental challenges that students new to the Blackboard program and with low computer skills grapple with. First, the majority of scholars using particular versions of Firefox experience problems logging into the Blackboard. Most areas new to technology have Firefox as the primary browser. However, most students with little computer knowledge have problems in upgrading their browsers to the recent versions. As such, they tend to experience persistent issues in logging into the Blackboard.

Secondly, most new Blackboard users find it difficult to access power point slides due to pop-up blockers and browser securities. The majority of new scholars have no idea of browser security configurations and pop-ups. As such, most students’ feels discouraged to use the platform or lose interest eventually.

Moreover, some students find it difficult to view annotations on assignments. For instance, students using Crocodoc Inline Assignment viewer have persistent problems locating annotations on their assignments. As such, some end up doing their assignments wrongly leading to poor grading during initial lectures.

Moreover, some new students have issues with the respondus not connecting to the Blackboard thereby hindering the student’s capability to upload or download assessments to Blackboard courses. The respondus locks down the online test environment to ensure the student does no cheat in the exam. However, the majority of the students have found it difficult to configure their system due to limited exposure to computer technology.

Additionally, numerous students have numerous hurdles sending emails to some users subscribed to the discussion board. The bug usually results from some subscribers being erroneously unsubscribed when another user subscription expire. However, with little computer expertise, a student can contact the administrator and be activated again. Nevertheless, the encounter poses a significant challenge due to little technical knowledge with the Blackboard.

Lastly, most new students find it difficult to locate hidden blogs and journal entries in newer versions of the system. As the system upgrades, the layout is changing to maximize on windows utilization and give more emphasis to the content. As such, some links to blogs and journal entries are abstracted to the students to a smaller level. However, others users find it difficult to access the links mainly due to limited exposure to computer software thereby hindering smooth learning.

Helpful Tips on Excelling at Utilizing the Blackboard

Personally, I have interacted intimately with the Blackboard as an undergraduate student in accessing several course resources and discussion forums. The experience and advice from experts have made learn the best ways of excelling in online education using the Blackboard. First, new students need to be self-determined when enrolling for the new course. Some students give up on using the system after facing some initial obstacles in the beginning face. Self-determination will compel the student to enquire from the instructor or other students on how to navigate the Blackboard environment hence overcome the initial challenges.

Secondly, after enrolling for a Blackboard course, new students should ensure they gather all the resources that will make their learning smooth. Colleges offering online course have numerous tools to assist students with the course work. Moreover, there are tutors and support teams that students can consult if they come into any obstacles. As such, one would learn faster and integrate to the Blackboard learning environment.

Moreover, the students should strive to become technologically perceptive. Online learning success will partly rely on the student’s ability to navigate several computer software. As such, familiarizing oneself with technology would be a great incentive in overcoming some of the challenges that new students face. While utilizing the Blackboard, several resources such as chat rooms and tutors will be available in different formats. As such, having the basic knowledge how to navigate these techniques will be a great incentive to the new student.

Moreover, as an online student, I would advise beginners to start small. Some student overburdens themselves with too many classes. As such, they have little time dedicated to learning the new learning environments. As such, they end up failing and becoming frustrated. However, one would advise new students to start small and spend quality time learning how the process works. Consequent, the student will not become frustrated with the software eventually giving up the course.

Lastly, new students should strive to learn to communicate effectively with their faculty and other students. Efficient communication with the professor enables the new students understand what is expected of them. If the students feel they have an area of their expectation they need clarification, one should make use of emails, chats and forums to seek for clarification from other student or instructors. As such, a student can avoid misunderstandings resulting from the software hence boosting their online learning success.

Traversing the waters of online learning using the Blackboard may pose significant challenges to new students with limited exposure to computer technology. Primarily, there exists a learning curve for students who are not technologically perceptive. Identifying and recognizing that the problems exist will assist a student to seek assistance from fellow students or instructors. Consequently, one will learn that Blackboard learning have minimal differences with traditional models of learning and teaching. As such, the student will adapt to effective utilization of the Blackboard to enhance the effective of online education.