Learning from our Students

July 2004
Laurie Poklop

At a faculty department meeting where I was giving an overview of EdTech Center resources, I posed the question, "Do you have any questions about Blackboard that I can address?" "Yes," one professor replied, "what do students find valuable in Blackboard?" That was a question that I did not have a direct answer for, and finding the answer was one of the motivations for launching the EdTech Center's recent 'Innovative and Effective Use of Technology Awards.'

The awards program received 330 nominations, representing 187 different courses, from students who felt their professors deserved recognition for their integration of technology into their teaching. The nomination form included the open-ended question, 'Why does this faculty member deserve recognition?' Two hundred thirteen students took the time to answer this question. Their responses provide insight into what students do indeed value in the Blackboard components of their courses.

The EdTech Center analyzed these students responses by first creating a list of unique items mentioned in the comments. Forty-eight different items were identified. The items were then classified into five categories: course components, benefits received by students, faculty behaviors, forms of online communication, and types of online activities. Finally, the original comments were reviewed again, and the instances of each item were tallied.

The following lists show (in ascending order) the most frequently cited items in each category.

• Course Components
  • Lecture slides or notes
  • Course documents
  • Assignments / due dates
  • Supplementary links
  • Supplementary learning materials
• Benefits to Students
  • Materials available in one place
  • Improved preparation before class
  • Helps students say on track/time management
  • Facilitated studying for exams
  • Materials available if you missed a class
• Faculty Behaviors
  • Kept site up-to-date
  • Put in a lot of effort
  • Organized materials well
  • Responded to questions promptly
  • Provided prompt feedback
• Online Communication
  • Increased accessibility of professor
  • Communicated schedule changes
  • Facilitated contact among students
• Online Activities
  • Online discussions
  • Discussion forum to ask questions
  • Digital homework submission