EDT 8140 - LMS and Evaluation
In this page I will go through the steps needed to perform the following tasks and provide an evaluation regarding the ease and quality of the result for two learning management systems, D2L and Blackboard Learn.
- Create a new customized course homepage
- Create a "Start Here" information on homepage
- Create new widget with contact information
- Customize NavBar.
- Post audio message in News tool
D2L Evaluation
1. Create a New Customized Course Homepage - D2L
This can be used to provide students with commonly used links for the course or to highlight material of greater importance. From the COURSE ADMIN tab, choose Homepages. There are several “standard” homepages already defined, but to make your own, click on the “Create Homepage” icon. On the next page, enter a name for your homepage and then choose the type of page you will use; Widget, Tool, or URL based (see arrows in figure). Further down the page, select the layout from the list of options. If you are using the widget-based homepage there are a variety of functions that can be added. Find them by clicking on the “Add Widgets” button and then choose the ones you want for each homepage panel. Finally, click on the “Save and Close” button to create your page. This will return to the pervious screen in which you now must apply your customized page. Under the “Active Homepage” menu, select your new homepage from the list and then click on “Apply”.
This can be used to provide students with commonly used links for the course or to highlight material of greater importance. From the COURSE ADMIN tab, choose Homepages. There are several “standard” homepages already defined, but to make your own, click on the “Create Homepage” icon. On the next page, enter a name for your homepage and then choose the type of page you will use; Widget, Tool, or URL based (see arrows in figure). Further down the page, select the layout from the list of options. If you are using the widget-based homepage there are a variety of functions that can be added. Find them by clicking on the “Add Widgets” button and then choose the ones you want for each homepage panel. Finally, click on the “Save and Close” button to create your page. This will return to the pervious screen in which you now must apply your customized page. Under the “Active Homepage” menu, select your new homepage from the list and then click on “Apply”.
2. Create a "Start Here" information on Homepage - D2L
To put a Start Here information block on your homepage, you will make a custom widget and then insert that in the homepage as described above. So, to make the custom widget, find the “Widgets” icon in the COURSE ADMIN tab and then click on the “Create Widget” button. On the first page give your new widget a name and then click on the “Content” tab (see figure). This will open an HTML window for you to add text, images, or links that will guide the students to the first steps needed for your course. Click on “Save and Close” at the bottom of the page and it’s done. Now place this new widget on your homepage.
To put a Start Here information block on your homepage, you will make a custom widget and then insert that in the homepage as described above. So, to make the custom widget, find the “Widgets” icon in the COURSE ADMIN tab and then click on the “Create Widget” button. On the first page give your new widget a name and then click on the “Content” tab (see figure). This will open an HTML window for you to add text, images, or links that will guide the students to the first steps needed for your course. Click on “Save and Close” at the bottom of the page and it’s done. Now place this new widget on your homepage.
3. Create a New Widget with Contact Information - D2L
This is done in exactly the same manner as we did above for the Start Here widget. Create a new widget with the contact information you want students to have available and then place this new widget on the course homepage. The video below will guide you through this process.
This is done in exactly the same manner as we did above for the Start Here widget. Create a new widget with the contact information you want students to have available and then place this new widget on the course homepage. The video below will guide you through this process.
4. Customize NavBar - D2L
Using a customized navbar allows you to make commonly used links readily available to your students. Making a custom navbar starts from the COURSE ADMIN tab. Select “Navigation & Themes”. On the page that appears there will be several choices of navbars already created for particular purposes. These may have been standardized for specific schools or colleges to give the same look to all the courses. You can use one of these or select the “Create Navbar” button to open another screen for customization. Here you will give your new navbar a name, choose a template, and then add links to the panels in your template (see figure). Once you have filled in the links, you must select “Save and Close”. Then from the Navbar page, select your new navbar from the Active navbar pulldown menu and click on “Apply”.
Using a customized navbar allows you to make commonly used links readily available to your students. Making a custom navbar starts from the COURSE ADMIN tab. Select “Navigation & Themes”. On the page that appears there will be several choices of navbars already created for particular purposes. These may have been standardized for specific schools or colleges to give the same look to all the courses. You can use one of these or select the “Create Navbar” button to open another screen for customization. Here you will give your new navbar a name, choose a template, and then add links to the panels in your template (see figure). Once you have filled in the links, you must select “Save and Close”. Then from the Navbar page, select your new navbar from the Active navbar pulldown menu and click on “Apply”.
5. Post Audio Message in News Tool - D2L
Giving a human voice to the content is a great way of humanizing your course. A good place to start is in a News item that appears at the start of the course. If you have customized your homepage to include a News tool, the audio can be place there. As an instructor, you can add a news item from the homepage. Select the small down arrow from the News title bar and click on “New News Item” from the pulldown menu. Give your message a headline and then scroll down to the Attachments section of the page. There is a button there named “Record Audio” (see figure). Click on this and a new window opens with record and stop icons. In my case, I received a message in red text “Denied by Flash”. So I looked for another option. I first created an audio file using another program (Audacity) and then came back to the New News Item page. This time under the Attachments section, I clicked on “Add a File” and uploaded my audio file. After this is uploaded, click on “Publish” at the bottom of the page to save and post the news item.
Giving a human voice to the content is a great way of humanizing your course. A good place to start is in a News item that appears at the start of the course. If you have customized your homepage to include a News tool, the audio can be place there. As an instructor, you can add a news item from the homepage. Select the small down arrow from the News title bar and click on “New News Item” from the pulldown menu. Give your message a headline and then scroll down to the Attachments section of the page. There is a button there named “Record Audio” (see figure). Click on this and a new window opens with record and stop icons. In my case, I received a message in red text “Denied by Flash”. So I looked for another option. I first created an audio file using another program (Audacity) and then came back to the New News Item page. This time under the Attachments section, I clicked on “Add a File” and uploaded my audio file. After this is uploaded, click on “Publish” at the bottom of the page to save and post the news item.
Blackboard Learn Evaluation
1. Create a New Customized Course Homepage - Blackboard Learn
There are several ways in Blackboard Learn to change the homepage. First, when the home page is visible, there is a button (Customize page) on the far right that opens up options for the color pallet the theme of the page (see figure). On the left side of the homepage is a button to allow the instructor named “Add Course Module”. Clicking on this opens a list of optional items that can be included on the homepage. Select the ones you want and then click on “OK” at the bottom of the page. These modules can be reordered from the homepage itself by dragging and dropping each module from its title bar. Finally Blackboard includes an option to rename the homepage which can be done by clicking on the down-arrow next to the homepage title and selecting “edit”.
There are several ways in Blackboard Learn to change the homepage. First, when the home page is visible, there is a button (Customize page) on the far right that opens up options for the color pallet the theme of the page (see figure). On the left side of the homepage is a button to allow the instructor named “Add Course Module”. Clicking on this opens a list of optional items that can be included on the homepage. Select the ones you want and then click on “OK” at the bottom of the page. These modules can be reordered from the homepage itself by dragging and dropping each module from its title bar. Finally Blackboard includes an option to rename the homepage which can be done by clicking on the down-arrow next to the homepage title and selecting “edit”.
2. Create a "Start Here" Information on Homepage - Blackboard Learn
Following the instructions for placing a Start Here item on the home page ends up with an item listed as one of the pieces of course content which can appear buried in the course material. A better method might be to create an announcement and place the Announcements Module on the homepage. This is done by clicking on “Announcements” under the Course Tools menu on the left column. Then choose the “Create Announcement”, give your announcement a title and then fill in the text box with the instructions (see figure). Finally, click on the “Submit” button to post your announcement.
Following the instructions for placing a Start Here item on the home page ends up with an item listed as one of the pieces of course content which can appear buried in the course material. A better method might be to create an announcement and place the Announcements Module on the homepage. This is done by clicking on “Announcements” under the Course Tools menu on the left column. Then choose the “Create Announcement”, give your announcement a title and then fill in the text box with the instructions (see figure). Finally, click on the “Submit” button to post your announcement.
3. Create New Widget with Contact Information - Blackboard Learn
The easiest way to add contact information to the homepage is to create a Textpad Module. This is selected by adding a module from the homepage as described above. Select the Textpad option from the list and then click “OK” at the bottom of the page. Once the textpad is on the homepage, click on the settings icon (the little gear) to open a window where the text can be added (see figure). This will appear on students’ homepage, but it may not be in the location you have selected. An alternative is to create a new item in the navbar (see below), call it “Contact information” and then build an item which contains the information you want students to know.
The easiest way to add contact information to the homepage is to create a Textpad Module. This is selected by adding a module from the homepage as described above. Select the Textpad option from the list and then click “OK” at the bottom of the page. Once the textpad is on the homepage, click on the settings icon (the little gear) to open a window where the text can be added (see figure). This will appear on students’ homepage, but it may not be in the location you have selected. An alternative is to create a new item in the navbar (see below), call it “Contact information” and then build an item which contains the information you want students to know.
4. Customize NavBar - Blackboard Learn
The navbar in Blackboard Learn is on the left column. Additional items can be added or deleted when running the application in the Edit mode. Click on the “+” sign on the far left and choose the type of link you want placed on the bar (see arrows in figure). This will open the appropriate window for you to enter the information relevant for your link. Items in the navbar can be sorted and organized by moving them using the tool on the far left of each item. To delete a link, click on the small arrow that appears when you mouse over the link and then select “Delete”.
The navbar in Blackboard Learn is on the left column. Additional items can be added or deleted when running the application in the Edit mode. Click on the “+” sign on the far left and choose the type of link you want placed on the bar (see arrows in figure). This will open the appropriate window for you to enter the information relevant for your link. Items in the navbar can be sorted and organized by moving them using the tool on the far left of each item. To delete a link, click on the small arrow that appears when you mouse over the link and then select “Delete”.
5. Post Audio Message in News Tool - Blackboard Learn
There are some add-on applications that will allow audio to be placed in content items in Blackboard Learn. These include Kaltura and Black board Collaborate Voice. I was unable to try these on the version of Blackboard Learn that is available. However, there are numerous guides on the Web to provide instructions about how to perform this task. I tried to include an audio file in an announcement, but this did not work. Clicking on an mp2 file returned the message that the file was corrupt and clicking on an mp3 file gave no response. Next I tried to embed the media in the message but got a list of error messages which I indicated the audio files I wanted to add. When the options for adding audio are available, they will appear in the announcement window as shown in the figure.
There are some add-on applications that will allow audio to be placed in content items in Blackboard Learn. These include Kaltura and Black board Collaborate Voice. I was unable to try these on the version of Blackboard Learn that is available. However, there are numerous guides on the Web to provide instructions about how to perform this task. I tried to include an audio file in an announcement, but this did not work. Clicking on an mp2 file returned the message that the file was corrupt and clicking on an mp3 file gave no response. Next I tried to embed the media in the message but got a list of error messages which I indicated the audio files I wanted to add. When the options for adding audio are available, they will appear in the announcement window as shown in the figure.
LMS Weekly Recommendation
1. The customization options on D2L are considerably greater than on Blackboard Learn. Not only are there more possible home page layouts, but each item on the page can have a customized look if needed. There is some need for uniformity of the course "looks" across schools or colleges, but D2L provides more options within a general theme.
Score: Blackboard – 0 : D2L – 1
2. There are equivalent options for making a Start Here item on the home page, but following the recommendations on the Blackboard Learn help pages does not leave the item where it is most useful. It is possible to create something similar in Blackboard Learn by using another function.
Score : Blackboard – 0 : D2L – 1
3. A contact information widget can be created and positioned on the homepage in either LMS. The steps to do so are straightforward and easy to follow. The widget that results in Blackboard Learn cannot be named appropriately, but this is a minor issue, so I won't take points off here.
Score : Blackboard – 1 : D2L – 1
4. D2L has many options for customizing the NavBar. Many types of items can be added and sorted across the horizontal. Similar to D2L, Blackboard Learn offers customization of the vertical NavBar that is on the left column. There are fewer options for items that can be placed, but the customization steps are similar to D2L so again no points off for the ability to customize the NavBar.
Score: Blackboard – 1 : D2L – 1
5. D2L has a quick means of recording a message right from the application. Unfortunately, the flash system on my laptop was not compatible with the D2L application. Nevertheless, there was another way. I created an audio file from another program and was able to include it in a welcome message. The same cannot be said for Blackboard Learn. Here, the direct recording function failed because the trial version of Blackboard did not have the relevant third party applications installed. When I tried to include my audio file in the welcome message as I had done with D2L it was not a success.
Score: Blackboard – 0 : D2L – 1
Final score:
Blackboard – 2 : D2L – 5
Same score as last time. Significantly there were many ways of accomplishing some of these tasks on D2L while Blackboard Learn had limitations.
1. The customization options on D2L are considerably greater than on Blackboard Learn. Not only are there more possible home page layouts, but each item on the page can have a customized look if needed. There is some need for uniformity of the course "looks" across schools or colleges, but D2L provides more options within a general theme.
Score: Blackboard – 0 : D2L – 1
2. There are equivalent options for making a Start Here item on the home page, but following the recommendations on the Blackboard Learn help pages does not leave the item where it is most useful. It is possible to create something similar in Blackboard Learn by using another function.
Score : Blackboard – 0 : D2L – 1
3. A contact information widget can be created and positioned on the homepage in either LMS. The steps to do so are straightforward and easy to follow. The widget that results in Blackboard Learn cannot be named appropriately, but this is a minor issue, so I won't take points off here.
Score : Blackboard – 1 : D2L – 1
4. D2L has many options for customizing the NavBar. Many types of items can be added and sorted across the horizontal. Similar to D2L, Blackboard Learn offers customization of the vertical NavBar that is on the left column. There are fewer options for items that can be placed, but the customization steps are similar to D2L so again no points off for the ability to customize the NavBar.
Score: Blackboard – 1 : D2L – 1
5. D2L has a quick means of recording a message right from the application. Unfortunately, the flash system on my laptop was not compatible with the D2L application. Nevertheless, there was another way. I created an audio file from another program and was able to include it in a welcome message. The same cannot be said for Blackboard Learn. Here, the direct recording function failed because the trial version of Blackboard did not have the relevant third party applications installed. When I tried to include my audio file in the welcome message as I had done with D2L it was not a success.
Score: Blackboard – 0 : D2L – 1
Final score:
Blackboard – 2 : D2L – 5
Same score as last time. Significantly there were many ways of accomplishing some of these tasks on D2L while Blackboard Learn had limitations.