introducing blackboard community to des moines area community college

Introducing Blackboard Community

DMACC Faculty Development Day August 19, 2014, FFA Building

Humanities – Joe Danielson (History) Kate Halverson (Psychology) Laurie Linhart (Sociology)Science – Julie Gonzalez English – Shannon McGregorMath – Dan PetrakHonors Program – Sarah WaddleProgram Areas – Jenny Foster

What Are DMACC’s Barriers to Collaboration?

•Time

•Location

Session Objectives1. What is Blackboard Community?2. How do you see Community complementing

your communication, teaching, and student learning at DMACC?

3. What additional applications or problems could be addressed by using Community?

What Is Blackboard Community?Blackboard Community is an online space to collaborate and share resources within departments. •model best practices, share assignments, and syllabi•revision of competencies and district-wide assessments•empower faculty to engage with one another (1,970 full-time, adjunct, concurrent enrollment instructors)•connect the campuses and high schools to improve communication•serve as one more method to coordinate professional development and facilitate professional dialogue

Who Can Use Community?•Previously, online development materials were available to those who took Blackboard training, so in order to access them, faculty had to be Blackboard trained. •Now, everyone whether Blackboard trained or not will have access.

Do I have to use Community? •It’s a volunteer environment.

What Are the Limitations and Benefits?Limitations•Already have professional learning communities•Redundant•Past online communities not used•Don’t need another piece of technology

Benefits •Not in isolation•Asynchronous communication•Others might have the same question or might not know the concept or tool is available•DMACC integrated—same username and passwordWe have already built their resources and framework.

Now, we need you.

Where Is Blackboard Community Located?1. Go to the DMACC home page (

https://go.dmacc.edu/)2. Click on Online Learning 3. Click on Access My Online Courses4. Click the Faculty tab

Discuss1. Pair with another person at your table to

discuss the following questions.2. Write those concepts on the sheets at

your table. 3. We will collect them at the end of the

session.

Discuss

How do you see Community complementing your communication, teaching, and student learning at DMACC?

Discuss

What additional applications or problems could be addressed by using Community?

Discuss

Comments?

Questions?

Next Steps1. During Fall 2014, DMACC is piloting Humanities, Communications,

Math, Science, Social Sciences, New Faculty Orientation, Adjuncts, Concurrent Enrollment, Honors, and Career Technical. If your area does not have a faculty leader (Business,

Technology, Health, General), contact:• Your District Chair• Dan Petrak• Shannon McGregor

2. Today and throughout the fall and spring, you will have opportunities to learn how to use Community.

3. In January, we will revisit where we are and where we are going.

Thank You!

Leave the sheets on the table

and enjoy your lunch!