The Effectiveness of the Blackboard Learning System as an Online Education Tool - Research Paper Example

Objectives The objectives of this study are: To conduct a literature review of Blackboard and its position in virtual learning environments. To conduct a survey among students at UNSW in order to measure the overall effectiveness of current Blackboard’s features. To determine the best and worst features of Blackboard. To make recommendations based on the research findings on improvements that can be made to enhance the effectiveness of Blackboard as an online education tool. Literature review Blackboard is one of the interfaces used in provision of online education or distance learning, usually referred to as virtual learning environment.

The basic features of all virtual learning environment models are that they are based on the web and use certain tools to ensure two-way interaction is possible. They also feature a content management system. Besides these, they simulate traditional classroom delivery concepts of education in terms of instruction, assessment, discussions and homework assignments among other features. The basic goal of all virtual learning environment models is to make the learning experience in online education as interactive as possible.

Some of the tools used to achieve this are aimed at enhancing communication, uploading and downloading course content and supportive material, class administration, instructor assessment, self evaluation assessment tools through automatic scoring and online questionnaires among other profound tools like three-dimensional environments and use of emoticons to promote interaction (Iskander, 2007). Blackboard has a suite of applications that are supported by Blackboard Global Solutions to enable efficient and integrated planning and implementation of the desired system for.

The intention of this study is blackboard as one of the interfaces used in provision of online education or distance learning, usually referred to as virtual learning environment. The basic features of all virtual learning environment models are that they are based on the web and use certain tools to ensure two-way interaction is possible. They also feature a content management system. Besides these, they simulate traditional classroom delivery concepts of education in terms of instruction, assessment, discussions and homework assignments among other features.

The basic goal of all virtual learning environment models is to make the learning experience in online education as interactive as possible. Some of the tools used to achieve this are aimed at enhancing communication, uploading and downloading course content and supportive material, class administration, instructor assessment, self evaluation assessment tools through automatic scoring and online questionnaires among other profound tools like three-dimensional environments and use of emoticons to promote interaction.

Blackboard has a suite of applications that are supported by Blackboard Global Solutions to enable efficient and integrated planning and implementation of the desired system for clients. The applications by Blackboard include Blackboard learning system, Blackboard content system, Blackboard portal system and Blackboard transaction system. The Blackboard learning system is utilized by organizations in the use of the internet as an effective instructional system.