by Jenn
Guest Blog Post by Shelley Kinash, Associate Professor of Higher Education and Director of Quality, Teaching, and Learning at Bond University
G’Day Eh! That’s my mash-up greeting from a dual Australian/Canadian Citizen. I am an Associate Professor of Higher Education and Director of Quality, Teaching, and Learning at Bond University on the beautiful Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. I have been an academic for eighteen years and did my PhD in Education Technology at University of Calgary, Canada. Bond University is very proud and honoured to have been selected to receive the 2012 Mobile Catalyst Award. Another claim to fame is that Bond University was the first Australian university to go live with Blackboard Mobile Learn. Bond is hosting the Blackboard 2012 Australasia Teaching and Learning Conference in August.
by Matt Wasowski
I want you to close your eyes and think back to nearly a year ago—July 2011 to be precise—when we here at Blackboard Collaborate unveiled our brand new web conferencing platform. Based on feedback from then Elluminate and Wimba customers, the new platform improved upon the best of both products. Most notably, our new product’s redesigned user experience made simple things easy and advanced things possible. To this day, Blackboard Collaborate™ web conferencing exceeds Elluminate Live! and Wimba Classroom because it features a new-and-improved user interface, an object-oriented whiteboard that makes sessions more interactive and is interoperable with Blackboard IM, multi-point video that follows the speaker, and tabbed, private, and supervised chat.
While many schools jumped at the chance to upgrade from their legacy products to our new web conferencing capabilities, some have remained reluctant for a variety of reasons. Some schools had other technology initiatives that took priority while others were simply happy with their existing products. So, while there’s no pressure to upgrade to Blackboard Collaborate web conferencing immediately, we think that this summer would be a perfect time for schools to start the upgrade process.
by Emily Lange
With numerous digital learning content options available to educators, figuring out how and when to get started with adopting and using digital content can seem daunting. Blackboard has invited experts from a variety of fields to participate in
BbWorld 2012 to help you navigate this broad content landscape. Instructional designers, faculty and technology decision makers will find these sessions beneficial and enjoyable!
- Alan November, an international and renowned leader in education technology, will push the boundaries on how to improve online teaching and learning in higher education. His wit and humor make him a highly sought after presenter in education forums worldwide.
by Jenn
Guest Blog Post by Kari Rasmussen, Coordinator, Online Learning and Resource Development, Grant MacEwan University
The "new" Grant MacEwan University
Have you been examining your approaches to online course design and development? Are you looking to engage in discussion with others who are looking at ever increasing demands with a small department and budget? Our department has faced these questions, challenges, and opportunities and over the last four years we have evolved a process that has moved us from missing deadlines and not meeting expectations to meeting deadlines and creating products that are gaining recognition beyond our university. Our aim, within this BbWorld session, is to share our experiences and discuss our current processes.
