Blackboard

What is Blackboard?

Blackboard is a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) that supports online learning and teaching.  It can be accessed by registered users from anywhere in the world using the Internet and web browsers.

Blackboard provides an integrated environment which enables:

• Course materials, such as handbooks, lecture handouts, slides, reading lists and web links to be published in a course site facilitating easy access by students;
• Asynchronous online communication between students and tutors using discussion boards;
• Online synchronous classes, such as presentations and tutorials, with students and tutors logged into a virtual classroom;
• The creation of group areas to support group tasks such as online discussion and file exchange; and
• Setting and taking of online assessments with automatic marking and feedback facilities. 

Blackboard can also be used for administrative tasks such as:

• Displaying announcements on a course site and sending e-mails to students enrolled on a particular course;
• Scheduling tasks and course deadlines in an online calendar;
• Tracking students online activities;
• Submission and automatic receipting of electronic coursework submission;
• Administration of online surveys, such as module questionnaires; and
• Facilitating project and knowledge management between groups of staff.