a toolbox for blackboard tim roberts [email protected]
TRANSCRIPT
IntroductionIntroduction
Goal:
Increase the usage of Blackboard by making some core tasks simpler
Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline
Blackboard web applicationsThe Building Blocks programThe Toolbox approach
• Assessments• Content• Dropbox• Gradebook• Users
Blackboard Web ApplicationsBlackboard Web Applications
Blackboard supports web applications by allowing you to install your own WAR (Web Application Archive) file.A WAR file is simply a ZIP file which contains files in a specific folder structure and with a .WAR extension.
Blackboard Web ApplicationsBlackboard Web Applications
A WAR file typically contains:–JSPs (Java Server Page files)–Manifest files (XML files containing information about the extra features the WAR file provides)–JAR files (Java archive files)
Building BlocksBuilding Blocks
By joining the Blackboard Developers’ Network (BbDN), access is gained to the Blackboard API (Application Programming Interface) JSPs in a WAR file can programmatically interact with the Blackboard API, thus gaining access to the Blackboard data objects
Building BlocksBuilding Blocks
This technology makes it possible to create JSPs which can be “plugged into” the Blackboard server and provide functionality which is in addition to the standard functionality Blackboard calls such plug-ins “Building Blocks”
The Toolbox ApproachThe Toolbox Approach
Most users of web applications are aware that because of the limitations of current technology and standards, web apps are not as “nice” to use as standard installed applications The web browser was originally designed to render static HTML pages – not to function as an application execution environment
The Toolbox ApproachThe Toolbox Approach
In this project a mixed mode approach has been taken The main user interface is a traditional Windows executable Blackboard functionality has been enhanced by creating a number of JSPs which the Windows app interacts with
Advantage of this approachAdvantage of this approach
The user interface can be designed for maximum user convenience and ease-of-use as it does not run within a browser environment
Disadvantages of this approachDisadvantages of this approach
The application must be installed on the user’s computer
– But it is relatively small and light-weight (eg no database)
Available for Windows machines only
What does it look like?What does it look like?
Assessment Building BlockAssessment Building Block
The standard Blackboard screen for entering assessment setup details is shown in the following screen
Assessment Building BlockAssessment Building Block
Assessment Building BlockAssessment Building Block
The assessment building block presents all details in a grid This allows them all to be seen at one time This allows the assessment details to be quickly and easily modified
Assessment Building BlockAssessment Building Block
Content Building BlockContent Building Block
Blackboard uses the term “Content Area” to describe the following sections:
–Course Information–Course Documents–Assignments–Books–External Links
Content Building BlockContent Building Block
Content Areas
Content Building BlockContent Building Block
The Content Area which is most commonly used is probably Course Documents Staff will be familiar with the Blackboard Control Panel interface to Course Documents:
Content Building BlockContent Building Block
Content Building BlockContent Building Block
Content Areas are relatively complex. They can contain items and folders.
Content Building BlockContent Building Block
Items can have files and descriptive text associated with them. Folders can have descriptive text associated with them and can contain folders and items. Descriptive text can have attributes associated with it.
Content Building BlockContent Building Block
Item with multiple files attached
Folder with descriptive text
Item with colour attribute
Item with attached file with descriptive text
Content Building BlockContent Building Block
The standard Blackboard interface requires items and folders to be added one by one If you have multiple items to add (eg 12 lecture files for the semester) this is somewhat tedious
Content Building BlockContent Building Block
In addition, if you make changes to one of the files after it has been uploaded to Blackboard, you must remember to upload it again
Content Building BlockContent Building Block
The Content building block which is under development will address these issues
Content Building BlockContent Building Block
Here’s a sample screenshot demonstrating:
–Easy-to-use browser for navigating the Content Areas–Editing pane for the title and comment (including attributes)–Availability/tracking pane–Attachment pane
Content Building BlockContent Building Block
Content Building BlockContent Building Block
The attachment pane is probably the most useful It currently displays an item’s attachments and allows them to be downloaded
Content Building BlockContent Building Block
In the future it will be “drag and drop” aware for both files and folders It will also support automatic updates
– If you modify a file which has already been uploaded it will automatically reload the file to the Blackboard server
Dropbox Building BlockDropbox Building Block
The Blackboard dropbox simply lists all files in chronological order of submission
Dropbox Building BlockDropbox Building Block
It provides no means of:–Sorting files–Downloading files (other than one-by-one)–Removing files (other than one-by-one)
Dropbox Building BlockDropbox Building Block
Here is a screenshot of the Dropbox building block which has been developed:
Dropbox Building BlockDropbox Building Block
Dropbox Building BlockDropbox Building Block
Some its features:– Files can be sorted by any field– Entries can be filtered by date (makes it easy to separate one group from another)– Files can be downloaded to the local file system (and automatically unzipped if required)
Dropbox AssistantDropbox Assistant
A further screen (called the Marking screen), allows files submitted for a particular assessment to be presented in a grid.
Submitted files can be easily opened, and comments and marks recorded.
Dropbox AssistantDropbox Assistant
When marking is complete, the comments can be uploaded back to the dropbox, and the marks can be uploaded to the gradebook.
Dropbox AssistantDropbox Assistant
Gradebook Building BlockGradebook Building Block
The gradebook serves as a repository for marks, and allows students to view their marks onlineThe Gradebook building block presents all grades for all students on a spreadsheet-style page
Gradebook Building BlockGradebook Building Block
Gradebook Building BlockGradebook Building Block
The Gradebook building block is used in conjunction with the Assessments building block (which is first used to create the assessment entries)
Gradebook Building BlockGradebook Building Block
The grid in which data is presented supports copy and paste operations, enabling information to be easily transferred to and from a spreadsheet or other source of data
Users Building BlockUsers Building Block
When Blackboard was first used at MIT, users were entered manually or uploaded in batches The Users building block was developed to present all users for a course in an editable grid
Users Building BlockUsers Building Block
Users Building BlockUsers Building Block
Currently however users are registered in Blackboard automatically from enrolment data It is no longer possible to manually add, delete or edit a user
ConclusionsConclusions
Sample building blocks have been developed which provide an alternative interface for some key tasks The building blocks have been released to a controlled group of users for beta testing. In the future other building blocks could be developed for tasks such as data integration with other campus systems.