Using Blackboard Communities for Student Government Elections and Orientation Presented by John...

Using Blackboard Communities for Student Government Elections and Orientation

Presented by John Fritz & Bob Armstrong April 14, 2005

2Copyright © UMBC 2005

Session Objectives

• Describe the UMBC Student Election Process

• Introduce the UMBC New Student Orientation Community

• Introduce the UMBC Online Placement Tests Pilot Program


Overview• Session Objectives

– Using communities effectively– Problem-solving with stakeholders

• Innovation– Using surveys for election ballots– Using assessments for placement exams

• Results/Outcomes– Highest student voter turnout ever– Eliminated extra trips for out-of-state students


About UMBC

• Founded in 1966• “Research extensive university”

Carnegie classification• 11,852 Students

– 9,668 undergrad, 2,184 grad• 949 Faculty

– 657 FT, 292 PT• Selected Brags

– One of 50 Best Colleges for Women

– 1st in undergrad chemistry degrees awarded to African Americans

– Six-time National College Chess Champions


UMBC Blackboard Growth

Does not include distinct course sections

0

100200

300

400

500600

700


Bb @ UMBC• Learning System Version 6.2.3• As of Spring 2005

– 600 Courses (per semester)– 420 Faculty– 225 Communities

• Includes all student, faculty and staff senates

• Staff: – 1 Server Admin– 2 FTE (Admin & Support) – 1 PT GA

Student Government Elections


Problem

• Historically low voter turnout

• Desire for easy, secure voting

• Homegrown online ballot process kept changing

• No time or resources to build or buy (and integrate) stand-alone process.


Solution

• Enroll all eligible voters in a single Bb community• Use anonymous survey as the “ballot”• “Voters” are told they can vote more than once,

but only their last vote is recorded.• Election was conducted over a five-day period.• Student government can monitor who voted, but

not who they voted for.• Summary analysis can be printed as .pdf file and

posted.


Results

• More than 2,000 students voted in the election, the SGA’s highest voter turnout ever.

• Other elections on Bb:– Honors Student Association– Professional Staff Senate– Graduate Council of Faculty– Greek organizations– Departmental “Teacher of the Year” nominations


Issues

• Scale of Use– Bb doesn’t test for site enrollments > 1,000.– We couldn’t get results until three days after the

election.

• What’s a Vote?– Bb shows results as percentage of all votes cast, not

raw votes (version 6.x “download results” helps).

• Training & Support– Once voters start the ballot, they must finish– Can’t minimize screen, hit “back” button, etc.


Next Steps

• SGA Election set for April 25-27, 2005 (nearly 10k users)

• Staff Senate Election set for early May (500 users).

• Graduate Council of Faculty just completed its elections (400 users)


Recommendations

• Don’t try this on anything but version 6.3– We upgraded hardware & software in 2004– We still can’t get results (Spring 2005 User Survey)

• Bb can (and will) through beta version of App Pack 3

• Start with small elections• Perhaps wait for Bb assessment initiative.• Build Election “sites” outside of Bb

– Sample ballot & candidate bios


New Student Orientation


Orientation Community Goals

• Create a place to communicate & interact with incoming students

• Supplement summer student orientation• Initial content: course syllabi, orientation resources,

announcements, etc.• Provide an early exposure to Bb• Help students get prepared for placement tests• Orientation Evaluations• Postings for Study Groups


Community Building Process

• Initial meetings with Admissions staff to create goals• Bb staff created prototype with limited content• Tested prototype with student staff• Expanded content to include discussion areas for

feedback & link to chats• Admissions staff trained to administer the community• Eventual Student Enrollment


• Instructions sent to students• Students create UMBC user ID/PW• Admissions generates an enrollment list• Bb admins batch enroll the students• Bb staff presentations at the on-campus

orientation sessions• Encouraged the use of evaluations

Student Process


Participation

• 2,180 students enrolled (FA2004 semester)• 270 responses to freshman evaluation• 134 responses to transfer evaluation• 60 posts to the new book forum• 2 posts on the study group forum


Recommendations

• Focus on good Bb communication techniques• Improve the current process• Provide incentives to users• Test your ideas with existing students• Train support staff to take over


Online Placement Tests


Why Online Tests?• Convenient for out-of-state students• Savings in staff time• More time for other things on orientation days• Immediate results on tests• Easy to print essays for readers


• Initial meetings with Math/English to present options• Generated assessments and designed community• Initial testing with student staff • Refined instructions & admin process• Tested a group of 250 students this Winter• Modified instructions to include computer requirements• Next pilot end of April

Building Process


Community Design


Challenges

• Getting buy-in from English/Math Depts. • Enrolling students (self-enroll vs. batch?)• Creating an easy-to-use site for first time users• Eliminating copy/paste/print of exams• Printing English Writing tests to be read by staff• Limitations of the assessment timer• Technical support


Student Comments

“I liked that it was online and I was able to take it when it was convenient.”

“Finally, the ability to receive math scores immediately after completing the test. Very convenient.”

“I liked that I could type on the computer and that I would not have had to come all the way to UMBC to complete the test. I find that I can write better and faster on the computer.”

“I was given creative freedom...I sit in front of a computer and contemplate on ideas when I'm writing the average term paper. Taking this exam felt natural.”


Recommendations

• Test, test, and test some more.• Make sure all parties aware of the limitations• Promote Bb’s ease of use & instant grading etc.• Anticipate potential support issue


Questions & Comments??

Presentation online: http://www.umbc.edu/blackboard


Contact Us!!

John FritzDirector,UMBC New Media Learning & [email protected]

Bob ArmstrongInstructional Designer – Primary Bb Support, UMBC New Media Learning & [email protected]

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