Kelly Knowles English 3359 June 26, 2011

Annotated Bibliography

1.) Corkill, D. (2003). Collaborating software: blackboard & multi-agent systems & the future. Manuscript submitted for publication, Department of Computer Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts. Retrieved from http://dancorkill.home.comcast.net/~dancorkill/pubs/ilc03.pdf This is a report done at the University of Massachusetts that deals with the software used in Blackboard systems and multi-agent systems. This report compares and contrasts the two software systems, and addresses unresolved issues with both systems. It offers great detail about the components of blackboard from a set-up standpoint. It includes diagrams, modules and graphs that aid in understanding the software systems. It also includes the history of blackboard, how it came to be, its current status, and what the future holds for blackboard systems. I think this will be beneficial to our research because it gives us insight about the components of the system itself and how complex it can be, therefore how complex it can be to change and improve upon it. The history of the system allows us to see its evolution up until now. 2.) Smart, K, & Meyer, K. (2005). Changing course management systems: lessons learned. Educause Quarterly , 28(2), Retrieved from http://www.educause.edu/EDUCAUSE+Quarterly/EDUCAUSEQuarterlyMagazineVolum/Chan gingCourseManagementSystem/157339 This article is about how North Dakota University went about changing their Blackboard course management system. It details why they felt the need to change the system and the challenges they faced in doing so including funding issues. Before selecting a new course management system, the school took into consideration what the goals and needs of their faculty and staff were and researched which CMS would be able to meet those needs. Ultimately they chose a course management system titled Desire2learn. The article then addresses the issues they had with the conversion as well as they benefits. This article will aid in our research because it gives a balanced report of the benefits as well as the downfalls that can occur when converting Blackboard to an alternate course management system. 3.) Tips for efficient and effective communications using blackboard. (2010). In Northern Illinois University. Retrieved June 26, 2011, from www.niu.edu/spectrum/2010/spring/efficientcomm.shtml

This newsletter posted on Northern Illinois Universitys website gives tips on effectively and efficiently communicating via Blackboard. It gives details about what an effective course management system offer to both faculty members and staff. It discusses features like e-mail, announcements, asynchronous discussions, and synchronous presentations and discussions. Not only does it list what features a Blackboard learning system should have, but it tells what the purpose of each feature should serve as. It discusses how Blackboard in general should be a means of students communicating and collaborating with one another I their courses, and the tools that Blackboard offers should foster this goal. This is a great newsletter that will be beneficial to our research because it can serve as a checklist of what features an ideal Blackboard learning system should consist of. 4.) Virtual learning environment. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Virtual_learning_environment This website gives facts about virtual learning environments, has a discussion forum, and has links to articles relating to the topic. It begins by defining a virtual learning system as a system designed to support teaching and learning in an educational setting, as distinct from a Management Learning Environment, where the focus is on management. This site gives an overview of how to use a virtual learning environment to communicate, upload content, return students work, conduct peer assessments, post grades, etc. It also discusses the available systems that can be used to foster these types of learning environments. It offers links to Moodle, Blackboard, CyberExtension, and many more, which I think will help our research as we will be able to view different learning environments and compare and contrasts them to distinguish what works and what does not work. 5.)Wang, H, & L., D. (2006). Designing and developing web-based instruction. Prentice Hall. This book is geared towards web-based course design and on-line learning. It helps to design on-line teaching environments for elementary, secondary, and college level students. It is a guide for web-based teaching and management. It first gives an introduction on web-based learning environments, and then goes into the design of these environments as well as the application and implementation of course management systems. It discusses features of webbased courses like how they can be used for assessment, student interaction, and utilizing web resources. I think this book is a great research tool that we can use to help identify how an effective course management system should be designed, and how to mange the system altogether.