Integrating External Content in Blackboard

Michael Anderson

Assistant Director

University of Texas System TeleCampus

Why Use External Content?

High-quality and diverse usually beyond the means of institutions

Multi-modal learning experiences for studentsAllows instructor to focus on designing the

learning experienceSaves time and moneyYou wouldn’t write a textbook would you?

Where to begin: Selecting Content

What kind of content would add value?Multi-modal or media-rich presentationsSimulations and interactivity

and is appropriate?Academic IntegrityBandwidth and AccessibilitySupport and ReliabilityDesign and UsabilityRights of Use Costs

What content would help achieve course goals and learning outcomes?

Wide Range of Sources

Commercial Sources Print publishers (course cartridges) Course vendors (Thinkwell, SIRIUS/McGraw-Hill) Supplement providers (WebAssign, Curriculum

Pathways)Non-Profit & OER Sources Courses (NROC, MIT-OCW, CMU-OLI, SOFIA) Repositories (Wisconsin) Referatories (MERLOT)Institutions and Colleagues Communities of Practice (TLT Groups) Local Initiatives (Orange Grove, SCORE)

Sources: Commercial

Print Publishers Vetted high-quality content (confidence in

editorial quality saves time)More costly, per student chargesTextbook specific materials usually provided as

course cartridges at fee to studentsOften lacks media-rich contentLack of flexibility for instructor customization and

hosting

Sources: Commercial

Course Vendors (i.e., Thinkwell)Vetted high-quality content (confidence in

editorial quality saves time)More costly, per student chargesServices in addition to coursesLack of flexibility for instructor customization

and hosting

Sources: Commercial

Supplement Providers (i.e., Curriculum Pathways, United Streaming) Vetted, permissioned contentSearch and chooseFlexibility to download (United Streaming) or

access in hosted environment (CP)Breadth of coverageTransaction model for the content (license,

statewide purchase, student purchase, etc.)

Sources: Non-Profits & OERs

Course and Content Developers (i.e., NROC, MIT-OCW, SOFIA)Vetted content at affordable pricesSome sources require additional review Flexibility for customization and hosting Inclusion of media-rich, multi-modal content

varies significantlyCommitment and fundingEducational non-profits provide balance

between vetted content, flexibility and cost

Sources: Non-Profit Organizations

Learning Object Repositories & Referatories (LORs)Low cost or gratis access to contentContributed by dedicated academicsAcademic integrity, but single perspectiveFlexibility varies significantly (format of the

content)Usually not vetted (uneven quality)Usually requires time commitment to visit to

multiple sourcesTechnology incompatibilities

Strategies for Evaluating Online Content

Does the content and technology fit the design philosophy of the online program?

Objectives and outcomes Instructional design philosophy Flexibility to fit within the course format Institutional branding Transparency Development process

Is it easy for instructors to use?Transparent technologyTechnology support staff and training Instructional design staff and trainingSupport and feedback loop with the

developer

Strategies for Evaluating Online Content

Is it easy to use for students?Quality directions for using the content Transparent navigation and accessTransparent technologyAppropriate bandwidth Is any additional help desk support required

and how does that affect student success?

Strategies for Evaluating Online Content

Yes

Do I want to use 3rd party content?

No Continue building course on my own

How do I plan to use the content?

Augment existing content

Start with all new content

Replace existing content

External Content:

A Decision-Making Model

Augment

Replace

New

Solo

Time and Cost

The Ecology of External Content

What sources do I want to use?

Augment existing content

Start with all new content

Replace existing content

Community of Practice

Publishers & non-profits

Repositories/referatories

CoP

Reposi

Publish

Cost

CoP

Reposi

Publish

Time

Time

Augment existing content

Start with all new content

Replace existing content

What computer-aided strategies do I want to utilize?

terminology research design

theories

Vocabulary practice

Access to tools

Video cases

Lab simulation

Podcast

PBL

VR

Pedagogical Strategy

Game

Evaluate search results

Quality

Standards

Design Integration

flexibility• Color• Editing/CMS• Navigation• Detachable/target• Plug-ins

Technical Integration

reliability• Linked location• Embedded location• IP/storage• SCORM• Support

Quality

CoP

Reposi

Publish

Implementation

www.thinkwell.com

www.wisc-online.com

lor.theorangegrove.org