Blackboard Mobile Learn App: Review

  As an avid online class taker I just couldn't wait another second to get my hands on the free Blackboard Mobile Learn App. Honestly, I wasn't expecting much. Blackboard for the most part seems to be a very hard to use tool and often causes a lot of issues for students and professors. Additionally, I can use almost every tool in blackboard without the app in both my iPhone and iPad just using my internet browser. However, I was hoping some of the issues I had with Blackboard, like how complicated/time consuming it can be to login, would be addressed.

So, this is what my expectations/hopes for the app were:
 1: Integrate the features that were unavailable when using a mobile internet browser.
 2: Easier logins/ option to stay logged in
 3: Ability to submit assignments/post pictures from other apps/sites.
 4: Nice looking design with intuitive formatting.
 5: Alerts/notifications/badges when new content arrives in a class or something is due.

 The first thing I did was check to see which devices I could download this app to. So far you will currently be able to use this on the Android, Blackberry, and iOS mobile platforms. I was surprised to find out that there was not a companion app in the Mac App Store to pull up on my computer. I am sure this is because if you are at a desktop you would have access to the full features of Blackboard online. I don't think that is entirely the right mindset to have because the app does function, in my opinion, better than the site. The desktop app would allow users to have a dock item specifically for their online classes that goes directly into an already logged in Online class course map.

 Next, I checked for the features of the app that I was looking for. The layout in the iPad is fine, they made use of the visual real estate and added many more features here than in the mobile phone versions of the app. I was hoping for something a little more sexy; The chalkboard/ corkboard look is a little lame and overused in every school productivity app out there. Because it is "Blackboard" I was willing to overlook the "blackboard" design.

 I am pleased to report that the app does maintain a "keep me logged in" feature which was a huge bonus because the process at my school (and most others) is very long and tedious.

 I was very curious to see how the assessment features would work in this app, as it typically opens several additional windows when taking a test either in a desktop or mobile browser. When I clicked to take a test it offered to take me to a browser window, which I clicked (as I rolled my eyes) and was pleasantly surprised to find that the app had not closed and opened Safari but rather opened a browser window right on top of the app screen! This feature engages when opening documents or website links as well; You will be taken to a browser window while staying inside the app. Also, app can maintain several open windows and has a multi touch feature which allows you to view and relocate several windows at a time in a very cool way (you can view all this in the video demo at the end of the post.) I did find that I was able to submit assignments and even post pictures from other areas of my iPad which I could not do using the mobile internet browser.

 The first snag I really ran into was that there are no notification options for the app. It seems like a very simple and necessary tool and most online students would agree that they would not mind there mobile device reminding them about an assignment or telling them when their teacher posts new information. However, because the app keeps you logged in and the main screen shows the most updated information for your classes, checking on these sorts of things is literally just one tap away, and I am good with that!

 I was very impressed to find that all the features I was looking for were there in the app and even some I wasn't expecting.

 Now to the negative:
 1: Not all schools using Blackboard for their online classes were available (one of mine was not!) There was an option to give an email and be notified if it becomes available. They seem to insinuate on their website and in the app store that this is on the schools' end and not theirs, perhaps permissions need to be given or it is an additional feature the schools need to purchase?

 2:If your school is participating and you login, ALL ONLINE classes you have taken appear in the dashboard, not just the ones that you are currently enrolled in. I was very concerned about this until I watched the demo video and saw the "favorites" option which allows you to mark the classes you are currently using, whew!

I am overall extremely pleased with the App and will continue using it. I foresee some good updates in our future as well, based on the professionalism I found both in the final product as well as on the accompanying website.

There are a myriad of features not discussed in this review that can be seen in the demo video I found which you can watch here.

I am interested to know if your school is available, if you are using this app, and what you think of it, in the comments below!

By Jennifer O'Steen with No comments

Why Schools Should Stop Banning Cell Phones, and Use Them for Learning

by: Audrey Watters

Last week, a study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project found that cell phones have become "near ubiquitous": 83 percent of American adults own one. Over half of all adult mobile phone owners had used their phones at least once to get information they needed right away. And more than a quarter said that they had experienced a situation in the previous month in which they had trouble doing something because they did not have their phones at hand.

The findings of this Pew research -- the reliance of adults on their cell phones -- stands in sharp contrast to the policies of many schools, where cell phones remained banned or restricted. Students likely have these same needs as adults: to get online and find information they need right away. But often students are banned from using their cell phones in schools, something that students themselves list as one of the greatest obstacles they face in using technology in the classroom.

For many schools, these are formal rules, written in school policy or in student handbooks. But as phones become more like extended appendages in everyone's lives, schools are rethinking their policies. MindShift asked teachers how or whether these rules were changing and received some interesting feedback.

Continued @ MediaShift

By Jennifer O'Steen with No comments

Keep In Touch...

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By Jennifer O'Steen with No comments

Valencia Workshop Schedule/ Calendar

Click HERE to be taken to the Valencia College Calendar with my upcoming workshops.

Instructions to book a spot in one of the workshops:
Follow the blog, either via the email link, the follow link or both on the home page.
Leave a message in the comments on this post with the following information:
Full name
Workshop Name
Date of Workshop
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And thats it!

By Jennifer O'Steen with 4 comments

My Favorite App for Brainstorming & Outlining: MindNode

I purchased the MindNode app at the suggestion of a friend when I first got my iPad and have been in love with it ever since.

The best use for this app is outlining, particularly as you research something or read through a textbook. The app allows you to create a mind map, starting with the main idea/question/thesis in the center and adding "nodes" outward. You can build off of any node and even color code them (yay OCD!) Though it's great for outlining, my favorite use for this app is when I am unsure of what direction I am going to take with an assignment. A great example is when I have to "pick a topic" to respond to from a list of discussion questions. Instead of picking one and then going to try and find the research for that question, I create a node for each question and then build out those nodes as I find information in the text. You can see in the picture that I had two possible discussions: The significance of the "Epic of Gilgamesh" to the biblical flood story or the struggles that the main character had as a leader. I set my first nodes and then began reading, as I came across a potential item for one of the questions I "added a node" and when I was done with the reading I could plainly see which question I was thoroughly ready to answer. I will also add the location of the information to the node for referencing/citing in my discussion.

This also works great for Research papers. Just make the first set of nodes the thesis' for each paragraph and then add to them as you find usable information and make note of the location.

Another great feature is that there is a companion app for the desktop which allows you to not only create MindNodes at home but sync the ones you are working with between devices.

This app is currently not available on the Android Market but the sister app there is called, "ThinkingSpace" and I found it to be equally useful in all areas.

Let me know in the comments if you are using this app or another like it and if it has been a help to you in school or not.

By Jennifer O'Steen with No comments