Communication Tools Canvas Tool Blackboard Tool Function Announcements Announcements One- way communication Receive notifications via web services (Facebook, Twitter, etc.); students determine preference Commenting enabled; can be linked to a Discussion thread Incorporates RSS feed, links to course content, images, files, etc. Can be emailed to course participants Permanent or temporal display Chat Wimba Pronto/Blackboard IM Multi- person communication Real- time audio/video IM client integrates with Blackboard class rosters Host discussions Public/Private chat Tool is used external to Blackboard Conduct office hours Youtube/Soundcloud Integrated course space Linked to interactive whiteboard Public/Private chat Share Chatroom URL
Conference Wimba Live Classroom Multimedia communication Real- time audio/video Real- time audio/video Conduct online lectures and presentations Public/Private chat Public/Private chat Upload presentations Share presenter s screen Upload presentations Share presenter s screen Conversations Email Private communication Access Discussion responses Send email (broadcasts to mailboxes external to Blackboard) Attach files, recordings, etc. to messages Messages (hosts communication internal to Blackboard course space) Collaboration Groups Facilitate online group work Automatically connects Create groups with selective students for group activities membership or auto Google Docs Ether Pad
Discussions (Topics) Discussions: Discussion Forums Public conversation (Students/Classmates/Faculty) Instructor participation disabled Instructor participation enabled Linked with Announcements No Keyword Search Can be threaded Keyword Search View just Topics or view both Topics and Announcements Drag/drop Topics to organize Add links to course content, images, files, etc. Notification- enabled Can be threaded Notifications Settings Customize communication Mark communication frequency preferences Faculty choose to communicate through external email or internal messages Choose notification sources Link to web services such as Facebook, Twitter, Skype, and LinkedIn No student control over where notifications are received
Content Organization Canvas Tool Blackboard Tool Function Files Content Collection Organize/manage/upload course files Branched folder organization Drag/drop files from local computer to file manager Drag/drop files to reorder Zip/unzip packages Drag/drop to order modules/content WebDAV client to upload and download files Personal file space and content folders associated with each Blackboard space Modules Course Documents/Content Areas Compartmentalize related material Set content release requirements Set prerequisites, completion requirements Visual Text Box Editor enables item annotation and file attachments Date controllable Organize content in folders
Pages Course Documents/Content Areas Compile varieties of content Create wiki pages Create items Add text, video, file links, etc. Link to external web resources Web videos automatically embedded History of changes tracked Linked to Calendar Syllabus Syllabus Contains an automatically generated table of assignments/quizzes Outlines course based on assignment and quiz due dates Tool not linked to other parts of the Blackboard course space
Assessment Canvas Tool Blackboard Tool Function Assignments Assignments Student work submission Online submission Online submission Graded & ungraded items Assign groups for Assignments Graded items Assignments = graded tasks Linked to Calendar and Syllabus Grades Grade Center Record grades for Assignments Columns created by Assignments Columns created by Assignments Calculate hypothetical grades Sort by due date/assignment Manual column creation Download submissions Download submissions View submissions online Add text/media feedback Global access to grades, external to specific course, for students Speed grader (see below)
Outcomes N/A Identify learning objectives Reports to instructors and administrators Quizzes Tests/Quizzes Assess and survey students Respondus compatible All quiz options are on the same page as you are creating the quiz Quizzes must be published Add images/html to questions/answers/distracters Add images/html to questions/answers/distracters Copy questions Cannot copy questions Respondus compatible Rubrics N/A Learning Expectations Drag to add columns, Click to add a criterion Ability to add media comments and integration with SpeedGrader interface (see below) Manually override grades from rubrics
Speedgrader N/A Grade and comment on assessments ipad app available Centralized submissions enables rapid grading Add textual, audio, or video feedback Anonymous, completion, time- sensitive submissions Links rubrics with submissions
Course Administration/Organization Canvas Tool Blackboard Tool Function Calendar Calendar Display due dates Drag/drop to change dates Date changes automatically applied throughout course Color- coded global calendar view Compatible with apps that use ical feeds Updates to Assignments, Syllabus, or Calendar are integrated with each other Stand alone, does not map to other tools in course space Dashboard Home Page LMS Overview Contains an overview of all Displays list of all courses in which courses in which the user has a role user has a role Includes communications feed and recent activities User controls other information modules included on their personal home page
Navigation Manage Course Menu Provide links to different course areas Menu links cannot be renamed/created Menu links can be concealed or reordered Publish Course Course Availability Grant students course access Once instructor publishes a course, it is visible to students (and the action cannot be undone) Instructor can toggle between making a course available or unavailable to students