Using Blackboard Communities for Student Government Elections and Orientation Presented by John Fritz & Bob Armstrong April 14, 2005
Using Blackboard Communities for Student Government Elections and Orientation
Presented by John Fritz & Bob Armstrong April 14, 2005
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Session Objectives
• Describe the UMBC Student Election Process
• Introduce the UMBC New Student Orientation Community
• Introduce the UMBC Online Placement Tests Pilot Program
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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
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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
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UMBC Blackboard Growth
Does not include distinct course sections
0
100200
300
400
500600
700
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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)
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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
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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
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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
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• 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
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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
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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
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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
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• 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
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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
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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.”
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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
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Contact Us!!
John FritzDirector,UMBC New Media Learning & [email protected]
Bob ArmstrongInstructional Designer – Primary Bb Support, UMBC New Media Learning & [email protected]