By Danielle Marano
Staff Writer
Blackboard is a growing platform for colleges and universities in today’s academic world. It is a website where professors and students can unite online in one spot, and creates a central location for homework and assignments. Grades are often posted on blackboard as well as upcoming deadlines for papers. If the professor requires the use of Blackboard for their coursework, it is crucial that their students know how to utilize the site.
The question is do students here at Post find this site useful
or difficult to navigate? Do professors really like using the site to communicate with their students, or do they only use it because the university requires grades to be posted on the site? I personally think Blackboard is useful, and centralizes information for students without confusion.
A number of students and a few professors were asked questions on their feelings about the site. 20 of the 35 students said that they
do, in fact, use Blackboard often, like it, and explained why. Meagan Kolakowski, a senior Dance major, had positive feelings about the
site. “I use it everyday. I feel that it helps me stay organized with my schoolwork,” Kolakowski stated.
Freshmen admitted that they were not entirely familiar with how the site operates yet, but said their professors had mentioned it, and will use it throughout the semester. Upperclassman all have experience with
the website since the majority of teachers do in fact have them use it. “I only use it if my professor makes me [use it] for homework,” said Sarah Hecht, a junior Health Care major.
Though the majority of students seemed to have no issue with Blackboard, a few others have had negative experiences. Jamie Boswell, a senior Musical Theatre major, feels very strongly about the site’s downfalls. Boswell explained, “It’s way too convoluted. I like being told assignments in person, not via Internet. I had to use it once and I really didn’t like it.” A few other Post students felt the same way, and believe that Blackboard makes academic life more difficult.
Dr. Cara Gargano, head of the Theatre, Film and Dance School, had a lot to say: “I don’t use Blackboard at all. The courses I teach
are primarily in-person lessons. They’re very hands-on and require information that can only be taught and learned in person, bodily. It’s inappropriate for my work.”
Though there are mixed feelings about the quickly growing site, it seems as if the majority of our students embrace Blackboard, and use it as a tool to further their academic success. I think once a student is taught how to use the site, there should be no confusion. Blackboard also helps foster a united feeling towards coursework between faculty and students.
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