By having Blackboard as the standard CMS supported centrally by the university, departments could have access to the software at no charge, he noted. A CMS distributes instructional materials for viewing using the World Wide Web. It provides many benefits to students and instructors, said Willbern, who also serves as director of the Educational Technology Center. Students who miss classes can review material later, at their own pace and convenience. The system allows instructors to divide classes into collaborative groups that work online.
Students can communicate via email, discussion boards and real-time chat rooms.
Online testing is possible, he said, and ungraded surveys can be posted to help prepare students for in-class tests or exams. Grades can be posted to the CMS so that students can check their progress throughout the semester. In addition, students can create their own Web pages and note-taking areas. And electronic files of various types can be transferred between students and instructors. The task force was convened last fall to investigate the possibility of using a standard CMS at UB, Willbern said.