Initial Report

Initial Report

Combined Census Survey (general and feature specific)

Last Modified: 11/23/2011

1. Please select one: Male or Female

# Answer Response %1 Male 53 27%2 Female 140 73%

Total 193 100%

1. Please select one: Male or Female

Statistic ValueMin Value 1Max Value 2Mean 1.73Variance 0.20Standard Deviation 0.45Total Responses 193

2. Please select one: Specific Educational Standing# Answer Response %1 Freshman 46 24%2 Sophomore 23 12%3 Junior 40 21%4 Senior 44 23%5 Graduate Student 40 21%

Total 193 100%

2. Please select one: Specific Educational StandingStatistic ValueMin Value 1Max Value 5Mean 3.05Variance 2.14Standard Deviation 1.46Total Responses 193

3. Please select one: Program of Study

# Answer Response %1 College of Buisness 23 12%2 College of

Communications11 6%

3 College of Education 27 14%4 College of Health and

Human Services29 15%

5 College of Humanities and Social Sciences

42 22%

6 College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

45 23%

7 College of Visual and Performing Arts

7 4%

8 Undecided 9 5%Total 193 100%

3. Please select one: Program of Study


4. Based on your course work at JMU, please describe your course interactions with Blackboard.# Answer Response %1 I have taken a fully online

course that used Blackboard

53 27%

2 I have taken a hybrid/blended course that meets online and in the classroom that used Blackboard

51 26%

3 I have taken face-to-face classroom courses that utilized Blackboard

176 91%

4 I have taken face-to-face classroom courses that do not utilize Blackboard

114 59%

4. Based on your course work at JMU, please describe your course interactions with Blackboard.Statistic ValueMin Value 1Max Value 4Total Responses 193

5. Which technologies play a role in your daily communications?# Answer Response %1 social networks 165 85%2 text messaging 182 94%3 instant messaging 49 25%4 email 185 96%5 other 16 8%

5. Which technologies play a role in your daily communications?othertestphone callsphonescell phone Skype450 mhz public safety radio communications (occupational)phone calls, lettersphone callsPone callsphoneTalking on phonetalking to peoplevideo chatvideo chatVideo messagingphone calls

5. Which technologies play a role in your daily communications?Statistic ValueMin Value 1Max Value 5Total Responses 193

6. What technologies do you regularly use?

# Answer Response %1 smartphone 100 55%2 tablet 13 7%3 laptop/desktop 180 98%4 Other 28 15%


Otheripad, ipod, siftables, etc.regular cell phone phonecell phone (non smartphone)cellphonecellphoneoldfashioned cell phoneflip phoneiPod TouchCell Phonecell phonecellphone, ipod, kindlebasic cell phonecell phoneRegular Cellphonenormal phoneipod touchIPodiPodcell phoneiPodCell PhoneKindleCell phoneregular cell phonecell phoneipod touchiPod Touch


Statistic ValueMin Value 1Max Value 4Total Responses 183

7. Would you like to see Blackboard have more social features for learning?# Answer Response %1 yes 58 32%2 no 55 30%3 unsure 70 38%

Total 183 100%

7. Would you like to see Blackboard have more social features for learning?Statistic ValueMin Value 1Max Value 3Mean 2.07Variance 0.70Standard Deviation 0.84Total Responses 183

8. Blackboard fits my expectations of how a learning management system should work.# Answer Response %1 Strongly Disagree 4 2%2 Disagree 11 6%3 Neither Agree nor

Disagree42 23%

4 Agree 104 57%5 Strongly Agree 22 12%

Total 183 100%

8. Blackboard fits my expectations of how a learning management system should work.Statistic ValueMin Value 1Max Value 5Mean 3.70Variance 0.70Standard Deviation 0.84Total Responses 183

9. Overall, how would you describe your experience using Blackboard?# Answer Response %1 negative 3 2%2 somewhat negative 15 8%3 neutral 27 15%4 somewhat positive 83 45%5 positive 55 30%

Total 183 100%

9. Overall, how would you describe your experience using Blackboard?Statistic ValueMin Value 1Max Value 5Mean 3.94Variance 0.92Standard Deviation 0.96Total Responses 183

10. Overall, how difficult is Blackboard to use?

# Answer Response %1 Very Difficult 2 1%2 Somewhat Difficult 19 10%3 Somewhat Easy 102 56%4 Very Easy 60 33%

Total 183 100%

10. Overall, how difficult is Blackboard to use?


11. Please describe your satisfaction level of Blackboard as a reliable service.# Answer Response %1 Very Dissatisfied 2 1%2 Dissatisfied 13 7%3 Neutral 28 15%4 Satisfied 114 63%5 Very Satisfied 25 14%

Total 182 100%

11. Please describe your satisfaction level of Blackboard as a reliable service.Statistic ValueMin Value 1Max Value 5Mean 3.81Variance 0.64Standard Deviation 0.80Total Responses 182

12. Please describe the difficulty in locating information within Blackboard.# Answer Response %1 Very Difficult 2 1%2 Difficult 23 13%3 Neutral 56 31%4 Easy 83 46%5 Very Easy 18 10%

Total 182 100%

12. Please describe the difficulty in locating information within Blackboard.Statistic ValueMin Value 1Max Value 5Mean 3.51Variance 0.77Standard Deviation 0.88Total Responses 182

13. How often do you access Blackboard?

# Answer Response %1 Never 0 0%2 Less than Once a Month 0 0%3 Once a Month 2 1%4 2-3 Times a Month 3 2%5 Once a Week 10 5%6 2-3 Times a Week 66 36%7 Daily 101 55%

Total 182 100%

13. How often do you access Blackboard?


14. Please indicate the importance of the listed features for a learning management system such as Black...

14. Please indicate the importance of the listed features for a learning management system such as Black...# Question Not Very

ImportantNot Important

Important Very Important

Responses Mean

1 Email 15 12 72 75 174 3.192 Course

Annoucements

2 5 59 108 174 3.57

3 Social Media

48 81 37 8 174 2.03

14. Please indicate the importance of the listed features for a learning management system such as Black...Statistic Email Course Annoucements Social MediaMin Value 1 1 1Max Value 4 4 4Mean 3.19 3.57 2.03Variance 0.81 0.37 0.68Standard Deviation 0.90 0.61 0.82Total Responses 174 174 174





Responses Mean

1 Discussion Boards

15 30 87 42 174 2.90

2 Blogs 33 93 43 5 174 2.113 Wiki 40 88 38 8 174 2.08

15. Please indicate the importance of the listed features for a learning management system such as Black...Statistic Discussion Boards Blogs WikiMin Value 1 1 1Max Value 4 4 4Mean 2.90 2.11 2.08Variance 0.75 0.54 0.63Standard Deviation 0.87 0.74 0.79Total Responses 174 174 174





Responses Mean

1 My Grades 2 1 20 151 174 3.842 Test 5 16 56 97 174 3.413 Rubrics and

Learning Outcomes

1 10 55 108 174 3.55

16. Please indicate the importance of the listed features for a learning management system such as Black...Statistic My Grades Test Rubrics and Learning

OutcomesMin Value 1 1 1Max Value 4 4 4Mean 3.84 3.41 3.55Variance 0.22 0.60 0.40Standard Deviation 0.47 0.78 0.63Total Responses 174 174 174





Responses Mean

1 Assignments

2 1 38 133 174 3.74

2 Calendar 5 33 67 69 174 3.153 Groups 12 50 80 32 174 2.764 Journals 26 73 51 24 174 2.425 Learning

Module15 57 69 33 174 2.69

6 Survey 20 65 63 26 174 2.557 Podcasts 34 77 47 15 173 2.25

17. Please indicate the importance of the listed features for a learning management system such as Black...Statistic Assignment

sCalendar Groups Journals Learning

ModuleSurvey Podcasts

Min Value 1 1 1 1 1 1 1Max Value 4 4 4 4 4 4 4Mean 3.74 3.15 2.76 2.42 2.69 2.55 2.25Variance 0.28 0.68 0.69 0.82 0.77 0.78 0.76Standard Deviation

0.53 0.83 0.83 0.91 0.88 0.88 0.87

Total Responses

174 174 174 174 174 174 173

18. Which features do you access MOST often in Blackboard?# Answer Response %1 Announcements 122 70%2 Assignments 163 94%3 Audio 1 1%4 Blackboard Help 0 0%5 Blogs 1 1%6 Calendar 18 10%7 Contacts 18 10%8 Course Links 40 23%9 Discussion Board 61 35%10 Elluminate Live! 12 7%11 Flickr Photo 0 0%12 Glossary 3 2%13 Groups 14 8%14 Image 0 0%15 Instructor Contact

Information24 14%

16 Journals 9 5%17 Learning Module 3 2%18 Lesson Plan 8 5%19 Link to Refworks

Database1 1%

20 Merlot Content 0 0%21 Module 6 3%22 My Grades 160 92%23 Online Journal 8 5%24 Podcast 2 1%25 Respondus Lockdown

Browser11 6%

26 Roster 29 17%27 Rubrics 41 24%28 SafeAssignments 7 4%29 Science Toolkit 0 0%30 Self and Peer Assessment 2 1%31 Send Email 35 20%32 Slideshare Presentation 3 2%33 Survey 7 4%34 Syllabus 105 60%35 Tasks 12 7%36 Tests (and Pools) 37 21%37 TurningPoint Registration

Tool3 2%

38 URLs 9 5%39 Video 9 5%40 Wikis 0 0%41 Word 4 2%42 YouTube Video 4 2%

18. Which features do you access MOST often in Blackboard?Statistic ValueMin Value 1Max Value 42Total Responses 174

19. Which features do you access LEAST often in Blackboard?# Answer Response %1 Announcements 1 1%2 Assignments 0 0%3 Audio 99 57%4 Blackboard Help 91 52%5 Blogs 114 66%6 Calendar 61 35%7 Contacts 51 29%8 Course Links 21 12%9 Discussion Board 25 14%10 Elluminate Live! 109 63%11 Flickr Photo 141 81%12 Glossary 102 59%13 Groups 52 30%14 Image 95 55%15 Instructor Contact

Information30 17%

16 Journals 77 44%17 Learning Module 79 45%18 Lesson Plan 75 43%19 Link to Refworks

Database107 61%

20 Merlot Content 129 74%21 Module 87 50%22 My Grades 0 0%23 Online Journal 87 50%24 Podcast 109 63%25 Respondus Lockdown

Browser87 50%

26 Roster 55 32%27 Rubrics 41 24%28 SafeAssignments 77 44%29 Science Toolkit 116 67%30 Self and Peer Assessment 89 51%31 Send Email 35 20%32 Slideshare Presentation 94 54%33 Survey 56 32%34 Syllabus 6 3%35 Tasks 51 29%36 Tests (and Pools) 33 19%37 TurningPoint Registration

Tool91 52%

38 URLs 66 38%39 Video 84 48%40 Wikis 114 66%41 Word 89 51%42 YouTube Video 105 60%

19. Which features do you access LEAST often in Blackboard?Statistic ValueMin Value 1Max Value 42Total Responses 174

20. Blackboard meets my needs in my current courses.

20. Blackboard meets my needs in my current courses.# Answer Response %1 Strongly Disagree 6 3%2 Disagree 13 8%3 Agree 96 55%4 Strongly Agree 58 34%

Total 173 100%

20. Blackboard meets my needs in my current courses.Statistic ValueMin Value 1Max Value 4Mean 3.19Variance 0.52Standard Deviation 0.72Total Responses 173

21. Comments:

Text ResponseOnly 1 of my teachers uses it to list gradesI have never seen or heard of anyone who uses 75% features on the list above.I think it totally depends on how blackboard is used and if it is overusedHave graduate assistants or full time staff working to help professors put necessary items on blackboard. I always hate when one of my teachers does not use blackboard when they have a lot of powerpoints and notes that they do not print out and provide for the class.Could JMU sign up for the Blackboard app for smartphones? It would make accessing blackboard from the phone much easier! Most teachers do not update it as time scheduling in the class changes (due to extended assignments etc.) Many also do not post grades so if you don't get assignments returned it is difficult to know where your grade stands in the class.Blackboard is very effective if the prof chooses to utilize it.In my experience, use of blackboard as a learning management tool largely depends upon the instructor. Only a few of my classes have used discussion board and only one has used Elluminate Live! For most classes, blackboard serves as a way to distribute class documents, announcements, and contact information. Therefore, most of my use of blackboard has been with simple tools, which is really all I need blackboard for.I think that blackboard does not need to be overloaded with features. From my experience, most of the features in blackboard are not used because they are not very important for a classroom setting. Blackboard is useful because it allows an instructor to communicate with his or her students and students to communicate with their teacher. There is no need to improve blackboard or add more features to it beacuse it already does what it does well. In fact, I find that having too many features makes programs stressful and difficult to use because they demand too much of users. I don't want a comprehensive life planner and entertainment center with blackboard. It already does what I ask of it: It provides a way for my teachers to communicate with me about upcoming assignments and grades. It does this very well.its gotten weird since the change. for example, now i have to download every freakin pdf that i used to be able to just do a read only and keep in in the browser. its obnoxious, also, i feel like the set up changed but did not help anything. like there were such minor changes that it was annoying with no benefit.Blackboard is fine, it's getting teachers to use it correctly that's the issue. It's only going to be as good as the least technically able teacher can manage - should focus on teaching professors to use it well.Wish my teachers were better at posting my grades on blackboard, but that isn't blackboards doing.For the previous survey questions, I considered "Not Very Important" to be a lesser degree than "Not Important" and answered accordingly.

There are many features of Blackboard that I had not even heard of, but I did not check them as LEAST often accessed because I have never accessed them.I am not so sure that the use/non-use of blackboard is due to my interest as much as in how my professors choose to utilitze the software. There is also often a bit of confusion the beginning of each semester because each professor uses it differently with different tools. I would access and use it more if my professors did. I hope you are giving this survey to the professors as well.Many of my art classes do not utilize Blackboard. For the classes that do, I find it very useful. Also, many professors do not update it as often as I would like, especially when deadlines are changed for assignments.I had no idea blackboard could do half these things...The effectiveness on blackboard is directly proportional to the instructor's:

1) Knowledge and ability to use it

2) Discipline and consistency in timely posting

3) Ability to articulate (at the beginning of the course) exactly what blackboard will and will not be used forTeachers don't utilize blackboard enough and students don't communicate through it as much as they could."not very important" and "not important" mean almost the same thing. maybe "very not important" would do betterSome of these questions are oddly worded; for example, with the middle section, I thought we were rating the different features based on their potential usefulness, not by how much I use them now. I don't use most of the features on BlackBoard; in fact, I don't even know where to find half of the items that are listed above. Depending on the class requirements, I normally just access the Course Documents and Course Information, occasionally looking at the Discussion Board if the professor chooses to utilize it. I don't think I would check it on a daily basis if I didn't have homework to do; on occasion, some professors have sent us messages regarding our class in the mornings on BlackBoard, but if they did not also send the message through email, no one would receive the memo because it doesn't connect all aspects of our lives.It's a pain to find things, nothing is consistent, and as soon as i figure out the layout it changes. Simplify.As a graduate student who is returning to the classroom 17 years after completing my undergraduate degree, Blackboard has seemed to replace a certain level of communication from instructor to student. In my undergraduate days, when a professor had an announcement to make, they would do so during class. We all would take notes and react accordingly. It seems to me that Blackboard creates and unnecessary barrier between the student and the instructor.You asked a question about which aspects I use most in blackboard but I only selected a few responses because that is the only content my professors have used. If they used more of the functions of blackboard and put more content there, I would use it much more. I think it's a great tool but I also have heard faculty talk about how they don't know how to use blackboard and would use it more if there was more content to use. Also, please include a third option for gender on your survey. Leave this black to let folks self identify their gender. With this being the first question on your survey students who are transgender may not even take your survey and they are also students at JMU who use blackboard. Some features are redundant and confusing, such as Journals and Online Journal. There is a lack of uniformity between how different professors use different tools. It's very clunky and clumsy. I wish it had a more seamless user interface, like facebook. I really like Blackboard; however, I would like a tool where I can input grades in instances where instructors choose not to utilize the grade function of Blackboard. This would better help me keep track of my grades online. It could be a function that could be turned on by a professor after student request. Only compliant is Blackboard keeps asking me to enter my log-in information when opening documents. This has been something I have noticed since the upgrade. Just a note about the survey: Some of the ease of BB relies on how organized the professor is in putting information upDiscussion boards should be much more fluid, similar to social networking like Facebook, but with serious anonymity.I've been pleasantly surprised with how easy it is to use BB. It facilitates learning tremendously, IF the assigned instructor buys into it. Some online professors don't utilize all capabilities, and still prefer email for communication and submission of assignments, which is less convenient because as distance students we can't learn from the conversations. Instructor training on BB may be valuable.I know Blackboard a little better than the average person because I'm a graduate student and so utilize more aspects of it due to my work with undergraduate students.Blackboard is a wonderful idea, however, I believe it lacks in its functionality. Or perhaps it has been my experience with my professors. Each teacher uses it differently and it is often confusing to find certain links. I feel like I have to dig through the tabs to get to the desired information.

I love BB for viewing grades and the assignments. Blackboard meets my needs but goes down in functionality quite a bit. I have had 5-8 times this semester that I have put in my password and it tells me I'm not a user. Then 30 minutes later it allows me in.A few of the things listed in question 19 I had no idea where part of Blackboard. I can see Blackboard as being an incredibly useful tool in the classroom but I feel that some of my professors have failed to utilize it's full potential.Overall, I believe Blackboard meets students' educational needs, but it is sometimes difficult to use, not always intuitive, and not always easy to navigate. Also, many of the above features I had never even heard of before and didn't know that they were available to me. I believe that educating both faculty and students on the resources that Blackboard has would benefit everyone.

21. Comments:

Statistic ValueTotal Responses 33