Learning to write and speak English can be a challenge for students, especially those who are not used to writing in this language. The situation is even worse for English as a second language (ESL) students who are expected to write much, but may not have had enough practice yet.
Thankfully, there are tools available to make the process much easier for both groups of students. The question is, how can you get the most out of these tools? This article will advise you of how to maximize the benefits of using Blackboard for your English classes.
Adjusting To The Classroom Setting
One of the first steps to effectively using Blackboard is adjusting to the classroom setting. You should do this even if you are a seasoned teacher and have many years of experience in the classroom. Becoming familiar with features that may not be familiar to you will help you be more effective and efficient when using Blackboard for the first time or with a class of students who are already familiar with the program.
For example, the editing functionality in Blackboard is quite different from what you are accustomed to in a word processor. The interface is also quite different and requires some getting used to. However, once you have adjusted to these differences, you will see that they make the program much more user-friendly and effective.
Taking Blackboard For A Test Drive
Once you have adjusted to the classroom setting, the next step is to take the program for a test drive. In order to get the most out of Blackboard and to ensure that you learn the most, you should take the time to try it out and discover all of its features. You can do this by either creating an account and logging in with your username and password or by downloading the Blackboard app from your app store and trying it out there. Either way, logging in with your school account is the simplest way to get started.
From the dashboard, you will see that there is a lot more than just writing posts and creating assignments. You can actually bring all of your class materials on a single page and assess your students’ progress. This can be an invaluable tool for both English teachers and students who are taking the language seriously and want to see where they stand in comparison to other students. It is also a very efficient way to keep track of all of the assignments that you have given your students throughout the year. As a teacher, you will appreciate being able to generate a detailed report at any time that you want to see how your students are doing on a particular subject matter.
Navigating The UI
Another thing that you should get used to if you are using Blackboard is the User Interface. Like most other applications, Blackboard has a different way of doing things. Instead of using the typical ‘start’, ‘menu’, and ‘end’ keys, Blackboard utilizes a different set of keys that require a little bit of getting used to. Fortunately, the more you use it, the more natural the keys will seem and the easier it will be to navigate.
For example, if you want to create a new post, instead of using the ‘Ctrl+N’ combination that most word processors use to create a new document, you will need to press ‘Ctrl+I’ first. This can be a little tricky at first, but with a little bit of practice, you will be able to generate new posts without a problem. Another useful tip is to hold down the ‘Shift’ key while using these keys. This will help you create more effective posts because you will be able to see all of the available formatting options in the post pane at once. This will also help you edit your posts if you need to make any changes in the future.
Taking Advantage Of The Community
Another feature of Blackboard that can be useful is the ‘community’. As the name would suggest, the community in Blackboard is a place where you can ask questions and get help from others who are also using the application. There is a lot of information available on the internet about any subject matter that you might be struggling with, so you will not be alone in wanting to make the most of this feature. However, the great thing about the community in Blackboard is that you do not need to be looking for general information. You can actually ask the experts to help you with exactly what you need. This can be a great combination of both worlds – teachers and students using the same platform.
This is especially useful if you have a specific question about the English language or about teaching English as a second language. You can use the ‘Search’ function in the community to find answers to your questions. This feature is quite useful when you need specific information and do not want to wait for someone to answer your question. Creating a specific topic in the community and inviting people who know more about the subject than you do to participate is the way to go. You can also ask students in your class if they have any suggestions or if there is anything that you should be knowing about. All of this can be done from the comfort of your home or wherever you are using your computer. The important thing is that you are finding ways to make the most of your new learning environment. You are taking advantage of all of the resources that it has to offer and using the class time more efficiently.
Now that you know how to use Blackboard effectively, you can move on to the next step and try out some of the other features of the program.