Jerome I. Hodos, Assistant Professor of Sociology at Franklin & Marshall, has been using Blackboard, the College's course management system, since 2001. Professor Hodos initially implemented Blackboard as a way to deliver content to students, such as readings and syllabi. Overtime, he has made use of additional interactive features of Blackboard and envisions Blackboard as a potential "one-stop shop" for students enrolled in his courses.
Boston Neighborhood
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Professor Hodos has begun to use Blackboard to enhance his lectures during classroom time. Recently, he assigned students enrolled in his course to read a book about a neighborhood in Boston. Since the book did not include any photographs, he traveled to the neighborhood itself in Boston and captured digital photographs. Professor Hodos made those images available to his students through Blackboard to "give them a better feel for what the neighborhood is really like."
Use of Blackboard varies from posting readings and assignments for access by students, communicating with students via the email feature, assigning students to online groups for collaboration on classroom presentations, and file exchange. Professor Hodos also utilizes the external links feature of Blackboard to display pre-selected links to websites he believes are relevant and useful.
Professor Hodos is currently experimenting with the discussion board feature of Blackboard so students can communicate asynchronously with one another before and/or after class either as part of an assignment or to prepare them for an upcoming classroom discussion.
According to Professor Hodos, Blackboard does take "a little bit of time to get used to." However, he believes that one of the benefits of using Blackboard is that course materials are archived and he can add/remove content and develop pieces overtime while his courses become more and more sophisticated.
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