We have at least a couple of non-course uses that come to mind - our
Learning Support unit has all their self-help documents available in
a Blackboard course, and our HR department are putting all their
documents and compliance questionnaires (about things like equal
opportunities, sexual harassment, etc) into a course as well.
The main problem is issues of enrolment for staff and students to
participate. The Learning Support issue has been approached by
automatically adding any new student to that course. We have had a
few complaints from students not wanting it, and they have been
removed. For staff using the HR courses, they will have to all be
added as users if the compliance quizzes are to be recorded. Not sure
how we'll handle the constant dribble of new staff to the institute.
Of course there are also numerous instances of 'special interest'
groups being set up in Bb - many function like little more than email
groups, but they have varying degrees of functionality and use. We
have also set up a training server, where a few of our newer users
have courses created so that they can 'play' before they are ready to
go on-line.
Mark Northover
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