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Blogs, Journals, Wikis and Podcasts

These interactive tools facilitate student contributions, collaborative groupwork, reflective practice and multimedia content creation.

Guide - Getting Started with Blackboard Learn Interactive Tools. 

Blackboard USER GUIDES AND RESOURCES

Creating a Blackboard Wiki

Creating a Blackboard Blog

Two suites of interactive tools run are facilitated via the NUI Galway virtual learning environment: Campus Pack tools (available in previous Blackboard versions), and native Blackboard tools (new to Blackboard 9.1).

	Campus Pack tools	Blackboard tools
Discussion Board	N	Y
Blogs	Y	Y
Journals	Y	Y
Wikis	Y	Y
Podcasts	Y	N

How do I Access the Tools

Blogs, Wikis, Journals and Podcasts can be found under the "Add Interactive Tool" dropdown menu in the Content page of your course menu:

Blogs, Journals and Wikis - tERMS AND USES

Blogs

"A blog—shorthand for "Web log"—is an online collection of personal commentary and links. Blogs can be viewed as online journals to which others can respond that are as simple to use as e-mail. The simplicity of creating and maintaining blogs means they can rapidly lead to open discussions. Faculty are using blogs to express their opinions, promote dialogue in their disciplines, and support teaching and learning; students increasingly use blogs for personal expression and as course requirements. By carefully evaluating blogs' strengths and weaknesses, educators are learning to set guidelines and expectations to maximize blogs' instructional benefits. Structured exercises and clear goals are further enhancing the educational value of blogs. Put into practice with an understanding of theixr benefits and limitations, blogs are an increasingly accepted instructional technology tool." Source

Wikis

"Wikis are Web pages that can be viewed and modified by anyone with a Web browser and Internet access. Described as a composition system, a discussion medium, and a repository, wikis support asynchronous communication and group collaboration online. Their inherent simplicity gives students direct access to their content, which is crucial in group editing or other collaborative activities. Their versioning capability allows them to illustrate the evolution of thought processes as students interact with a site and its contents. Wikis are also being used as e-portfolios, highlighting their utility as a tool for collection and reflection. They may be the easiest, most effective Web-based collaboration tool in any instructional portfolio." Source: Educause: 7 Things You Should Know About Wikis

Journals

"E-journaling provides an opportunity for learners to express opinions, ideas, and concerns about the course materials that would not be shared otherwise. The intellectual exchange allows faculty members to encourage, guide, and engage students in an academic venue. E-journaling builds a rapport between faculty and students that contributes to positive learning experiences and successful out- comes. Although effective in a number of educational settings, e-journaling proves essential for successful interaction in Web-based courses where materials are delivered completely online." Source

Podcasts

* Campus Pack only

"Podcasting" refers to any software and hardware combination that permits automatic downloading of audio files to an MP3 player for listening at the user's convenience. Part of the appeal of podcasting is the ease with which audio content can be created, distributed, and downloaded from the Web. Barriers to adoption and costs are minimal, and the tools to implement podcasts are simple and affordable. Podcasting allows education to become more portable than ever before, giving educators another way to meet today's students where they live and learn—on the Internet and on audio players." Source: Educause: 7 Things You Should Know About Podcasting

    

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