Showing posts with label Tilburg University App. Show all posts

Usability, or the lack of it, on Blackboard

It is quite of an understatement to say most students do not like blackboard. There is even a Death to Blackboard-page on Facebook (yes, seriously!) and when you google for 'blackboard frustrations' you'll find a document written by the University of Hartford called: 'Strategies for Faculty to Forestall Student Complaints and Frustrations with Blackboard'. Seeing this document I was wondering, why people put so much effort in using a program that's so hard to work with. Everybody seems to have some difficulties with blackboard and the study guide: finding deadlines, enrolling for courses, choose which courses to follow in the next semester, sign up for exams, setting the week schedule and so on. Luckily in my first week at the University I had a special course in which we learned how to use blackboard, but I was wondering why there should even be a course like that. I think a program that you have to use on daily basis should be naturally to use, since the intention of the program is to make the life of students and teachers easier.

Thus, when we had to choose a topic for our User Interface Design project, we immediately thought of improving blackboard, but then in a totally different way. We is by the way: Elsa Jonkers, Jamie van den Eijnden, Eline Jansen, Evelyn van Kelle and me. For this course we will not be redesigning blackboard, but we will be designing a Tilburg University App for iPhone, iPod, iPad, Blackberry and Android. This app will contain a personal agenda with personal courses, all important deadlines, options to choose new courses and minors, enroll and sign up for courses and more easy-to-use functions. We want to design a timesaving and more fun way for students to organize everything concerning their study.

Therefore I would like to know from you: what are you biggest frustrations with blackboard, what functions you think are hard to use and what options would you like to see within an app? Please post your comment on this blog, since that will really help us designing our app. And maybe sharing it, will even help you to get rid of your pent frustrations. Off course I will keep you updated about the project via twitter and my blog.

By the way, within three days the new version of Blackboard, Learn 9.1, will be launched at our University. So, let's keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best!