Worldware 4: On-line Document Exchange

BlackBoard provides an "Assignment" and a "Drop Box" feature, which allows faculty and students to share files via the Web on their BlackBoard course site. Students can upload files to store for themselves, send files they've uploaded to their instructor, or share files in a group area they have access to (provided the instructor has created one). The Drop Box feature is an older version of this utility. Faculty are encouraged to use the newer "Assignment" feature in Blackboard instead.

When is BlackBoard's Assignment Feature Useful?

BlackBoard's Assignment feature is useful in many circumstances, as you might imagine, and no effort is made to make an exhaustive list here. But BlackBoard might help you if

1. You exchange a large amount of formatted documents with your students
2. You need to hand out large, formatted files, such as datasets, voluminous project materials, etc.
3. Your class writes papers that will be peer-reviewed
4. You prefer to receive assignments in electronic form
5. You and your class are willing to be diligent about saving files in a single, common format (using the "Save as..." word processor option).

The last point is worthy of emphasis. The file format that you choose should be one that can be easily read on Windows or Mac, and with Word. Rich Text Format, (.rtf) is highly recommended, because it can be read by a large number of versions of word processing software. (Keep in mind that some students will have out of date versions of their word processing software, often on machines that can't handle current versions.) If you don't define a common format for exchange, you or your students will receive files that can not easily be read. The same confusion pertains when sending mail attachments.

BlackBoard's Assignment feature might not be best for you if....

1. Simple text documents are all that need to be exchanged. E-mail has less overhead.
2. Your class can't or won't use a standard file format for assignments, and you are unable to convert or translate these documents.
3. You need only to hand out assignments, syllabi, and so forth. Putting this content directly up on BlackBoard's content areas as text, instead of an attached file, is the easiest method to require students to use, requiring little training (which most students have) and no discipline (unlike converting file formats). It has the further advantage of allowing you to easily link to other information sources.

Additional information on BlackBoard is available on the Help Guides web page.

Docex is an older method for electronic file exchange, and while still available, is not recommended for most instructor's needs. Your Academic Computing Resource Specialist can tell you if Docex is a better alternative for your particular case.

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