1. Integrating External
Content in
Blackboard
Michael Anderson
Assistant Director
University of Texas System
TeleCampus
2. Why Use External Content?
High-quality and diverse usually beyond the
means of institutions
Multi-modal learning experiences for students
Allows instructor to focus on designing the
learning experience
Saves time and money
You wouldn’t write a textbook would you?
3. Where to begin: Selecting Content
What kind of content would add value?
Multi-modal or media-rich presentations
Simulations and interactivity
and is appropriate?
Academic Integrity
Bandwidth and Accessibility
Support and Reliability
Design and Usability
Rights of Use
Costs
What content would help achieve course
goals and learning outcomes?
4. Wide Range of Sources
Commercial Sources
Print publishers (course cartridges)
Course vendors (Thinkwell, SIRIUS/McGraw-Hill)
Supplement providers (WebAssign, Curriculum
Pathways)
Non-Profit & OER Sources
Courses (NROC, MIT-OCW, CMU-OLI, SOFIA)
Repositories (Wisconsin)
Referatories (MERLOT)
Institutions and Colleagues
Communities of Practice (TLT Groups)
Local Initiatives (Orange Grove, SCORE)
5. Sources: Commercial
Print Publishers
Vetted high-quality content (confidence in
editorial quality saves time)
More costly, per student charges
Textbook specific materials usually provided as
course cartridges at fee to students
Often lacks media-rich content
Lack of flexibility for instructor customization and
hosting
6. Sources: Commercial
Course Vendors (i.e., Thinkwell)
Vetted high-quality content (confidence in
editorial quality saves time)
More costly, per student charges
Services in addition to courses
Lack of flexibility for instructor customization
and hosting
7. Sources: Commercial
Supplement Providers (i.e., Curriculum Pathways,
United Streaming)
Vetted, permissioned content
Search and choose
Flexibility to download (United Streaming) or
access in hosted environment (CP)
Breadth of coverage
Transaction model for the content (license,
statewide purchase, student purchase, etc.)
8. Sources: Non-Profits & OERs
Course and Content Developers (i.e., NROC,
MIT-OCW, SOFIA)
Vetted content at affordable prices
Some sources require additional review
Flexibility for customization and hosting
Inclusion of media-rich, multi-modal content
varies significantly
Commitment and funding
Educational non-profits provide balance
between vetted content, flexibility and cost
9. Sources: Non-Profit Organizations
Learning Object Repositories & Referatories (LORs)
Low cost or gratis access to content
Contributed by dedicated academics
Academic integrity, but single perspective
Flexibility varies significantly (format of the
content)
Usually not vetted (uneven quality)
Usually requires time commitment to visit to
multiple sources
Technology incompatibilities
10. Strategies for Evaluating Online
Content
Does the content and technology fit the design
philosophy of the online program?
Objectives and outcomes
Instructional design philosophy
Flexibility to fit within the course format
Institutional branding
Transparency
Development process
11. Strategies for Evaluating Online
Content
Is it easy for instructors to use?
Transparent technology
Technology support staff and training
Instructional design staff and training
Support and feedback loop with the
developer
12. Strategies for Evaluating Online
Content
Is it easy to use for students?
Quality directions for using the content
Transparent navigation and access
Transparent technology
Appropriate bandwidth
Is any additional help desk support required
and how does that affect student success?
13. External Content:
A Decision-Making
Do I want to use No Continue building
Model 3rd party content? course on my own
Solo
Yes New
Replace
Augment
Time and Cost
How do I plan to
use the content?
Augment existing Replace existing Start with all
content content new content
14. Augment existing Replace existing Start with all
content content new content
The Ecology of
External Content What sources do
I want to use?
Community of Repositories/ Publishers &
Practice referatories non-profits
Publish
CoP
Reposi
Reposi
CoP Publish
Time
Cost Time
15. Augment existing Replace existing Start with all
content content new content
What computer-aided
Pedagogical strategies do I want to utilize?
Strategy terminology research design
theories
Vocabulary Access Video Lab
Podcast
practice to tools cases simulation
PBL
VR
Game
