This document discusses using the learning management system Blackboard to support art and design courses. It acknowledges familiar reservations faculty have about how Blackboard might replace contact hours and its usability for creative disciplines. It describes early projects customizing Blackboard sites for illustration/animation and printmaking courses. Feedback was that the customized sites were more visually appealing. Unintended benefits included engaging more staff and identifying a new learning technology coordinator. Ongoing work suggested a hybrid approach worked better than a whole-course Blackboard model and that support needs to address discipline-specific practices.

1. Any colour as long as it’s Blackboard using a VLE to support courses in art and design

4. Signifier of difference

9. The studio

10. The studio

11. The studio

12. The studio

17. 2005/6 projects BA Illustration and Animation Printmaking

21. Unintended outcomes

23. 2006/7 projects BA Fine Art Art and Design History

25. (Bigger) lessons learned