Student-Identified Strengths and Challenges of Using BlackboardTM for Group Projects in a Social Work Course

• Published in: Advances in social work 2002-04, Vol.3 (1), p.72-83
• Main Author: Littlefield, Melissa B
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Computer Assisted Instruction; Computer Software; Courses; Cultural Pluralism; Graduate Students; Internet; Racism; Social Work Education
• ISSN: 1527-8565

BlackboardTM provides social work educators integrated online communication tools that they can employ to facilitate student learning through features such as e-mail, discussion forums, file exchange, virtual classroom, & links to online resources. This study describes students' experiences using BlackboardTM to support a group project assignment. The majority of students found it easy to use & useful for the project, & indicated that they would like to use it in other courses. In addition, students gained technical skills as a result of the group project. Students' group project grades & final course grades were comparable to those in other sections of the same course taught by this investigator. The findings of this study suggest that online technology ran be used to facilitate group assignments for MSW students. The benefits include increased efficiency of group functioning & increased accountability of group members. The challenges include technical problems & student resistance to using the technology. 2 Tables, 11 References. Adapted from the source document.