Journals, Wikis, Blogs, and Discussion Boards: A comparison of the four main communication tools in Blackboard Ultra.

Journals

How does it work?

A Journal is a personal space for students to enter written assignments and reflect on course material. Journals are intended for communication between instructor and student and aren’t usually shared between students.

How can it be used in a class?

One example: Students make reflective posts for a writing course. The instructor provides comments and feedback to assist the student in refining their writing over time.

Where can I find out more about it?

Discussion Boards

How does it work?

Discussion boards (also called bulletin boards or forums) are a way to encourage and facilitate communication, discussion, debate, or other conversations between students in a course. Topical forums provide a place for students to make posts and to react to other students’ posts with comments and feedback.

How can it be used in a class?

Discussion boards are a prominent feature in online courses but are also useful in traditional face-to-face courses to encourage discussion and participation among students who may normally be hesitant to participate in the traditional classroom setting.

Where can I find out more about it?