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OFO Home > Hybrid Courses > Harnessing the Tools > Comparing Blackboard and FSCS
Comparing Blackboard and FSCS
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Blackboard and the Faculty/Student Communication System

Blackboard (Bb) is a web-based course content container that allows faculty to organize content and utilize several communication tools. For more information, view the Blackboard Quick Reference Guide.

The Faculty-Student Communication System (FSCS) is a communication tool that allows faculty to message students and exchange files, but does not facilitate content organization, as such. For more information, view the FSCS Quick Reference Guide.

The tables below provide a description of the two applications and their relationship to each other.

Messaging and File Exchange
  Blackboard FSCS
Instructor sends message to students Yes.
Bb e-mail uses University e-mail; every course's communication uses student e-mail in-box 		Yes.
FSCS does not use University e-mail; it provides a separate application per course.
Instructor sends files to students Yes.
In Bb, files can be made available to students 3 ways:
  1. Bb e-mail attachment
  2. Digital Drop Box
  3. Posted as an item in a Bb content area
Yes.
In FSCS, instructors can attach up to four (4) files to any one announcement or message to a student.
Instructor receives messages from students Yes.
Bb e-mail uses University e-mail; every course's communication uses faculty e-mail in-box		 Yes.
FSCS does not use University e-mail; it provides a separate application per course.
Instructor receives files from students Yes.
In Bb, files can be made available to instructors 2 ways:
  1. Bb e-mail attachment
  2. Digital Drop Box
Yes.
In FSCS, students can attach up to four (4) files to any one message to the instructor.

Collaboration and Group Work
  Blackboard FSCS
Discussion Yes. No.
Chat Yes. No.
Organize Content Yes.
Can organize by topic or calendar.		 No.
Folders or topic containers are not available.
Post Grades Yes.
Online Gradebook allows individual students access to their grades only (without special formatting by instructor). 		No.
To post grades in FSCS requires individual message to each student or using a random formatting by instructor to the class.

Using FSCS in Blackboard

When using FSCS with Blackboard

  • Disable Bb E-mail in the Communication content area.
  • Add a link to FSCS in at least one content area (or add a link to all content areas you use).
  • Disable the Digital Drop Box in Tools.

Benefits of FSCS:

  • Course communication is retained by course rather than in the faculty in-box.
  • There is no need to delete files since there is no space limitation.
  • Views can be organized a variety of ways.
  • ALL files and messages are retained for the entire semester.

 

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Last updated: February 15, 2006 2:37 PM