Student creates petition to get rid of Blackboard discussion questions

By Chelsey Jaipersaud | Published by September 22, 2020

Since the transition to complete remote learning, many are facing difficulties in keeping up with their assignments and requirements for each class, as Kean students will be using Blackboard Collaborate for all live sessions, assignment submissions, and engaging with other students through the discussion board as of the 2020 fall semester. 

Within the first few weeks of the new semester, much attention has been geared towards discussion questions and whether they are helping students or just adding another layer of stress and frustrations. Students are required to post their initial response as well as responding to six other responses throughout the week to their peers. Each response is graded based on frequency, quality, and timeliness. 

Although there can be variations depending on what your professor requires, students are still finding it hard to keep track of larger assignments and their posts on the discussion board.

Over two weeks ago Kean student Sallem Giljic created a petition to do away with the discussion questions requirement. 

“Some students are working full time jobs, some maybe have difficulties at home, and we are all under stress with the current situation that’s going on in the world.” Giljic said,  “Instead of maybe helping students Kean University has decided to make it more stressful for all of us.” 

The petition addresses other  issues and allows anyone to see how other students are reacting towards the situation. The petition shows that over one thousand students have signed, and the number continues to increase every day. Students want to see change, but the possibility of removing discussion questions in its entirety may have to wait. 

There have been some discussions on the usage of Blackboard and finding alternatives. 

The University Senate formed a Senate Learning Management System Task Force where they examined the three major learning management systems, wrote a report, and sent it to President Repollet. They recommended having a broad test involving all the faculty and students where they would be able to try out other systems. From there they would be able to offer their feedback. 

“We are still waiting to hear whether they are going to allow us to have that demo or whether they’re just going to lock us down with Blackboard for the next few years,” Craig Donovan, President of the University Senate, said. 

 

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