Yesterday Blackboard announced the first Free, Open Course on their CourseSites platform:

<p >Please join us in CourseSites for a unique opportunity to learn with Dr. Bonk -- and from each other -- in our first open course focused on increasing student engagement and motivation online. We know your time is valuable and limited, so in this course you choose your level of participation. Whether you simply drop in or fully engage, we hope to see you online!

Course Title: Instructional Ideas and Technology Tools for Online Success

Description: Motivating students and creating community within blended and online learning environments are crucial to academic achievement and success. This open course will provide both theoretical concepts and practical tools for instructors to improve motivation, retention, and engagement within blended and online courses.

Course Objectives:

• Identify and apply relevant motivational strategies and instructional techniques
• Construct thinking skill options for different types of learners and subjects
• Design and share innovative thinking skill activities as well as unique cooperative learning
• Map and apply instructional models and ideas to online learning tools

Course Duration: April 30th- June 4th ( A total of 5 weeks)

Not only is it an interesting subject, but also good to see that Blackboard is taking the initiative to host an open course. I'm certainly participating in the course, not only to learn from Curtis, but also to see how the platform works for an open course.