First impressions: using an electronic utility for web-assisted teaching

Using a web utility such as Blackboard to post handouts and announcements for students can better meet both student and instructor needs. Students can retrieve the handout whenever and wherever they want. Instructors can reduce the number of stored hard copy handouts (because they can be stored electronically) as well as reduce handout revision time (because they already are stored in electronic form). There is a learning curve to master for both students and instructors. Although this is not a perfect tool, it has the capacity to improve paper management issues for teachers, improve student access to documents and targeted supplemental learning aids, engage student interest in course content through technology, and encourage students to take responsibility for their own education. This article shares the authors' first impressions with using an electronic utility for web-assisted teaching.