Well it finally took long enough, I've gotten administrative access to my University's Blackboard system. Over the next several weeks and months, I will be learning the system and how to administer a course management system. I've had instructor access to some old modules I helped develop at my old school, but that system is so tiny compared to the full-fledged enterprise system.
When I logged in as administrator for the first time today I saw literally hundreds of courses, past and present, and I cant even begin to place how many students were enrolled. It's a little scary knowing I'm sharing the responsibility to ensure that they are able to access their online courses without issue.
So, what is Blackboard?
The Blackboard Learning System offers instructors the ability to interact with their students in an online environment. Course sites on the Learning System provide a place for instructors to post course content, such as lecture notes, PowerPoint presentations, images, audio and video. Instructors can collect homework as well as offer evaluations online.
Interactive areas of the course include the synchronous Virtual Classroom and the asynchronous Discussion Board. Instructors and TAs can also create group areas that allow students to collaborate with each other to accomplish group goals.
All in all, it's a pretty nifty system. While I still think that it's silly to pay so much money for something that can be achieved with open source software it's exciting to think that I've finally started moving down the career path I've been putting my efforts towards.