Main Menu NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Ericca Reynolds (reynoldse@nsula.edu)
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466
2/04/2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATCHITOCHES-Online courses are becoming more popular at Northwestern State University. The increase in online enrollment has led to a partnership between the Office of Electronic Learning and Student Online Support Services to provide students with additional assistance in taking Blackboard classes.
Last semester the Blackboard Learning System migrated from a level one, the basic level, to a campus wide solution called Blackboard enterprise allowing Blackboard to become more accessible "anytime, anyplace, 24-7."
"Since Blackboard has become more accessible, we want to run it more efficiently for the students" said Darlene Williams, Coordinator of Electronic Learning. "We are now able to do that with Blackboard being offered through Student Online Support Services."
Because of this partnership, the lab assistants who work in Student Online Support Services have been given special training on Blackboard so they can address the needs of the students quickly. Assistance is available by phone at (318) 357-6696 Monday through Friday 8am-6pm or by email at sos@students.nsula.edu.
Senior sociology major Jonathan Blake of Natchitoches went through the special training to become a lab assistant. Blake handles calls that come to the help desk.
"We had our training in November," said Blake. "We did some trouble shooting on various problems and we were also taught when it's appropriate to tell the student to contact the professor or electronic learning. We also have a manual which lists every possible problem that a student may have with steps to help the student in solving their particular problem."
"I'm glad student technology could partnership with electronic learning so we could provide students with the best services available," said student technology fee coordinator Jennifer Long." After all, we are here for the students."