This is a presentation we gave at the 2012 Blackboard World Conference along with our partners at ConnectYard.

1. Engagement, Persistence
and Retention
How The University of Southern Mississippi uses
ConnectYard to Successfully Enhance these Key Factors

2. ConnectYard Overview
An innovative communications platform
that improves the student experience
through increased engagement!

3. ConnectYard Overview (continued)
Learn ANGEL Edition
WebCT

4. Introduction
Amy Thornton
◦ Project Manager - Learning Enhancement
Center and Eagle Learning Online
Cindy Handley
◦ Assistant Professor & Medical Technologist
Sheri Rawls
◦ Director - Learning Enhancement Center and
Eagle Learning Online

5. Snapshot of USM
 Dual campuses
◦ Hattiesburg
◦ Gulf Coast
◦ 6 Colleges
 SACS Accredited
 Approximately 800 faculty
 Approximately 16,000 students across all campuses
 Offering online courses since 1998
◦ over 27,000 enrollments in online courses (fall 2011)
◦ 23 graduate hybrid/fully online graduate programs
◦ 8 undergraduate fully online programs
◦ 4 fully online certificates
 Blackboard LMS - ConnectYard integrated

6. Why ConnectYard?
We recognize the importance of
socialization in online instruction
Knowledge of important role that social
media plays in students’ lives
Desire to improve communication and
increase participation in online courses
Mission is to enhance learning and the
overall student experience
Campus email is not effective

7. Hurdles Associated with Pilot
Implementation
Marketing
Faculty and Student
Buy-in
◦ Fear that Professors
will have access to FB
pages
◦ Faculty concerned
with added workload
◦ Social Media Policy

8. ConnectYard Pilot Implementation
Faculty/Student Buy-In
◦ Easy to use
◦ Building Block Integration
◦ Bridge to Social Media
Position ConnectYard
◦ Integral part to each course
◦ Stress privacy protection
Encourage Students to Personalize
Notifications
Stress Use to Quantify Class Participation

9. Promotion and Awareness
 Feature at Innovation in
Online Learning Luncheons
for faculty
 Includein Faculty
Professional Development
 Standardtool on Bb Learn
course template
 Increaseintra-departmental
use for demonstration and
modeling
 Press Release
 Campus Rollout

10. Current Use of ConnectYard
Getting Everyone Connected
◦ Faculty to Student
◦ Student to Faculty
◦ Student to Student
Communication within Courses
Student Notifications

11. Planned Uses of ConnectYard
 Enhance hybrid courses & supplementals
 Communication/interaction tool between
learning teams
 Back channeling during course and web
presentations
 Intra-department interaction & communication
 Campus Notifications
 Student Services
◦ Tutoring, Event Notifications, First Year Experience &
Diversity Initiatives
 Marketing & Recruitment

12. ConnectYard Key Function
Personalize Channels
◦ Personal Preferences
◦ Protect Privacy
One-Way & Two-Way
Bb Integration
◦ Discussion Boards
◦ Announcements
Participation
Points
Granular Administration

13. Student Feedback
"It was convenient to receive notifications regarding the
activity on Blackboard.”
----------
“It allowed me to be better informed of what was
happening within the class with regard to blackboard.”
----------
Key benefit of ConnectYard, “…to receive instant
notification of any updates or announcements as they
pertained to my class.”
----------
"IT WAS A GREAT TOOL."

14. Closing
QUESTIONS?
COMMENTS

15. Contact
Thank You!
 Connect with us at
 Phone: 973.494-8063
 Email: Info@ConnectYard.com
 Web: http:///www.ConnectYard.com
 Twitter: http:///www.Twitter.com/ConnectYard
 Facebook: http://Apps.Facebook.com/ConnectYard