The Faculty Lounge

Journaling on Blackboard

Because I just can't get enough of distance education, I'm taking an online writing class over the summer that, as  many other courses do, uses Blackboard as the main form of course delivery and student/instructor interaction.  This time, however, I've learned something new about Blackboard that I haven't used before.  It has a 'journal' function which creates a virtual journal where a student can submit assignments privately to the instructor and get feedback, discuss the assignment etc with the instructor in a private area of Blackboard that other students can't see.  I wonder if there would be law school applications for this or if anyone else has tried it.  I suspect it could be useful in some practical classes and seminar classes involving drafting exercises and instructor feedback.

Civil War Cemetery Art

When I was up in Lynchburg a few months back I had the chance to visit their Spring Hill Cemetery.  Jubal Early is buried there; so is General James Dearing.  I was surprised to see the stone carvings of what look like a bullet and cannister in front of Dearing's monument.  Ever seen anything like it elsewhere?