Blackboard, Inc. sponsors a program every year “to help faculty use e-Learning technology more effectively by identifying and disseminating best practices for designing engaging online courses.” Blackboard’s 2009 “Exemplary Course Program” is now open and accepting submissions through 1/12/2009.
The Program web site includes a rubric describing the criteria for assessing exemplary online courses, the principles in which could be adjusted to apply to any course web site. In addition, a list of Exemplary Course winners from previous years on the site may provide ideas useful to other online faculty (note that NCSU was one of the 2008 winners for their course “Organization & Operation of Training & Development Programs”).
Have a quick look at the Program site – you might find something useful to help you expand the use of your Blackboard site or any course web site.