Most professors think in terms of the semester, and how their pedagogical goals can be achieved within the context of time, rather than space. Some think in terms of topics they want to cover. Blackboard/WebCT’s default organization accepts neither of these approaches in its initial interface. It forces the instructor to think in terms of content types instead, breaking the natural structure of the semester, or of a list of topics.
Although Lane talks about Bb/WebCT as pushing a "linear pathway" through the content, I found WebCT 4.1 to be a "go over there" experience. Her figure 1 of a more recent Bb reinforces that. You move from the left side navbar to some hidden place on the right. If this version works like WebCT 4.1, the navbar follows you and is your stargate
from hidden place to hidden place.
The contrast with Moodle is obvious, and Lane makes it. I like to say that, with Moodle, students just fall down the page through the curriculum.