Blackboard LMS

Analysis & Review By : Elena Tsina Christodoulides

Introduction

Blackboard is a learning management system (LMS) that has been used since the late 1990s.The platform allows educators to create online courses, manage course content, grade assignments, and communicate with students. It is a an educational technology platform designed to enhance communication, collaboration, and the dissemination of educational material. It supports online course hosting, facilitates discussions, and allows for the creation and assessment of assignments.

Content for Learning

Course Creation

Create new courses one at a time
Copy existing courses
Use batch files
Export, archive, and restore courses

Create courses. (n.d.). Find the help you need | Blackboard Help

Assessemnts

You can see when your students opened, started, and submitted tests and assignments

You can see specific stages in the assessment

Unopened
Opened
Drafts
Submitted

Student activity details for assessments. (n.d.)

Communication & Collaboration

Find other users
Google Meet
Blackboard collaboration
Discussions
Groups
Journals
Messages
Organizations

Tracking & Reporting

Gather data for analysis and presents the results through reports.
Showcase progress across the institution and over time.
A report that collects data from a course will automatically retrieve relevant information pertaining to the course and present it appropriately within the report.

("Report definitions," n.d.)

Core Capabilities

Figure 1: The Blackboard App Tour(YouTube, n.d.)

Core capabilities

AI-Powered Course Building

Assessment & Grading

Messages & Notifications

Group Collaboration & Management

Communication & Engagement

Deep & Seamless Integrations

Actionable Insights & Reporting

Progress Tracking

Accessibility Tools & Alternative Formats

Parent-Teacher Communication

MESSAGES &
ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announcements and messages can be sed to parents through Blackboard to communicate upcoming events, assignments, and student progress updates.

Figure 2: (YouTube, n.d.)

Parents Tutorial

ACCESS
Assignments Overview

GRADES & ASSIGNMENTS

Parents can access their child's grades, assignments, and course materials through Blackboard, enabling them to stay updated on their child's progress in real-time.

Figure 3: YouTube, n.d.) Assignents overview, Tutorial

MEETINGS & CALENDAR

Parents stay informed about important dates, such as exam schedules, assignment due dates, and school events. Additionally, can be used for parent-teacher conferences or meetings, allowing parents to participate remotely.

Figure 4: YouTube, n.d.) Calendar in Blacboard, Tutorial

Assessment Tools

Figure 5: Tutorial Assessment (YouTube, n.d.)

Blackboard offers various assessment tools like assignments, tests/quizzes, discussion boards, blogs, journals, and wikis. These tools can be used for different purposes, from weekly assignments to semester-long projects.

Assessing learners using Blackboard has several advantages. It eliminates the need for paper, which reduces costs and makes it easier to manage. The Inline Annotated grading feature allows you to grade written assignments digitally and provide detailed feedback. Students can also receive feedback quickly, from anywhere with internet access.

Rubrics tool enables quick and easy grading. By having this tool students understand the assessment criteria more clearly.

("Assessment tools | Teaching and learning with blackboard | Northern Illinois University," n.d.)

My Recommendation

Blackboard facilitates interaction between teachers, students, and parents, fostering engagement and collaboration through discussions, announcements, and messages. Teachers can upload and organize course materials, making them easily accessible to students anytime, anywhere. Additionally, teachers can create and grade assignments, tests, and quizzes online, providing valuable insights into student performance. This platform also enables parental involvement by granting access to grades, assignments, and resources, allowing parents to stay informed about their child's progress. Blackboard offers flexibility to accommodate the needs of all learners, whether they are participating online or in person.

Adaption Process at My School

Blackboard app Proposal

Proposal

Adapting Blackboard for school use involves a series of steps to ensure its effective implementation and use.

Blackboard users may encounter technical challenges like system downtime and customization limitations for specific instructional needs. Customizing course materials for students with disabilities can also be challenging, requiring additional effort. However, Blackboard supports various instructional formats and provides communication tools, assessment features, and support resources, including technical assistance and tutorials, to enhance the learning experience.

References

Haan, K. (2024, January 15). Best learning management systems (LMS) of 2024. Forbes Advisor. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/best-learning-management-systems/#blackboard_learn_lms_section
Heather, A. (2023, August 30). What are the best LMS training platforms for employees? Elucidat. https://www.elucidat.com/blog/top-elearning-lms-platforms/
Ricci. (2023, October 20). Choosing the perfect learning management system: A buyer's guide to getting an LMS that fits your needs. eLearning Industry. https://elearningindustry.com/choosing-the-perfect-learning-management-system-buyers-guide-getting-lms-that-fits-your-needs\
Create courses. (n.d.). Find the help you need | Blackboard Help. https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Administrator/SaaS/Courses/Create_Courses
Student activity details for assessments. (n.d.). Find the help you need | Blackboard Help. https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Instructor/Ultra/Performance
Report definitions. (n.d.). Find the help you need | Blackboard Help. https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Administrator/SaaS/System_Management/Reports/Definitions
Assessment tools | Teaching and learning with blackboard | Northern Illinois University. (n.d.). Northern Illinois University. https://www.niu.edu/blackboard/assess/index.shtml

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