Introduction - Shian

Blackboard is a learning management system (LMS) and educational technology company that provides software and services for educational institutions, instructors, and students. The company was founded in 1997 by Michael Chasen and Matthew Pittinsky. Blackboard's LMS platform is used by numerous universities, colleges, K-12 schools, and other educational organizations to deliver online and blended learning experiences.

Blackboard was founded in 1997, which means it had been in existence for more than two decades. Since then, Blackboard has evolved and introduced various versions of its LMS platform, offering a range of features and tools to support online and in-person education. Over the past 23 years, academic institutions all over the world have continued to use Blackboard Learn, a sophisticated and mature LMS. Blackboard Learn is still a very well-liked option in the educational LMS industry, despite fierce competition from competitors like Canvas.

Content Sharing - Shian

Blackboard is another widely used learning management system (LMS) like Moodle, and it does offer some capabilities for content sharing between educators and institutions. However, the specific features and functionalities related to content sharing in Blackboard can vary depending on the version of Blackboard and the policies set by the institution using it. Here's an overview of how content sharing typically works in Blackboard:

Third-Party Integrations:

Blackboard can be integrated with various third-party tools and services, which may extend content sharing capabilities. For example, integration with cloud storage services like OneDrive or Google Drive can allow educators to easily share and collaborate on documents.

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Parent/Teacher Communication - Swapnil

Parents Can Log in Using Their Credentials (Swapnil)

Parents will able to view class content, calendars, assignments, and other resources

The grade book feature of Blackboard is not accessible to parents/guardians

Assessment - Swapnil

Assignment grading options

Enable anonymous grading
Enable parallel grading
Allow self and peer assessments
Add rubrics
Use SafeAssign
Setup the gradebook

Click here to learn more

Assignments

Connectivity with Other Apps

(Swapnil)

Detailed integration instructions and support on the website

Click below to learn more

Integration

Pros and Cons - Yani

I can imagine that when Blackboard first entered the market in 1997, it was probably a pretty groundbreaking lms. However, it seems that it's failed to keep up with the competition as lms have become more and more varied and prevalent, especially post-pandemic. Reading lots of user reviews on softwareadvice.com, I saw mostly complaints with the system. It sounds like the concept is sound, with many tools being integrated into one system, but that it's challenging to use, with a lot of glitches. It's also substantially more expensive than any of the other three lms reviewed here (starting at $9500 a year), and it seems to me that the hefty price tag isn't justified by the service it provides. Blackboard is supposed to be very user-friendly for students (although not for teachers), so I suppose one situation where using Blackboard might make sense is with very young students who need a simple lms to interact with. But overall, I don't think I would recommend this lms when there are so many alternatives that are cheaper and/or more efficient.

References

Assignments. (n.d.). Find the help you need | Blackboard Help. https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Instructor/Ultra/Assignments

Blackboard learn LMS review. (2017, July 13). PCMag UK. https://uk.pcmag.com/education/67250/blackboard-learn-lms

Blackboard learn. (n.d.). Anthology. https://www.anthology.com/products/teaching-and-learning/learning-effectiveness/blackboard-learn

Blackboard learn. (n.d.). Business Software Reviews from Software Advice®. https://www.softwareadvice.com/lms/blackboard-learn-profile/

Blackboard LMS for business. (2021, May 12). eLearning Industry. https://elearningindustry.com/directory/elearning-software/blackboard-lms-business

Faculty guides and documentation. (2022, March 4). UToledo Online: Sites. https://utlv.screenstepslive.com/s/faculty/m/BlackboardLearn/l/187320-what-is-blackboard-learn

Fetzer, M. (2018, July 11). Expert advice for parents. SheKnows. https://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/809398/8-tips-to-help-you-monitor-your-child-s-education-and-progress/

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