Blackboard Learning System
Encyclopedia
The Blackboard Learning System is a virtual learning environment
and course management system developed by Blackboard Inc.
Features include course management, a customizable open architecture, and a scalable design that allows for integration with student information systems and authentication protocols. It may be installed on local servers or hosted by Blackboard ASP Solutions. Its main purposes are to add online elements to courses traditionally delivered face-to-face and to develop completely online courses with few or no face-to-face meetings.
and Dan Cane started a company called CourseInfo LLC
and were developing a software product that would power online education and be scalable for wider institutional application. At the same time, Matthew Pittinsky and Michael Chasen – formed Blackboard LLC and were contracted to help lead the formation of the Educause IMS standards group for online education technology. Recognizing the high demand for a sophisticated, easy-to-use, and affordable online education software platform, the two groups merged to form Blackboard Inc., which then developed the Blackboard Learning System.
Announcements: Professors and teachers may post announcements for students to read. These can be found under the announcement tab, or can be made to pop-up when a student accesses Blackboard.
Chat: This function allows those students who are online to chat in real time with other students in their class section.
Discussions: This feature allows students and professors to create a discussion thread and reply to ones already created.
Mail: Blackboard mail allows students and teachers to send mail to one another. This feature supports mass emailing to students in a course.
Content
Course content: This feature allows teachers to post article, assignments, videos etc.
Calendar: Teachers can use this function to post due dates for assignments and tests.
Learning modules: This feature is often used for strictly online classes. It allows professors to post different lessons for students to access.
Assessments: This tab allows professors to post quizzes and exams and allows students to access them anywhere there is an internet connection.
Assignments: This features allows for assignments to be posted and for students to be able to submit assignments online
Grade Book: Teachers and professors may post grades on Blackboard for students to view.
Media Library: Videos and other media may be posted under this function.
The Blackboard Learning System and much of the Blackboard product line has been challenged with:
Much of the challenges above are typical to most online learning platforms found in the education space. However Blackboard seems to be more challenged based on its size, complexity of its system and the multitude of customers it is trying to cater to. Although the company does typically respond to its customers it often takes them longer than most would like due to their size. In addition, academic institutions themselves have been challenged with understanding how to appropriately implement and support teaching and learning technologies for online learning. The Educational technology Framework is a tool used by several hundred academic institutions to develop an organizational tactical plan to support a successful implementation. Born out of experiences with implementing Blackboard technologies at 2000 institutions the ETF applies to all academic institutions implementing online learning technologies.
A staff survey by the Western Washington University found increasing levels of dissatisfaction with Blackboard, particularly in the area of reliability . McMaster University
in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada has replaced their Blackboard system after multiple problems during one year of use. Citing numerous glitches and high costs, many universities are turning to the cheaper, open source alternative Moodle
, including University of Montana, Vassar College
, California State University, Long Beach
, and many other schools.
Virtual learning environment
Defined largely by usage, the term virtual learning environment has most, if not all, of the following salient properties:* It is Web-based* It uses Web 2.0 tools for rich 2-way interaction* It includes a content management system...
and course management system developed by Blackboard Inc.
Blackboard Inc.
Blackboard Inc. is an enterprise software company with its corporate headquarters in Washington, D.C. and is primarily known as a developer of education software, in particular learning management systems. Blackboard was founded by CEO Michael Chasen and chairman Matthew Pittinsky in 1997 and...
Features include course management, a customizable open architecture, and a scalable design that allows for integration with student information systems and authentication protocols. It may be installed on local servers or hosted by Blackboard ASP Solutions. Its main purposes are to add online elements to courses traditionally delivered face-to-face and to develop completely online courses with few or no face-to-face meetings.
History
On Jan 21 1997, Stephen GilfusStephen Gilfus
Stephen Gilfus is a founder of Blackboard Inc. and CourseInfo LLC.- Biography :Stephen Gilfus grew up in Pittsford, New York, attended Pittsford Mendon High School and graduated from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York in 1997 as an academic scholar with a Bachelors of Science degree from the...
and Dan Cane started a company called CourseInfo LLC
CourseInfo LLC
CourseInfo LLC, one of the two companies forming Blackboard Inc. was founded in 1997 by Dan Cane and Stephen Gilfus while at Cornell University. They joined together to officially form the partnership known as CourseInfo and developed the company into a small course management software provider....
and were developing a software product that would power online education and be scalable for wider institutional application. At the same time, Matthew Pittinsky and Michael Chasen – formed Blackboard LLC and were contracted to help lead the formation of the Educause IMS standards group for online education technology. Recognizing the high demand for a sophisticated, easy-to-use, and affordable online education software platform, the two groups merged to form Blackboard Inc., which then developed the Blackboard Learning System.
Overview
The Blackboard Learning System is a Web-based server software platform. Features include course management, a customizable open architecture, and a scalable design that allows for integration with student information systems and authentication protocols. It may be installed on local servers or hosted by Blackboard ASP Solutions. Its main purposes are to add online elements to courses traditionally delivered face-to-face and to develop completely online courses with few or no face-to-face meetings.Functions
CommunicationAnnouncements: Professors and teachers may post announcements for students to read. These can be found under the announcement tab, or can be made to pop-up when a student accesses Blackboard.
Chat: This function allows those students who are online to chat in real time with other students in their class section.
Discussions: This feature allows students and professors to create a discussion thread and reply to ones already created.
Mail: Blackboard mail allows students and teachers to send mail to one another. This feature supports mass emailing to students in a course.
Content
Course content: This feature allows teachers to post article, assignments, videos etc.
Calendar: Teachers can use this function to post due dates for assignments and tests.
Learning modules: This feature is often used for strictly online classes. It allows professors to post different lessons for students to access.
Assessments: This tab allows professors to post quizzes and exams and allows students to access them anywhere there is an internet connection.
Assignments: This features allows for assignments to be posted and for students to be able to submit assignments online
Grade Book: Teachers and professors may post grades on Blackboard for students to view.
Media Library: Videos and other media may be posted under this function.
Challenges
Over the many years of its development the Blackboard Learning has undergone several iterations. In addition academic institutions of all sizes have changed the way they use the Blackboard Learning System including the transitions from augmentation of traditional classroom learning to supporting full online and virtual campus capabilities.The Blackboard Learning System and much of the Blackboard product line has been challenged with:
- Maintaining the appropriate scalability for the increased level of usage by its customers.
- Providing seamless and uninterrupted migration paths from one version of the software to the other
- Supporting the tens of thousands of transaction enrollments and add drop capabilities that may happen during the span of the first two weeks of class
- Providing a refined first release product for its customers. Often it is best to wait 6 – 12 months before going to the next version of the Blackboard product. It typically takes this long for the development team to riddle out many of the real world scenarios. A few large schools have experienced transition and scalability challenges with Blackboard product within the first 6 months of usage.
- Providing feature parity between its new products and the end of life of other acquired software (WebCTWebCTWebCT or Blackboard Learning System, now owned by Blackboard, is an online proprietary virtual learning environment system that is sold to colleges and other institutions and used in many campuses for e-learning...
and Angel LearningANGEL LearningANGEL Learning, Inc. was a privately held educational software company specializing in eLearning. Its main products are the ANGEL Learning Management Suite , ANGEL ePortfolio, and services offerings. In May 2009 it was acquired by Blackboard Inc.....
are examples) - Meeting ongoing and dynamic demands of an ever expanding education market as well as supporting its over 3200 global customers.
Much of the challenges above are typical to most online learning platforms found in the education space. However Blackboard seems to be more challenged based on its size, complexity of its system and the multitude of customers it is trying to cater to. Although the company does typically respond to its customers it often takes them longer than most would like due to their size. In addition, academic institutions themselves have been challenged with understanding how to appropriately implement and support teaching and learning technologies for online learning. The Educational technology Framework is a tool used by several hundred academic institutions to develop an organizational tactical plan to support a successful implementation. Born out of experiences with implementing Blackboard technologies at 2000 institutions the ETF applies to all academic institutions implementing online learning technologies.
Criticism
Blackboard Inc has had several legal issues, including faulty patent rights claims.A staff survey by the Western Washington University found increasing levels of dissatisfaction with Blackboard, particularly in the area of reliability . McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada has replaced their Blackboard system after multiple problems during one year of use. Citing numerous glitches and high costs, many universities are turning to the cheaper, open source alternative Moodle
Moodle
Moodle is a free source e-learning software platform, also known as a Course Management System, Learning Management System, or Virtual Learning Environment...
, including University of Montana, Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
, California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach is the second largest campus of the California State University system and the third largest university in the state of California by enrollment...
, and many other schools.