Blackboard Learn is a virtual learning environment and learning management system developed by Blackboard Inc. It is Web-based server software which features course management, customizable open architecture, and scalable design that allows 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 January 21, 1997, Stephen Gilfus and Daniel 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. The two groups merged to form Blackboard Inc., which then developed the Blackboard Learning System. In May 2009 Blackboard learn purchased the privately held competing learning management systems company Angel Learning, inc. ANGEL Learning In 2015, the company announced a major upgrade to the user experience, called Ultra. According to company statements, Ultra is to be an optional user interface sitting on top of the existing Learn 9.1 architecture. In October 2017, Blackboard partnered with OpenEd to integrate OER with Learning Management Systems. Blackboard Learn provides users with a platform for communication and sharing content.
Communication
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 articles, 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.
Activity Stream: It shows all the activity that about the course, including the recent uploading of the assignment or notes from the teacher, the assignment have left or grade. It like a history timeline of the changes.
Assessments: This tab allows teachers to post quizzes and exams and allows students to access them via the internet
Assignments: These features allow assignments to be posted and students to submit assignments online. It also shows the due date of the assignment.
Profile: The name of "Profile" usually replace by your full name. On this page, some basic information like nickname, contact number, or job can be filled. Besides, there is a "System Settings" that can change the language and privacy settings that give permission to people who can view the basic information.
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.
Criticism
Blackboard Inc. has had several legal issues, including faulty patent rights claims. In addition, a number of educational institutions, teachers, and students have expressed concerns about the reliability of Blackboard. 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 Montana State University, Vassar College, California State University, Long Beach, and many other schools. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's implementation of the system notably suffered sporadic outages in the Grade Book section during the finals of the Fall 2014 semester. In Spring 2020, during coronavirus pandemic, Fairfax County Public Schools, one of the largest school system in the United States with 189 thousand students abandoned Blackboard Learn 24/7 after weeks of unsuccessful attempts to use it. The issues included, poor security allowing live instructions to be hacked and disrupted and inability for the system to cope with the volume even on the days when only elementary schools were using the system.
