Blackboard Learn

The following are LMS highlights from the Blackboard Learn profile in the Association Learning Management Systems report.

With 5,500 clients and 2,100 employees, Blackboard is by far the largest company participating in the report. The vast majority of its clients are in the academic market, where most estimates put Blackboard’s market share at greater than 70 percent. While the company’s footprint in the association market is much smaller, its roster includes some sizable, well-known organizations like the American Bankers Association and the American Library Association.

Given its academic roots, it is not surprising that the main focus of Blackboard’s Learn platform is on instructor-led learning. As company representatives put it, traditional corporate LMSes focus more on an on-demand “serve and confirm” model, whereas Blackboard is more focused on providing a facilitated experience. The system offers good options for delivering learning purely online or in combination with face-to-face events.

  • At a technical level, the administrative environment makes use of AJAX programming to provide for drag-and-drop management of many aspects of the system. Additionally, the use of role-based tabs and modules in the system will feel familiar to administrators experienced with Microsoft SharePoint.
  • Blackboard Learn provides good WYSIWYG tools for creating and managing different types of course content, including multimedia presentations, tests, and assessments.
  • Blackboard Learn does not have its own e-commerce engine but can provide for e-commerce through an extension developed by GoSignMeUp (http://www.gosignmeup.com). The GoSignMeUp building block (Blackboard extensions are blocks) provides for credit card payment as well as for management of event calendars, facilities, transcripts, and certificates. Additional costs apply.
  • Blackboard does not offer any out-of-the-box integration bridges for major AMS systems, but it does provide a standard API that enables transfer of enrollment information from an AMS via SQL query.
  • Blackboard has an extensive network of partners who provide content compatible with the Blackboard system and develop software applications to extend the system. While extra costs may apply, these partners can make it possible to address complex needs without time-consuming and expensive customizations.
  • Blackboard has one of the most extensive and active user communities out of the companies profiled in this report.

With 5,500 clients and 2,100 employees, Blackboard is by far the largest company participating in the report. The vast majority of its clients are in the academic market, where Blackboard is one of the biggest players. While the company’s footprint in the association market is much smaller, its roster includes some sizable, well-known organizations like the American Library Association and the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Given its academic roots, it is not surprising that Blackboard Learn is strongest in instructor-led, facilitated learning. The system offers good options for delivering learning purely online or in combination with face-to-face events and helps associations, as the company puts it, “move beyond Webinars and self-paced courses.”

  • With collaboration and social learning tools, like wikis and mashups (Web 2.0 resources from YouTube, SlideShare, and Flickr can be pulled in), Blackboard Learn can engage and support learners in both formal and informal learning.
  • The NBC News Archives are integrated with the Course Delivery and Community modules, giving instructors access to more than 12,000 pieces of professionally created educational multimedia content that can be embedded directly in Blackboard Learn.
  • Blackboard Learn provides portfolio functionality that can enable members to showcase work and demonstrate progress toward certification.
  • WIth Blackboard’s academic bent, accessibility is a key issue. Release 9.1 includes advanced accessibility options that are Gold Level certified by the National Federation of the Blind for Non-Visual Accessibility.
  • Blackboard Learn does not have its own e-commerce engine but can provide for e-commerce through an extension developed by GoSignMeUp (http://www.gosignmeup.com). The GoSignMeUp building block (Blackboard extensions are blocks) provides for credit card payment as well as for management of event calendars, facilities, transcripts, and certificates. Additional costs apply.
  • Blackboard does not offer any out-of-the-box integration bridges for major AMS systems, but it does provide a standard API that enables transfer of enrollment information from an AMS via SQL query. While the company doesn’t have firsthand knowledge of any integrations, representatives report that many associations do AMS integration on their own, which is possible given Blackboard’s open database architecture and published Web services.
  • Blackboard has an extensive network of partners who provide content compatible with the Blackboard system and develop software applications to extend the system. While extra costs may apply, these partners can make it possible to address complex needs without time-consuming and expensive customizations. Blackboard also boasts an extensive and active user community.

While Blackboard Learn is feature-rich, one area where associations may find it lacking is in the management of continuing education credit—a functionality that is not part of the standard system. For organizations that are focused on instructor-led training, however, Blackboard’s experience in the academic market as well as its large global footprint and user base make it well worth a look.

To purchase the full Blackboard profile, which features nearly 30 pages of detailed information about Blackboard Learn, click the button below. Or, see other individual LMS profiles we offer and find out more about the full Association Learning Management Systems report.

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Each LMS profile covers the following areas in detail:

  • General Company Information
  • General LMS Information
  • LMS Implementation
  • Pricing
  • Technology
  • System Requirements
  • Integration and Interoperability
  • Standards and Guidelines
  • Hosting
  • Personalization
  • Interface Configuration
  • Internationalization and Localization
  • Search and Catalogs
  • Authoring, Managing, and Displaying Learning Content
  • In-person, Place-based Courses
  • Webinars
  • Registration
  • Enrollment
  • Managing Continuing Education and Certification
  • Assessments
  • Evaluations
  • Reporting
  • Support for Multiple Sites
  • Collaboration and Communication Tools
  • E-commerce
  • Support and Training
  • Custom Programming and Content Development
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