Blackboard

Blackboard
Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain · source
Name	Blackboard
Developer	Anthology Inc.
Initial release	1997
Operating system	Cross-platform
Genre	Learning management system
License	Proprietary software

Blackboard is a learning management system developed by Anthology Inc., which was founded by Michael Chasen and Matthew Pittinsky. It is used by Harvard University, Stanford University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology to manage online courses and provide students with access to online learning resources. The system is also used by University of California, Berkeley, University of Oxford, and University of Cambridge to support distance education and online degree programs. Blackboard Inc. was acquired by Providence Equity Partners in 2011, and later merged with Anthology Inc. in 2021.

● Introduction

Blackboard is a web-based platform that provides a range of tools and features to support online learning and teaching. It is used by institutions of higher education such as University of Michigan, University of Texas at Austin, and Georgia Institute of Technology to manage online courses, degree programs, and certificate programs. The system is also used by K-12 schools such as New York City Department of Education and Los Angeles Unified School District to support online learning and blended learning. Blackboard has partnerships with McGraw-Hill Education, Pearson Education, and Cengage Learning to provide digital content and online resources to students.

● History

The development of Blackboard began in 1996 by Michael Chasen and Matthew Pittinsky, who were students at Cornell University at the time. The first version of the system was released in 1997, and it quickly gained popularity among institutions of higher education such as University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, and Duke University. In 2000, Blackboard Inc. was founded, and the company went public in 2004. Blackboard Inc. acquired WebCT in 2006, and later acquired Angel Learning in 2009. The company was acquired by Providence Equity Partners in 2011, and later merged with Anthology Inc. in 2021.

● Features

Blackboard provides a range of features to support online learning and teaching, including course management, grade book, and discussion board. The system also provides tools for online assessment, online grading, and student tracking. Instructors at University of California, Los Angeles and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign use Blackboard to create online courses and degree programs. The system is also integrated with Turnitin to support plagiarism detection and academic integrity. Students at University of Washington and University of Florida use Blackboard to access online resources and digital content.

● Impact_on_Education

The impact of Blackboard on education has been significant, with many institutions of higher education using the system to support online learning and teaching. University of Arizona, University of Utah, and University of Nebraska–Lincoln have used Blackboard to create online degree programs and certificate programs. The system has also been used by K-12 schools such as Chicago Public Schools and Houston Independent School District to support online learning and blended learning. Blackboard has partnerships with National Education Association, American Federation of Teachers, and Association of American Universities to support teacher professional development and educational research.

● Criticisms_and_Controversies

Despite its popularity, Blackboard has faced criticisms and controversies over the years. Some instructors at University of Wisconsin–Madison and University of Oregon have criticized the system for being user-unfriendly and difficult to navigate. Others have raised concerns about the cost of the system and the lack of open-source alternatives. Students at University of Massachusetts Amherst and University of Iowa have also criticized the system for being inaccessible and not user-friendly. Blackboard Inc. has faced lawsuits from competitors such as Moodle and Sakai Project over patent infringement.

● Alternatives_and_Competitors

There are several alternatives and competitors to Blackboard, including Moodle, Sakai Project, and Canvas (learning management system). Institutions of higher education such as University of Edinburgh and University of Melbourne have adopted Moodle as their learning management system. Others, such as University of California, San Diego and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, have adopted Canvas (learning management system). K-12 schools such as New York City Department of Education and Los Angeles Unified School District have also adopted Schoology and Edmodo as alternatives to Blackboard. Blackboard Inc. competes with D2L and Instructure in the learning management system market. Category:Learning management systems