Blackboard Brings Mobile Learn to Smart Phones
Following the release in April of Mobile Learn for Apple's iPad, Blackboard has released the mobile version of its learning management system for Android-based phones; Apple iPhone and iPod; and BlackBerry devices.
Mobile Learn is designed to mimic the full functionality of the Web-based Learn platform, including two-way communication between students and teachers, access to gradebooks, blog access and commenting, discussion board participation, and student-to-student e-mail communications.
Blackboard is making Mobile Learn available for Android, iPhone, iPod, and BlackBerry through two options: "an annual license that supports all device platforms or a no cost option," according to Blackboard. The company is partnering with Sprint to provide Mobile Learn at no additional cost to institutions for Android and Blackberry devices; a free version is also available for iPhone and iPod that can be used only over WiFi connections.
Mobile Learn is available now for higher education institutions in the United States and Canada. K-12 institutions and international users will be able to access the software beginning in August. It will be available for additional mobile platforms "later this year," according to information released today by Blackboard.
Mobile Learn is supported through a free "Blackboard Mobile Web Services Building Block" in Blackboard Learn 8 and higher; Blackboard Learn 9.1 Service Pack 1 will include integrated support for the mobile LMS.
Further information can be found on Blackboard's site here.