Blackboard Bumps Learning Platform to Version 9.0

##AUTHORSPLIT##<--->

Blackboard has released an all-new version of Blackboard Learn, formerly known as the Blackboard Academic Suite. The new 9.0 release adds social learning and Web 2.0 tools, as well as capabilities for integrating the software with open source systems like Moodle and Sakai.

Blackboard Learn 9.0 focuses heavily on Web 2.0 and social and collaborative learning tools. These include a variety of enhancements to existing features, as well as some completely new capabilities, in the areas blogs, group tools, journals, notifications, and the UI itself, which has undergone a redesign and is now built on Web 2.0 technologies.

Some of the other new features in release 9.0 include:

  • Facebook integration, including access to course information and alerts within Facebook;
  • SafeAssign for plagiarism detection and prevention;
  • New navigation capabilities, including enhanced keyboard navigation;
  • "Standards based design for ease of use with assistive technologies such as screen readers"; and
  • New integration capabilities for using Blackboard in conjunction with open source and home-grown learning management systems.

According to Blackboard, more than 50 schools, colleges, and universities participated in the Blackboard Learn 9.0 beta over the last three months, and some 70,000 hours of testing went into the release during development.

"The Blackboard platform is a part of our district's DNA, a powerful tool that enhances instruction inside and outside of the classroom," said Sheryl Abshire, chief technology officer at Calcasieu Parish Public Schools in Louisiana. "We are excited to see the Blackboard platform evolving in ways that make it a more meaningful and effective tool for daily instruction and a significant part of our efforts to expand learning opportunities and engage students and parents more effectively."

Further information about Blackboard Learn 9.0 can be found here.

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


Featured

  • Indianapolis Public Schools Adopt DreamBox Math

    Thanks to a new partnership with Discovery Education, all Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) K–8 students and teachers will gain access to DreamBox Math, which blends curriculum and continuous formative assessments that adapt to student needs to boost achievement.

  • The First Steps of Establishing Your Cloud Security Strategy

    In this guide, we'll identify some first steps you can take to establish your cloud security strategy. We'll do so by discussing the cloud security impact of individual, concrete actions featured within the CIS Critical Security Controls® (CIS Controls®) and the CIS Benchmarks™.

  • Google Brings Gemini AI to Teens in the Classroom

    Google is making its Gemini large language model available for free for students ages 13 and up in the United States (age minimums vary by country), via Google Workspace for Education accounts.

  • A top-down view of a person walking through a maze with walls made of glowing blue Wi-Fi symbols on dark pathways

    Navigating New E-Rate Rules for WiFi Hotspots

    Beginning in funding year 2025, WiFi hotspots will be eligible for E-rate Category One discounts. Here's what you need to know about your school's eligibility, funding caps, tracking requirements, and more.