Blackboard and Microsoft
Just found this press release on Twitter: “Blackboard Joins Forces with Microsoft to Make Course Information Available on Web Browsers“.
Wow, now how good could that be?
“Under the agreement, Blackboard and Microsoft will work together to enable notifications to appear in their Web browser using the Bing(TM) toolbar when new course information becomes available through the Blackboard Learn(TM) platform. The toolbar will also be compatible with the Internet Explorer® and Firefox® Web browsers.”
If this was tied in with their IT account for access to the PCs on campus, then surely the PC and Internet browsers could be set up so these notifications could be displayed. I guess one area this could be troublesome is for those students who use their own PCs, but we can always ask them to install the toolbar so they get the best student experience from their time at University?
“Streamlined access to course information will make it easier for millions of students who log in to their Blackboard accounts several times daily to check for assignments, grades, announcements and other information. With the Blackboard Learn toolbar for Bing, IE and Firefox, students will receive updates on their courses, groups and organizations directly in their browser, regardless of which Web site they are visiting and without having to log in to Blackboard every time.”
Hmm, I’m liking this!
“Blackboard previously created similar applications to enable students and learners to receive course notifications and alerts through the Facebook® platform and on Apple® iPhone® or iPod touch® devices. Together, the integrations are part of the company’s overall effort to increase student engagement by creating streamlined access to course information in a variety of popular platforms and devices – not just within Blackboard Learn.”
Not all students have an iPhone (although it feels like they do!) or would want the University in ‘their’ space in Facebook, so this toolbar makes good sense.
As a side note to this article (read online using the link above) is that “Blackboard is also using Microsoft’s Bing decision engine to help power its SafeAssign(TM) plagiarism prevention service.”
This could be good. I’m not sure from reading the announcement whether it will also update you when new posts/comments are made to blogs and wikis in Blackboard. I use Blackboard as both a member of staff and a postgrad student and if Bb offered RSS for these features and new announcements etc that would make life a lot easier. Is anyone at your institution using the iPhone/iPod touch app? I’ve just downloaded it to try it out and noticed that it has very poor ratings in the iTunes app store from UK-based users.
Natalie
Thanks for the comment.
I had a look at the iPhone App when it was first released and think it requires some work doing to the BB installation/server before access can be given from the remote device.
Fingers crossed for the future development of BB into the true Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 worlds; I have also seen some developing news about a possible Open Source systems allowing BB and Google Docs to work together: “Northwestern U Creates Integration Utility To Link Blackboard and Google Apps http://bit.ly/31utIc“.
David.
Hi again David – the developments at Northwestern U do sound interesting.I’m not sure how Bb Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 is all going to pan out.
I was trying to look at one of your previous posts that I’d bookmarked ‘Google vs Blackboard; Who’d win?’ to remind myself what you’d said as there was speculation in the Motley Fool a couple of weeks ago that Google might try and buy Blackboard http://bit.ly/1YqAxF
That would be an interesting move!
Natalie
Great idea, but…
“With the Blackboard Learn toolbar for Bing, IE and Firefox,”
Chrome? Can’t we all just get along?
Bing???
that kills all my interest in Blackboard’s announcement. Why would they spurn Google?
Vilu / Todd
I’m sure there’s a reason, quite possibly because MS is desperate to get into the education market and what better way than to align themselves with the biggest players? For organisations like BB it is as much about coverage as it is about finding a ‘partner’ with similar outlook and attitudes, so perhaps MS is better suited to their 5-year vision than Google is … ??
Natalie
I had to remove the Google v BB post, but the original article I referred to can be found easily with a search on some SE or other.
Indeed, why can’t we all just get along and get something to work for everyone, on all platforms, and all browsers .. isn’t that what accessibility is all about?
Regards,
David.