Blackboard Collaborate vs. PowerSchool Unified Classroom

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Blackboard Collaborate
Score 7.4 out of 10
N/A
Blackboard Collaborate is an online, collaborative learning platform well-suited for the education industry and corporate learning needs. It includes features such as screen and application sharing, web conferencing, and integration with Blackboard Learn.
$300
per year
PowerSchool Unified Classroom
Score 6.2 out of 10
N/A
PowerSchool Unified Classroom is a learning management and classroom collaboration solution suite. It aims to empower teachers with real-time student interaction inside and outside the classroom, bringing in more social and collaborative learning. Teachers can quickly create and deliver rich engaging lessons, electronically collect, annotate, and grade work, and easily collaborate and share with other educators. Unified Classroom includes PowerSchool solutions Assessment, Gradebook, Learning,…N/A
Pricing
Blackboard CollaboratePowerSchool Unified Classroom
Editions & Modules
Classroom
$300.00
per year
Department
$9000.00
per year
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Blackboard CollaboratePowerSchool Unified Classroom
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Blackboard CollaboratePowerSchool Unified Classroom
Top Pros
Top Cons
Features
Blackboard CollaboratePowerSchool Unified Classroom
Learning Management
Comparison of Learning Management features of Product A and Product B
Blackboard Collaborate
-
Ratings
PowerSchool Unified Classroom
8.1
2 Ratings
1% below category average
Course authoring00 Ratings9.01 Ratings
Course catalog or library00 Ratings6.72 Ratings
Player/Portal00 Ratings9.01 Ratings
Learning content00 Ratings8.32 Ratings
Mobile friendly00 Ratings5.01 Ratings
Progress tracking & certifications00 Ratings7.92 Ratings
Assignments00 Ratings10.01 Ratings
Learning administration00 Ratings8.32 Ratings
Learning reporting & analytics00 Ratings8.92 Ratings
Social learning00 Ratings8.01 Ratings
Best Alternatives
Blackboard CollaboratePowerSchool Unified Classroom
Small Businesses
Tovuti LMS
Tovuti LMS
Score 9.5 out of 10
Tovuti LMS
Tovuti LMS
Score 9.5 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Tovuti LMS
Tovuti LMS
Score 9.5 out of 10
Sakai
Sakai
Score 8.7 out of 10
Enterprises
Panopto
Panopto
Score 7.6 out of 10
Intellum
Intellum
Score 9.2 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Blackboard CollaboratePowerSchool Unified Classroom
Likelihood to Recommend
8.6
(31 ratings)
8.9
(4 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
9.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Usability
8.5
(8 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Availability
8.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Performance
9.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
8.9
(6 ratings)
8.9
(2 ratings)
Product Scalability
8.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
Blackboard CollaboratePowerSchool Unified Classroom
Likelihood to Recommend
Class Technologies, Inc
I would say it is very useful for group collaborations online, as well as virtual classrooms where you wish your students/guests to collaborate in an adaptable environment; however I would advise against using the shared screen to display audio or video, nor would I encourage the use of the shared board with a group of people with disciplinary issues (as there is no accountability for who wrote/drew what).
Read full review
PowerSchool Group LLC
In the classroom it is very well suited. For classroom teachers, and for school systems in general. It is appropriate in this capacity because it creates a streamlined sense of communication for all stakeholders: teachers, parents, students, and administration. It makes parent meetings very easy, it makes interventions for students easy, and it helps administration keep tabs on overall progress
Read full review
Pros
Class Technologies, Inc
  • The Whiteboard feature is perfect for tutoring. We use it to write out formulas, draw diagrams, etc while in video chat to enhance explanations.
  • The file attachment feature is also very handy. This means we don't have to do a follow-up with a student using their email to send files of handouts, etc.
  • It's great that we only have to share a classroom access link for a student to enter a session. With other products, they had to set up a username and log-in with an account. Link access means 1 less hassle.
  • We are currently beginning to use the "record session" feature video sessions to use as training for new employees.
Read full review
PowerSchool Group LLC
  • Hand in/Hand Out Assignments
  • Standards Based Assessments
Read full review
Cons
Class Technologies, Inc
  • Some of the newest computer high resolution screens are not as compatible with the interface. The font and windows are much smaller and the user is not able to increase the size of the windows to make it easier to read/navigate.
  • The audio can sometimes be inconsistent and tune in and out when someone is speaking. This is not every time though and many times the audio is clear.
  • The login process takes a bit longer to get into the program. You have to go through a few step process and loading time to get into the application.
Read full review
PowerSchool Group LLC
  • The user interface is a little blocky and not entirely user-friendly.
  • It does take more training than we'd like with new staff.
Read full review
Likelihood to Renew
Class Technologies, Inc
It is a tool that faculty likes to use. It has so much flexibility to allow students to see a class even if they happen to not be available in the classroom.
Read full review
PowerSchool Group LLC
No answers on this topic
Usability
Class Technologies, Inc
Blackboard Collaborate is reliable and feature-rich. It's a great web conferencing tool for teaching & learning, offering polls, chat, video and audio, whiteboard, content sharing, and breakout rooms. Blackboard Collaborate can be used for virtual office hours, lectures, guest speakers, training, professional development, conferences, technical support, academic advising, and so much more. Blackboard Collaborate can be used separately from the learning management system or it can be integrated for a single sign-on experience. It supports recordings, playbacks, private sharing, and MP4 downloads. Overall, it's a solid tool and very reliable.
Read full review
PowerSchool Group LLC
No answers on this topic
Reliability and Availability
Class Technologies, Inc
The availability of the software is quite impressive. You can access it at any time that you want and from anywhere that you want, but that depends on how the software is set up by the University. There might be sudden outages due to not having enough space on your database, which we had that very issue happen recently here at our University. During that time, you could not access their blackboard at all until it was brought up online again.
Read full review
PowerSchool Group LLC
No answers on this topic
Performance
Class Technologies, Inc
The performance of the software is remarkable. The loading speed of the pages is more than satisfying, it all depends on the users internet package. So far, there wasn't any issue of Blackboard slowing down other software or systems when integrated with them
Read full review
PowerSchool Group LLC
No answers on this topic
Support Rating
Class Technologies, Inc
Sometimes they do planned maintenance. Depending on the time zone you’re in, this may be in the middle of the night. That’s great. Sometimes this maintenance isn’t completed overnight however, and you need to use the platform and it is down. I’ve never been able to successfully contact them to report an outage or get assistance when it is down. I just have to wait until it comes back up to go to class, review sessions, etc.
Read full review
PowerSchool Group LLC
They are very responsive to the issues that we have and follow through with their assistance. Having a live assist that is available when our teachers need it is essential too. They also seem to listen to suggestions on making improvements and have been transparent with us when renovations are done.
Read full review
Alternatives Considered
Class Technologies, Inc
Nearpod does not allow for the same type of synchronous environment that Blackboard collaborate does. Further, Nearpod, as the name suggests is best suited for a face-to-face classroom that is, preferably, one-to-one. While it has some of the same functions as Nearpod, Blackboard collaborate is best suited for remote transmission rather than face-to-face
Read full review
PowerSchool Group LLC
I have used markbook and gradebook. Each system had good features that were slightly different but the fact that this one is web based and accessible makes it the best of the 3 I have used. The learning curve to using the program is similar to the other 2 and overall has allowed me to save time reporting to students and parents.
Read full review
Scalability
Class Technologies, Inc
The reason for this rating is that the software is a pretty good tool that can be utilized for use in all of the Universities around the world. It has the capability to fulfill the needs of various different education systems. Although, there are slight improvements that are needed, therefore the rating is at 8.
Read full review
PowerSchool Group LLC
No answers on this topic
Return on Investment
Class Technologies, Inc
  • Because faculty can schedule sessions on-the-fly without IT involvement, they are able to accomplish goals that they plan for weeks in advance as well as impromptu goals that come up at a moments notice.
  • Integration with the campus Learning Management Systems provides quick and easy scheduling of sessions that can be joined easily by students in those courses.
  • Scheduling of meetings can also be done through the web interface directly which enables administrative departments not associated with courses in the learning management system to also schedule meetings not affiliated with courses.
  • On-campus users can schedule meetings without outside participants by sending an open "guest link" URL that allows users to participate despite not having an account within the system iteself.
Read full review
PowerSchool Group LLC
  • Positive impact- i don't know how much it costs but every teacher spends probably 1-4 hours on powerschool every week but it streamlines communication
Read full review
ScreenShots

PowerSchool Unified Classroom Screenshots

Screenshot of Discussion in LMSScreenshot of LMS student portalScreenshot of LMS student portfolio