Blackboard Learn by Anthology vs. Schoology Learning

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Blackboard Learn by Anthology
Score 7.7 out of 10
N/A
Blackboard Inc. is an enterprise learning management systems vendor. Blackboard was founded in 1997 and became a public company in 2004. The company provides education, mobile, communication, and commerce software and related services to clients including education providers, corporations and government organizations. As of December 2010, Blackboard software and services are used by over 9,300 institutions in more than 60 countries. Blackboard Learn is the company's flagship LMS, supporting…N/A
Schoology Learning
Score 9.1 out of 10
N/A
Schoology aims to combine as many parts of the learning process as possible into a single platform for K-12 students. By doing this they aim to simplify the learning experience for students, parents, and teachers.N/A
Pricing
Blackboard Learn by AnthologySchoology Learning
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
Schoology Basic
Free
Schoology Enterprise
Contact sales team
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Blackboard Learn by AnthologySchoology Learning
Free Trial
YesNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoYes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeOptionalNo setup fee
Additional DetailsMust contact vendor for pricing information.Reach out to the vendor for pricing options based on your needs.
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Blackboard Learn by AnthologySchoology Learning
Considered Both Products
Blackboard Learn by Anthology
Chose Blackboard Learn by Anthology
Blackboard is the all around better fit for our intuition. It provides the "bells and whistles" we require in having a diverse faculty and flexibility in course delivery. The "bells and whistles" aren't cheap, but we have found that budgeting for this large expense has been …
Chose Blackboard Learn by Anthology
I have used Schoology before, and I think Blackboard Learn has many more features, and is easier to navigate. It is well organized, and easy to customize for each user. Schoology might be better suited for a mobile device, but when the mobile version of Blackboard is not up …
Chose Blackboard Learn by Anthology
I think Blackboard has become a middle of the pack LMS with more user friendly options like Canvas and Schoology currently available to K-12 schools. While there are many robust features, the typical K-12 teacher and student needs a more user friendly interface and a faster …
Schoology Learning
Chose Schoology Learning
Schoology is well supported and is easy to use. It might not have all of the features of a larger LMS like Blackboard or Moodle, but that is also what makes it easier to use. It does not have the "scroll of death" that you would experience with Edmodo. Content is organized …
Chose Schoology Learning
As mentioned before, Schoology has a lot more capabilities than Google Classroom. Granted that Schoology is an actual LMS and Google Classroom is not. Assessments are better; guardian views and information; communication with our Student Information System; Better organization …
Chose Schoology Learning
Schoology no longer provides all of the features of Canvas for a lower cost. In fact, as someone who now uses both LMSs, at different jobs, I can no longer recommend Schoology as features are disappearing and support has become almost worthless.
Chose Schoology Learning
Schoology is a blend of most online programs. In areas of assigning work and grading, it does really well. In terms of having an intuitive classroom to navigate, other programs are better.
Chose Schoology Learning
Although there are other good platforms for managing online classrooms, we did not find these as robust and were not as user-friendly in terms of interface, and their ability to connect to other online education platforms. It is also the best available platform for connecting …
Chose Schoology Learning
Schoology is a much more user friendly platform. It provides teachers and students the platform to work together. To name a few, schoology has excellent assessment capabilities. It allows us to provide feedback and timely advice!
Chose Schoology Learning
Google Classroom is like Schoology-Lite. Both platforms have similar resources and can link to SIS, but Schoology is more versatile, more dynamic, and more comprehensive.
Chose Schoology Learning
Schoology has far more options than any of the above three as far as communication, dissemination of information, and assignment and test updates and tracking. Moodle was fairly primitive in its design; Blackboard is a bit clunky in its use, and, while Google Classroom is …
Chose Schoology Learning
I chose Schoology for the ease of use from the administration/back end to the users.
Chose Schoology Learning
Schoology provides a much more user-friendly experience for students and instructors while providing most, if not all, of the same functionality of Blackboard. In addition, Schoology adds additional social experiences that encourage student collaboration inside and outside of …
Chose Schoology Learning
We choose Schoology over other platforms based on its UI design, its cost per user, and its ambitious roadmap for future development to support students and teachers.
Chose Schoology Learning
Schoology is easier and more robust then any other learning management system I have ever used. It is also available for free to teachers that has almost all of the features available. Blackboard was terribly user unfriendly. Canvas was too limited for me. Moodle was only …
Chose Schoology Learning
I've either been a student or teacher in each of the products listed above. Schoology is, by far, the easiest yet most comprehensive platform. While several of the products have similar features, the layout, look, and navigation within Schoology create the best user experience. …
Chose Schoology Learning
Schoology is definitely top shelf, head and shoulders above the rest!
Chose Schoology Learning
Schoology is user-friendly and easy to use. The majority of customers that Schoology has are K-12 school districts. This was appealing to our district. They understand the specifc needs of our district. We feel like we are partners in education. They listen and provide positive …
Chose Schoology Learning
The learning curve for Schoology is substantially less dramatic than other products. Schoology's mobile platform is more robust, and better supports the devices most frequently used by our learners. Schoology has greater functionality, and more classroom management features …
Chose Schoology Learning
Schoology was selected because it is user friendly and Admin friendly. The platform is also exceptionally intuitive for users.
Chose Schoology Learning
Other LMS that we reviewed did not have the same functionality. Many times they were not as intuitive, or took many more steps to complete tasks. Also the cost was better when you factored in what you got and who could use it. Many LMS would not work well with younger …
Chose Schoology Learning
Schoology is more robust than Google Classroom as it can track student progress and connect University criteria to student objectives. It has more capabilities than Blackboard.
Chose Schoology Learning
When we set out on the journey to adopt an LMS, we were looking for a system that would integrate with our current systems, allow for personalized learning and differentiation, user friendly, device agnostic, include online support/help, can integrate standards and learning …
Chose Schoology Learning
Schoology's community of teachers is huge and built within the platform which means you feel supported from day one in the platform. The free 'basic' accounts also mean that you can experiment with the platform before signup to the enterprise version.
Chose Schoology Learning
Schoology outperforms all other learning management system platforms. Its interface and platform are intuitive and easy to learn how to use. Plus, it has an abundance of features that make differentiation possible and powerful.
Chose Schoology Learning
During my tenure at Falls Church City Public Schools we suffered through a a few Learning Management Tools that did not meet our K-12 needs. When we discovered Schoology, is had (and still has) the best mobile application out there. This providing us the flexibility needed as …
Chose Schoology Learning
Schoology had a few key advantages over its competitors, and are why we decided to go with their platform:
- Their iOS and Android apps are really good and updated frequently
- The grades and students information sync between Schoology and PowerSchool
Chose Schoology Learning
I've chosen Schoology as a learning management system due to its enormous complexity paired with equal simplicity. Schoology can do what other more complicated systems can do, but it is far easier to create and manage. I've used a few different systems in my years as a student …
Top Pros
Top Cons
Features
Blackboard Learn by AnthologySchoology Learning
Learning Management
Comparison of Learning Management features of Product A and Product B
Blackboard Learn by Anthology
8.5
30 Ratings
4% above category average
Schoology Learning
7.4
40 Ratings
10% below category average
Course authoring8.924 Ratings7.738 Ratings
Course catalog or library8.924 Ratings8.327 Ratings
Player/Portal8.021 Ratings7.929 Ratings
Learning content6.127 Ratings9.233 Ratings
Mobile friendly8.830 Ratings6.738 Ratings
Progress tracking & certifications7.024 Ratings7.334 Ratings
Assignments9.030 Ratings6.940 Ratings
Compliance management9.017 Ratings6.823 Ratings
Learning administration9.925 Ratings7.933 Ratings
Learning reporting & analytics8.926 Ratings6.037 Ratings
Social learning8.922 Ratings6.235 Ratings
Single Sign On (SSO) Enabled Learning9.01 Ratings00 Ratings
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User Ratings
Blackboard Learn by AnthologySchoology Learning
Likelihood to Recommend
9.8
(58 ratings)
6.9
(113 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
4.6
(11 ratings)
4.5
(6 ratings)
Usability
10.0
(5 ratings)
4.6
(9 ratings)
Availability
-
(0 ratings)
7.3
(1 ratings)
Performance
-
(0 ratings)
6.4
(1 ratings)
Support Rating
7.7
(14 ratings)
1.0
(9 ratings)
Online Training
7.0
(1 ratings)
4.5
(1 ratings)
Implementation Rating
10.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Product Scalability
-
(0 ratings)
3.6
(1 ratings)
Vendor post-sale
-
(0 ratings)
7.3
(1 ratings)
Vendor pre-sale
-
(0 ratings)
7.3
(1 ratings)
User Testimonials
Blackboard Learn by AnthologySchoology Learning
Likelihood to Recommend
Anthology, Inc
A school with a well-established technology imprint with their students (for example, ours is a BYOB school where every student has their own laptop and must bring it to school every day and where over 99% of our families have reliable broadband at home) is a reasonable scenario for using The arrogance and intransigence of the sales force is quite disconcerting… They are no longer the only game in town and don't yet realize it. Less well-off schools/families may find it a challenge if students must be on campus or at a public library in order to use the technology. Obviously, during the pandemic, this became problematic for some districts.
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PowerSchool Group LLC
Schoology does the job well enough, but there are enough areas of contention that make advanced use of the system unwieldy. District staff does not have easy reporting ability to determine adoption and use of the platform without having to export to another program for analysis. The reliability of the system is a huge pain point as we need to deliver the curriculum but cannot count on it being available when we need to use it.
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Pros
Anthology, Inc
  • Blackboard Learn makes submitting assignments electronically simple and provides a variety of built-in Web-based tools like e-portfolios, wikis, and blogs that our students use to create their own content.
  • Blackboard Learn is intuitive and easy to navigate from a students perspective
  • Blackboard Learn has many integrations available for connecting this LMS to other tools we use at our institution.
Read full review
PowerSchool Group LLC
  • Assessments - Much more interactive and have more grading options than Google Forms
  • Auto-rostering - We are able to use Infinite Campus to automatically roster classes and there are no extra steps
  • Family/Guardian access - Schoology allows families to have a sign in and see student grades & work.
Read full review
Cons
Anthology, Inc
  • Blackboard Learn has some limitations when it comes to submissions
  • It is not that user friendly, I had to spend some time to get a hang of it in the beginning
  • I have been struggling a bit with deletion of manually added courses
Read full review
PowerSchool Group LLC
  • While this product constantly seeks to make improvements, certain features need tweaking. As educators enroll in various courses, these course tend to accumulate. If the educator is not an administrator of the course, it is next to impossible to get out.
  • Switching from one course/group to another course/group takes several steps. Not always easy to find the course/group needed.
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Likelihood to Renew
Anthology, Inc
There are several aspects of Desire2Learn that outweigh the benefits of using Blackboard. I find that the Desire2Learn system is a bit more user friendly and looks more up-to-date. However, the decision to renew systems is not up to me because the entire University uses the same system. Regardless, I think I would choose Desire2Learn over Blackboard because of its improved user interface.
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PowerSchool Group LLC
While we have taken time to re-evaluate our selected 1:1 devices, Schoology's impact on student learning is unquestioned. Students are able to connect with other learners, create and share products of their learning, and develop their digital fluency through their use of Schoology.
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Usability
Anthology, Inc
It is very usable for both faculty and students. The interface is pretty intuitive and most students can use it without a lot of additional training. Faculty do need some training to effectively use the interface, but they usually get it pretty quickly. We have had to create some additional programming to give faculty a way to delve deeper into the content.
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PowerSchool Group LLC
It's very easy to use Schoology. As with any LMS, it helps to learn some tips and tricks prior to getting started. But, each item is clearly indicated within the platform. If I want to add materials, it is right at the top of my screen. If I want to view the calendar, it is indicated to the right of my screen. Navigating a course and the platform is quite straightforward. Additionally, the benefit of Schoology's help center and user community makes asking and answering questions quick and easy.
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Reliability and Availability
Anthology, Inc
No answers on this topic
PowerSchool Group LLC
Generally good, but issue self-reporting has become a problem. When there are issues, it can be 20 minutes to an hour before it gets noted on the status page
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Performance
Anthology, Inc
No answers on this topic
PowerSchool Group LLC
Course saves or transfers can take several minutes and up to an hour
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Support Rating
Anthology, Inc
My Blackboard support comes from the university I work with. They are responsive--eventually... but it takes them sometimes a week to respond to a reported issue. For example, I reported 2 issues last week and one was resolved and I was contacted about one still open option today. That is too long for a tech issue. I have not contacted any support offered directly by Blackboard, which may be a completely different experience altogether.
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PowerSchool Group LLC
We have county-level support and district-level support, but their HELP page offers everything that is needed to answer questions and to find "how-to" information for staff. This includes video and written directions for every available feature. Schoology has also worked with our district to improve their product.
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In-Person Training
Anthology, Inc
No answers on this topic
PowerSchool Group LLC
Too surface level with no follow-up. A
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Online Training
Anthology, Inc
No answers on this topic
PowerSchool Group LLC
Sit and get with very little hands-on time. 5 minutes to try out a feature/question type, etc. is not enough time. Once your training is done, there is no option for new employees to get that training without having to rebook and pay for the training again. If you pay for basic training, that should be available to a district to use in the future.
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Implementation Rating
Anthology, Inc
Blackboard's Managed Hosting was top-notch in getting us up and running quickly.
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PowerSchool Group LLC
No answers on this topic
Alternatives Considered
Anthology, Inc
Coursera offers a variety of modules in which a team is able to work on then, but [Blackboard Learn] offers more options to understand how are the team members developing and which tasks have offered a harder challenger for them. [Blackboard Learn] also offers a variety of reports that can be generate by a team lead.
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PowerSchool Group LLC
I have taught using both Edmodo and Google Classroom. While both were easier than Schoology was to get in the beginning, Schoology is infinitely more powerful than either of them was. I can do so much more, and differentiate so much easier using Schoology than I could with either of my previous LMSs.
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Scalability
Anthology, Inc
No answers on this topic
PowerSchool Group LLC
We use it 5-12 so scalability is not an issue but sharing materials between departments including common assessments is difficult without paying for add-on features
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Return on Investment
Anthology, Inc
  • At one of the institutions that I worked for, the ROI was excellent for the number of users we were serving; however, I could not speak to other instances as I was not aware of the overall cost of the contract.
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PowerSchool Group LLC
  • Using Schoology to build a foundation for a blended learning model has helped increase my students ABC rate between 15-20% in all classes!
  • Using Schoology is forcing my students to become responsible for their own learning!
  • The only negative thing I have encountered is the students resistance to change!
Read full review
ScreenShots

Blackboard Learn by Anthology Screenshots

Screenshot of A modern and intuitive learning management system (LMS) designed in collaboration with the global education community, providing students and faculty with a more inclusive, flexible, and insightful experience.Screenshot of Fostering a sense of belonging is essential to student success. To truly create an inclusive learning environment requires a holistic approach, and Blackboard Learn leads the market in many critical areas which allow your institution to meet students of all backgrounds where they are. Built to be mobile-first, Blackboard Learn is the only LMS that provides the same great experience on PC, tablet, and smartphone. And we're proud that Blackboard Learn was the First LMS to achieve accessibility Certification from the National Federation of the Blind and all of our interfaces undergo rigorous accessibility testing. Learn also has the best integration with our market-leading accessibility product, Ally, of any LMS. Learn also ensures that every user has an experience which reflects – and celebrates – their unique identity. To take just one example, users can record their name pronunciation, and choose their preferred pronouns.Screenshot of Blackboard Learn supports instructors with multiple formative and summative assessment methods, and features capabilities that reduce stress for students. For example, we’ve recently released features that allow students to use different test-taking strategies and understand their progress through assessments – including a timer that can be hidden – to maximize their result and minimize anxiety. Grading workflows have been designed to increase efficiency for instructors and give more insightful feedback to students. For instance, we’ve recently revamped the overall grade functionality to make it easier for instructors to change weightings between tasks and tailor to individual students. Blackboard Learn also offers deep integrations with hundreds of partners to create even more interactive and engaging courses, including the deepest interaction of any LMS with Microsoft Teams.Screenshot of Blackboard Learn presents insights embedded right into instructor and student workflows - making useful information readily available, and making it easier for instructors to help students where and when they need it most. Learn's progress tracking tools help students and instructors always know how they're tracking to achieve their goals - and where there is opportunity for improvement. Quick actions are tied to these insights, like following up with students in groups or individually. Blackboard Learn also provides built-in value with Blackboard Data Reporting to help leaders understand how the LMS is being used, student performance, and surfacing opportunities for continuous improvement.

Schoology Learning Screenshots

Screenshot of Example of Schoology’s course dashboard.