Item: Blackboard Learn by Anthology
Rating: 7
Author: Becca Guler

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Blackboard Learn is used primarily as an online classroom. Blackboard Collaborate can be utilized to facilitate and record real-time lectures and discussions, but the main function of Blackboard is to provide a secure online space for professors to load course guidelines, content and student grades, as well as host non-synchronous discussion boards. It is also used by academic support programs such as mentoring and tutoring to post content and planning support for student access.

Pros and Cons

Accepts wide variety of file types.
Choice of layout options to fit different styles of courses.

Interface isn't very modern.
Low use of icons and heavy text make it tricky to navigate.

Return on Investment

Simple distribution and repository of information, so helps efficiency and equal access: +
Students and staff aren't fans of the low navigability (grumbling): -

Alternatives Considered

Zoom and Moodle

Zoom is better equipped for live streaming and recording lectures and tutoring sessions, research interviews, etc. and does allow content files to be attached through live chat function but does NOT have a student management component for grading and instructions or a repository for files.
Moodle is more user friendly in terms of layout and navigability, but Blackboard is considered better at syncing info from enrollment management systems like Oracle PeopleSoft for campuses.

Support Rating

It's available, but it's not in a modern instant chat format. I don't like sending an email and waiting.

Key Insights

Do you think Blackboard Learn by Anthology delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with Blackboard Learn by Anthology's feature set?

Did Blackboard Learn by Anthology live up to sales and marketing promises?

I wasn't involved with the selection/purchase process

Did implementation of Blackboard Learn by Anthology go as expected?

I wasn't involved with the implementation phase

Would you buy Blackboard Learn by Anthology again?

Yes

Other Software Used

Zoom, Canva, Prezi, Titanium Cloud, Kronos Workforce Central

Likelihood to Recommend

It works well for situations where lots of content needs to be posted and made available to students. The ability to make subfolders means that with just a little work, you can really make a LOT of resources readily available. It is not well-suited to resource CREATION, only posting/uploads, as it lacks capabilities to design and manipulate information in anything other than basic text forms and hyperlinks.

Blackboard Learn- When you Need the Basics in Content Delivery and Instructional Management

Modules Used

Overall Satisfaction with Blackboard Learn