Monday, December 18, 2006
Day 2 - Blackboard Update
Early on Friday morning was an update from the Blackboard team. They spoke for an hour, but I didn't leave with much more of an idea of what would be happening with the product.
Gave us some stats:
3000 institutions use Blackboard
1000 software developers
millions of users
They want to integrate the Building Blocks and Power Links communities together.
Said stuff about e-learning 2.0, which had already been said mostly.
Are hoping to address country-specific needs and situations by have a dedicated product internationalisation development team.
Audience members said they might like a UK internationalisation pack for language and dates. Blackboard seemed to say they might do that then.
I found out an interesting thing. We are the only UK institution at the conference using Backpack (Brighton apparently used to use it). And I gather another institution may do it if it can connect to the content system, which apparently the next version will probably be able to do.
They mentioned App Pack 2 coming out, though no date.
It should contain:
Early warning system (could send out emails/notifications based on item due date, item score, and something else they wizzed too quickly through)
Advanced observer roles - sounded useless for higher ed
E-portfolios - more flexibility and control (uhh...) (idea of personal portfolio and personal artefacts)
Content System - usability improved (passes for folders, settings management, users specify their start page in the content system)
Not much with the learning system though.
The rest of the session was people asking why there was no wiki/blog tool, and Blackboard saying they wanted to be the platform, not the ultimate in all tools.
Gave us some stats:
3000 institutions use Blackboard
1000 software developers
millions of users
They want to integrate the Building Blocks and Power Links communities together.
Said stuff about e-learning 2.0, which had already been said mostly.
Are hoping to address country-specific needs and situations by have a dedicated product internationalisation development team.
Audience members said they might like a UK internationalisation pack for language and dates. Blackboard seemed to say they might do that then.
I found out an interesting thing. We are the only UK institution at the conference using Backpack (Brighton apparently used to use it). And I gather another institution may do it if it can connect to the content system, which apparently the next version will probably be able to do.
They mentioned App Pack 2 coming out, though no date.
It should contain:
Early warning system (could send out emails/notifications based on item due date, item score, and something else they wizzed too quickly through)
Advanced observer roles - sounded useless for higher ed
E-portfolios - more flexibility and control (uhh...) (idea of personal portfolio and personal artefacts)
Content System - usability improved (passes for folders, settings management, users specify their start page in the content system)
Not much with the learning system though.
The rest of the session was people asking why there was no wiki/blog tool, and Blackboard saying they wanted to be the platform, not the ultimate in all tools.
// posted by Brian @ 4:29 PM 
