This powerpoint goes over building blocks at a high-level and highlights some of the more common integration points.

1. Blackboard Extensibility and Integration

2. Extensibility and Integration Extend the functionality of the user-facing application Institution-specific needs (administrative or pedagogical) Discipline-specific needs Integrate features of tools developed by third parties (commercial and institutional) Collaboration and Communication Content offerings (publisher tools) Integrate enterprise systems SIS data, inbound Reporting data, outbound

3. Building Blocks Extension framework using a “drop-in” model – packages of application code can be deployed dynamically Well-defined integration points in the UI Custom Content Types Course-level tools Administration Panel Tools Community System Modules … and more Standard, commodity programming model (Java Web Applications)

6. Web Services Framework and infrastructure for consistent Web Service development Management console Common authentication, logging Standard, shipped Web Services (SOAP/HTTP) Content Calendaring Administrative data (Users, Courses, Enrollment) Gradebook data …more Framework for extending set of supported Web Services

7. Proxy Tools Extension framework using a “link to and launch” model Preferred framework for “distributed” tools Basis for the IMS LTI specification Integrates/Builds on Web Services Well-defined UI extension points, similar to Building Blocks Technology and framework agnostic – tools can be written in PHP, Ruby/Rails, .NET, etc. Only requirement is support for HTTP, SOAP, and basic cryptography

8. Standards Initiatives IMS Enterprise Support for XML imports for student, course, enrollment data Web Services implementation in 9.1 IMS Common Cartridge Working on 1.1 support (incorporates Basic LTI) Actively engaged in defining 1.1 and 1.2 IMS Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) Contributed technical specs for Proxy Tools as input to the specification process Specification is progressing to final draft Accessibility Section 508

9. Developer Community First commercial VLE with APIs & plugin framework (2001) Large community of ~2000 developers 300+ member Open Source Community for Educational Learning Objects & Tools Almost 70 open source projects that plug into Blackboard VLEs Organizes “Open Source Day” – a community driven supplement to Blackboard DevCon

10. Developer Community – Examples iTunes U Building Block, Vanderbilt University Self and Peer Assessment Tool, Dundee University Acquired by Blackboard for inclusion in the product Sign Up Tool, Durham University See http://extensions.blackboard.com/ for a more complete list of contributed solutions (community and vendor sourced)