This document provides an overview of features in the Blackboard learning management system (LMS). It discusses tools for collaboration, content exploration, and assessment. It also outlines mobile compatibility that allows students to access course content from their mobile devices. While Blackboard has robust features to support online and hybrid learning, the interface could benefit from improvements to make navigation more intuitive. The document also provides instructions for integrating social media like Twitter feeds into Blackboard courses.

1. Unit 4: Blackboard Features
Kristin Murner
IX 564

2. • Both student and teacher resources are
feature-packed and well-developed
• Superior support for online or hybrid learning
• Social network support and full mobile
compatibility
• Blackboard could use an interface overhaul so
navigation is more natural
Robust Assets: Quick overview

3. • Many tools for
collaboration, content
exploration, and
assessment.
• View assignments by
date or by importance-
level
Student Assets: LMS

4. Student Assets: Mobile “Students can check
grades, view
announcements, post to
blogs and discussions,
and access course
content. In addition,
students can upload
media as attachments to
blogs, journals, and
discussions directly from
their mobile device”
(Blackboard, Inc, 2015)

5. • Student preview
• In-line grading
• Collaborative learning
activities
• Safe-assign
• Ample training and
tutorials online
Faculty Assets:

6. Integrating Social Media:
While it may be a multi-step process, it is
easy to integrate social media feeds (such
as Twitter) into Blackboard.
1) Faculty need to create a widget in
Twitter, which will generate an HTML
code.
2) Open Blackboard, create a blank page
in a course/content and then paste the
HTML code there.
3) Hit “update.”
(Western University, n.d)

7. If I could make a wish:
I am a visual learner and really
respond to layout and navigation.
Everything about Blackboard
seems to be less than obvious to
me.
The left-hand navigation (while
better than eCollege!) isn’t
completely intuitive.
I struggled with their marketing
site-it was never clear whether
what I was looking at was for
Learn or another product. It was
easier to Google what I was
looking for than navigate the sites.

8. SCORM Compliance:
Blackboard Learn is fully SCORM compliant and the SCORM
engine automatically installs when Blackboard is installed or
updated. However, the Engine must be enabled by the system
administrator to allow access.
(Blackboard, n.d.)

9. References
Blackboard, Inc. (2015). Bb Student. Retrieved from:
http://www.blackboard.com/Images/Bb_Student_Datasheet_FINAL_06%2008%
202015_tcm21-19353.pdf
Blackboard, Inc. (2015). SCORM Engine and Open Standards Content Player.
Retrieved from: https://help.blackboard.com/en-
us/Learn/9.1_SP_10_and_SP_11/Administrator/110_Building_Blocks/010_Featu
red_Building_Blocks/SCORM_Engine_and_Open_Standards_Content_Player
Western University of Health Sciences (n.d.). Integrating Twitter Feeds into your
Blackboard Courses. Retrieved from: http://teachtech.westernu.edu/blackboard-
twitter-feeds/