Category: Chalk It Up To Experience

Issues with Elsevier – Entitled to Too Much

Posted on by Terry Patterson

Elsevier recently decided to shut down its current LMS. Now instructors and LMS system administrators must address content integrations between learning management systems and the company’s Evolve service.  Blackboard Learn environments integrate with Evolve using an LTI/SOAP integration. Blackboard admins deal with these requests from publishers on a regular basis. However, this specific integration creates concerns for them and shows the company’s young experience with Blackboard Learn and this type of integration. The main reason for concern comes from Elsevier requested entitlements for its integration. But what do these entitlements do? I sought to find some additional information on the

Sufferin’ A SCORM Showstopper

Posted on by Terry Patterson

  Many of my Blackboard admin colleagues’ blood pressures rise when we talk about SCORM. SCORM (Shareable Content Object Reference Model) was developed by the US Secretary of Defense as part of their Advanced Distributed Learning Initiative. These standards and specifications were set in 2000 and haven’t had a major upgrade since 2010. However many institutions developed content using this standard which can be implemented with Moodle, Sakai, and Blackboard. Blackboard and SCORM have not been the greatest of bedfellows over the past few years. First Blackboard hasn’t been developing its own SCORM player during this time. Up until 2010,

Blackboard Mobile Apps – Lots of Polish, But Not Much Promise (Part 1 – Bb Student)

Posted on by Terry Patterson

Last year marked the fifth anniversary of Blackboard’s step into the mobile realm with it’s purchase of TerriblyClever in 2009. Over the past five years the company has grown in the marketplace with several products. The first was a the creation of a semi-customizable mobile app for organizations using the Blackboard Mobile Central platform later […]

What Blackboard Needs to say at Blackboard World 2015

Posted on by Terry Patterson

Well folks, its that time of year again. The time when users of the now myriad of Blackboard products come together for Blackboard World. This year’s pilgrimage takes us to the company’s hometown, Washington DC, and the banks of the Potomac River. While this year’s event at the Gaylord National Resort should be somewhat familiar […]

Piwik and Blackboard Learn FAQs

Posted on by Terry Patterson

Over the past few years I have become a crusader in using tools such Piwik Analytics in Blackboard Learn. In many presentations I have shown how these tools have impact how we support the Blackboard application at the University of Missouri. Many times I get emails, chats, or questions at conferences about Piwik and Blackboard Learn. […]

The Five Things Blackboard Should Discuss at Blackboard World 2014

Posted on by Terry Patterson

Once again, its time to dust off those dice, bad Hawaiian shirts, and laptop bags. Pack up your carry on, cell phone charger, and head to Las Vegas where Blackboard hosts their annual users conference. While in Sin City, attendees expect to hear about different topics around how the company is working to meet the needs […]

Monitoring Blackboard Learn Users on a Shoestring

Posted on by Terry Patterson

Note: I apologize for the delay in getting this post up. It has been a crazy time, but more on that in a later blog post. Zero. None. Null. Zip. Nada. Zilch. Wouldn’t it be nice to have that many user complaints or questions about your Blackboard Learn instance? I think that an empty inbox […]