Blackboard Learn Software Reviews

“Well-suited for school security but outdated

Pros

I used this platform years ago in my own classroom and now with my daughter's school. It seems well-suited to me for security and for use in elementary school.

Cons

It feels a bit outdated and I feel like could be more modern and user-friendly. Also finding our way around can be challenging sometimes.

“Not the best!

Pros

Blackboard was a true pioneer in online education. The universities I attended and worked for were early adopters of putting courses online. In college, I was part of an educational technology team that helped choose the official system for online courses. We evaluated both Blackboard and WebCT and later Blackboard was acquired. My college ultimately selected WebCT but Arizona State University where I earned my degrees has always been a Blackboard Learn campus. Because of this, I have had vast experience using both systems from multiple perspectives.

Cons

The company acted like a monopoly, aggressively suing nearly every other Learning Management System vendor. I mean they behaved as if they held a patent on the very idea of an online learning environment which really suppressed competition and innovation in digital education.

“Lets me structure my course well

Pros

The platform lets me structure my course so students can find their way around without confusion. The page design is similar to other systems so it feels familiar even to new users. Setting everything up is also pretty simple.

Cons

It has its quirks particularly with the gradebook. It is also always updating which can be both a good and a bad thing.

“All-in-one class organizationbut incomplete deadline aggregation

Pros

Blackboard puts all the class information, virtual classrooms and student chat rooms into one easy-to-access app, keeping everything organized for me.

Cons

A common frustration for users is that it only aggregates due dates for some student assignments but not all of them. As this makes it harder for us to get a complete picture of upcoming deadlines.

“Works well but only for higher education

Pros

This software works well for educators and university students, offering the necessary functions for many parts of higher education.

Cons

Navigating it is more difficult compared to other systems. There is definitely a steeper learning curve than with similar software. But it works well once we finally understand it but getting to that point is harder than it should be.

“All my classes in one place

Pros

Having all my classes in one place and being able to manage my assignments through a single system was a huge plus.

Cons

Sometimes assignments would not load properly and had to be submitted again which I do not like.

“Simple to navigate and use

Pros

From a student's point of view, I would say it is very simple to navigate and use.

Cons

The communication tools are not as effective as those in other programs I come across.

“Advanced Analytics but Expensive

Pros

The analytics tools are top-notch and super useful.

Cons

The cost is pretty high compared to similar solutions.

“Well-organized but need more development

Pros

The system is well-organized and fairly easy to get around though it is not quite as user-friendly as some other products out there.

Cons

I feel like the email and discussion forum features could use more development to make them easier to navigate.

“My favorite discussion board

Pros

Discussion board is my favorite feature and it is the one I use the most.

Cons

The user interface looks dated next to newer LMS platforms. The colors, fonts and overall design could use a refresh too.

“Totally changed online learning

Pros

Blackboard Learn which is now part of Anthology, totally changed the game for online and distance learning by bringing so many useful features together in one place. Its design is simple too and the variety of tools and integrations all work to make learning smooth and enjoyable. Also instructors can manage entire courses and users with just a few clicks, monitor activity feeds and create assignments and tests using built-in AI. The addition of these AI tools has definitely put it ahead as we can generate texts, activities and tests right within the platform without having to use external tools like ChatGPT.

Cons

A few important things are missing especially when it comes to system requirements. The platform often crashes or lags which really frustrates me. And I am still not a fan of cloud-based systems because it has a file size limit that blocks large uploads which is odd since educators often need to use bigger files for their classes. Another point is that it really is not a great fit for small businesses as it feels like it is built more for large institutions.

“fairly simple with a learning curve

Pros

The platform is fairly simple though there is a bit of a learning curve. Some of the functions do not seem very logical until we have spent some time with them.

Cons

One thing I noticed is that you have to get through a bit of a learning curve when you start.

“Simple for onboarding new users

Pros

Onboarding new users is simple which I feel like is great for people who are just starting out.

Cons

The folder system can feel a bit frustrating to work with sometimes.

“Handles core tasks well

Pros

In general the platform handles its core tasks very well and has definitely gotten better and more reliable over the years.

Cons

Well the user interface was not the best when I first began using it.

“good for everyone involved

Pros

Blackboard Learn is good for everyone involved, be it students and instructors with clear, dependable information that truly supports the entire learning process.

Cons

It is a very reliable platform with no major issues or faults to report. It consistently does exactly what we need it to do.

“Simple for making announcements

Pros

One thing I like is that making announcements and using the various features is a simple process.

Cons

Deleting content involves too many steps which confuses me at times.

“easy to get to department sites

Pros

Getting to different department sites is easy and hassle free. Plus we can find exactly what we need without any trouble.

Cons

The data storage and collaboration features were pretty limited and I find them difficult to navigate which made teamwork and file management more challenging than it should have been.

“Highly functional and well-designed

Pros

The platform is highly functional and feels like it was carefully designed with both students and instructors in mind.

Cons

Well the interface is not always visually appealing, particularly when typing responses or using the mobile version.

“excellent at organizing online classes but needs more updates

Pros

Blackboard was excellent at organizing online classes though sometimes it was difficult to locate specific content.

Cons

We had some problems but that was because our organization experienced too many university-wide system outages.

“Perfect for routine use

Pros

I find Blackboard Learn really easy to use, whether I'm teaching or studying. It's simple and smooth, making everything run smoothly.

Cons

Sometimes, I need to click four or five times to reach my destination.