Blackboard Learn Software Reviews

“Worth learning as it's used everywhere”

Pros

Amazing how widespread this platform is across academic institutions making it worth investing time to learn since I'll use this almost everywhere. As an instructor, posting grades is uncomplicated and sending emails to individual students or the whole class works smoothly. Uploading course materials for students is also pretty simple.

Cons

What bothers me is when students email through the platform, I can't reply directly from Outlook. If I try responding, the message gets routed back to the system instead of reaching the student. It's a headache having to either log back into the platform to message them or hunt down their university email address just to reply.

“everything at one spot!”

Pros

I can access all my courses from one central spot, whether I'm on my phone or computer which makes everything really convenient.

Cons

The app feels pretty complex and there aren't any push notifications sent to your phone

“Ease of use stands out”

Pros

It's easy to use. The layout keeps things simple which makes finding what I need pretty effortless.

Cons

The system tends to crash when we have a lot of users on at once, though I suspect this might be more of a server issue than a problem with the actual software itself.

“Difficult to log in”

Pros

Everything like grades, assignments, syllabi and discussion boards are all accessible in one place for both students and instructors. The forum feature was particularly valuable since it let students collaborate and help each other outside of class, plus I could assign it as actual coursework when needed.

Cons

Login issues were frustrating since our school required monthly password changes and the platform would sometimes freeze up, though newer versions might have resolved that glitch.

“Mobile app needs improvement”

Pros

I appreciate having everything centralized including tests, assignments, grades and course materials. The announcement feature keeps students informed and I love that they can engage through online discussions, create wikis and share useful links. It really organizes the whole learning process.

Cons

The grading feature can be tricky. Some functions aren't as simple as they could be and the mobile app definitely needs improvement. Building tests and quizzes from scratch takes way too much time.

“convenient but buggy mobile access”

Pros

The mobile access is convenient for checking course materials wherever I am, though there are some persistent technical issues that keep popping up. I've noticed other people mentioning similar problems but they haven't been resolved yet. One annoying thing is getting repeated notifications about new grades even after I've already viewed them.

Cons

The mobile app version isn't as good as the full desktop experience, which can be frustrating when you need to access features on the go.

“Quick communication”

Pros

The communication features are incredibly fast and interactive when connecting with students. I really appreciate how it sparks engaging discussions about course material through blogs, journals, discussion boards and forums.

Cons

Finding content can be tricky for students, even when I give them clear directions. The dashboard doesn't naturally guide them to what's most important. I have to be really specific about where to look or they'll get lost trying to locate assignments and materials.

“Well structured layout”

Pros

Keeps everything well-organized and makes it simple to present information. Online classroom delivery becomes much more simple with this setup.

Cons

Can be hard to access sometimes, though that's mainly because of our VPN setup and internal requirements.

“dashboard is clunky and always changing”

Pros

I like how I can log in from my phone, laptop or tablet whenever I need to. Finding course materials and assignments is not an issue.

Cons

The interface isn't always user-friendly and the dashboard layout shifts depending on how our institution has it configured.

“Missing features in mobile version”

Pros

Everything stays organized in one spot. All my course materials, assignments and grades are well integrated together.

Cons

UI can be pretty confusing at times and the mobile app is missing a lot of features that are available on the web version.

“Keeps students updated”

Pros

Really appreciate how I can set up different groups and keep student information current. The community features work well and tracking assignments along with contact reports makes my workflow much smoother.

Cons

I wish there was better flexibility to customize how everything looks so it could work more for specific programs instead of just general courses.

“Responsive support team”

Pros

It's very convenient and it's great how responsive their support team is when I need help. There's also a ton of useful features packed into this platform that make my daily tasks much easier.

Cons

Training for end users isn't really promoted to management at our facility, which makes it harder to get people properly trained on the system.

“great for managing quizzes and lessons”

Pros

I can easily store all my materials and keep everything organized in folders. It's great for managing class content like syllabi, quizzes and lessons, plus showing grades and staying in touch with everyone.

Cons

The organization could definitely be better and I find the interface complex.

“Smooth set up”

Pros

Setting up my virtual classroom was so easy with this platform. Everything I need as an instructor is right here in one place, which saves me from juggling multiple tools.

Cons

Support could definitely be more helpful when I run into issues. The pricing is pretty high too.

“customizations are very expensive”

Pros

The uptime has been absolutely incredible. I can't remember a single instance where the system was unavailable when we needed it.

Cons

Customer support can be hit or miss and sales reps aren't always dependable when you need them. Plus, any customizations or changes come with a hefty price tag that really adds up.

“Missing important features”

Pros

Its really easy to get around and the testing features work perfectly

Cons

The app just doesn't work well for educators. After moving to a different course management platform, I've realized this one is missing several features that would actually be helpful in my daily teaching routine.

“Runs smoothly once you learn it”

Pros

Once you get the hang of where everything is located, this runs smoothly without unnecessary clutter. As a student, I'll admit it took effort to learn. But after getting familiar with the layout, it handles online coursework really well, actually better than other platforms I've tried, especially compared to Edmodo's offering.

Cons

The interface feels pretty outdated and the forum feature lacks any modern functionality or appealing design. When I first started using it, the layout and link placement weren't simple at all. There's definitely a steep learning curve before you can work efficiently with this program.

“Had to switch because it was too complicated”

Pros

I appreciate how it maintains the same interface across different institutions I've worked with. The built-in messaging feature is really convenient too.

Cons

It's really confusing and I mean even after using it for months. I've seen other learning management systems that are way more user-friendly. When I was a student, I actually missed some assignments because I couldn't figure out how to use it properly. Now as an instructor, it's still pretty overwhelming. My organization ended up switching to a different platform because everyone was struggling with it and the feedback has been much more positive since the change.

“brings all coursework and info together”

Pros

This platform brings together all my coursework, grades and important information in one place.

Cons

The customization options are pretty limited compared to what we actually need for our workflow. While it's built with a modular design, you can't really use custom modules, which is frustrating when you want to adjust things to your specific requirements.

“Uploading takes no time”

Pros

Simple grading process, quick file uploads and customizable tabs make everything smooth.

Cons

Hard to know what students are actually viewing in certain sections.