Blackboard Building Blocks®
an Open Framework for Innovation
Jan Poston Day
Director, Standards & Interoperability
Inoperability
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Forward Looking Statements
 Any statements in this presentation about future expectations, plans and prospects for
the Company, including statements about the Company, the Building Blocks Program
and other statements containing the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,”
“will,” and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning
of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ
materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of
various important factors, including: product development, and other factors discussed
in our Registration Statement filed on Form S-1 with the SEC. In addition, the forwardlooking statements included in this press release represent the Company’s views as of
July 27, 2005. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will
cause the Company’s views to change. However, while the Company may elect to
update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company
specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should
not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any date subsequent to
July 27, 2004.
 Statements in this presentation may reflect Blackboards current plans regarding
development, standards, interoperability or other matters. Blackboard reserves the
right, with no prior notice, to modify or terminate these plans at any time. Statements in
this presentation may reflect Blackboards current plans regarding development,
standards, interoperability or other matters. Blackboard reserves the right, with no prior
notice, to modify or terminate these plans at any time.
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Roadmap
 What is the Networked Learning Environment™
 How does it relate to Building Blocks ™
 Learn more about Building Blocks
– the technology
– the program
– the community
 Extend Your Networked Learning Environment
 Questions and Answers
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The Networked Learning Environment
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How to create a Networked Learning Environment
 Innovate: think outside the online course
 Integrate: resources and remove boundaries
– Any time access
– Any place education
– Any resource within your reach
 Extend: your knowledge and resource network
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–
–
–
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Join a community
Tap these resources for information and experience
Invest in the group’s knowledge
Share your own experiences
Join a Community:
http://communities.blackboard.com
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Building Blocks: Innovate. Integrate. Extend.
 Blackboard Building Blocks® is Blackboard’s open
architecture
– Designed to give developers access to Blackboard’s core in a
documented and supportable way
– Leverages of a robust baseline application, standards-based
framework of functionality and programming interfaces
– Enables the use of Open Source components to drive
application development and customizations
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Building Blocks: Innovate. Integrate. Extend.
 Building Blocks allow for integration between
Blackboard and other tools, systems and services
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–
–
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Enhance the online education experience
Aid system administration and automate repetitive tasks
Evaluate academic performance
Customize Blackboard® software to meet discipline-specific or
pedagogical needs
– Integrate seamlessly with other systems
• Authentication (e.g., LDAP, Kerberos, Active Directory)
• Library Systems (e.g., e-reserves, DRM, subscription databases)
• Tracking and Survey systems
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What is an API?
Publicly Documented
Interface
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What are some examples?
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Let’s take a look at some Building Blocks
1. Make sacrifice to demo gods
2. Demo of MERLOT Search Building Block
3. Demo of Discussion Grader Building Block
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Blackboard Building Blocks Catalog
 150+ Building
Blocks
 52 Free or Open
Source
 See the “Extend
Blackboard” tab
on
Blackboard.com
 PDF version of
the catalog also
available
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Tips and Tricks to get your System Admin to install the
Building Blocks that you want
 Don’t forget these Building Blocks are Free!
 See Knowledge Base article 181-1712
– Title: Encouraging your institution to use Building Blocks
 Don’t forget to mention that these Building Blocks are
FREE!
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Support For Building Blocks
 Blackboard Client Support
– Will help with installation and configuration
– Will help with troubleshooting any problem
– Will work with the Building Block vendor to resolve the issues
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Installing a Building Block
 Done by the System Administrator
 4 (or maybe 5) easy steps
1. Login as System Admin
2. Navigate to Admin Tab > Manage System Extensions
3. Click Download to find the Building Blocks on the Building
Blocks Catalog
4. Click Install to upload it to Blackboard
5. Adjust configuration settings if needed
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Top 10 Building Blocks by Downloads
Who’s Online Portal Module – Seneca College
Discussion Grader – Joliet Junior College
Add Users By Role – University of Durham
Blackboard Content Player
Document Un-packager – Joliet Junior College
Advanced Group Management – Florida State Univ.
Online Attendance – Baylor University
Blackboard Link Checker
User Participation Portal Module – Univ of South Fl
My Journal – Baylor University
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Building Blocks: Innovate. Integrate. Extend.
 Demo Server
http://b2showcase.blackboard.com
instructor / instructor
student / student
 Jan Poston Day
[email protected]
AIM: “Jan Poston Day”
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