Enterprise technology and innovative solutions provider Blackboard Inc., US, has announced that Buckinghamshire New University is expanding its use of Blackboard as a strategic partner in online learning. The move is part of the University's plan to create a comprehensive online platform for its students.
The selection of Blackboard as a strategic partner followed an evaluation of commercial and open source learning management systems (LMS). The University determined that an extended partnership with Blackboard for the next five years would best enable it to meet the needs of its changing student demographics. By developing a single online environment for students to access services and learning resources, the University will grow participation among students, many of whom have full and part-time jobs and need a convenient way to access course materials.
Buckinghamshire New University is moving its LMS to the latest version of Blackboard Learn, and expanding its partnership with Blackboard to include web conferencing with Blackboard Collaborate and mobile learning with Blackboard Mobile Learn.
By leveraging Blackboard's technology and services, the University will establish a more dynamic interactive social learning experience. University officials anticipate cost savings with the adoption of web conferencing, which it plans to use in an administrative capacity for everything from admissions to human resources and IT support, as well as for academics with virtual office hours, and recording lectures and seminars.
In order to free up physical resources and increase speed, uptime and reliability of its LMS, the University will move to Blackboard's Managed Hosting service. Shifting the burden of hosting an LMS to Blackboard will allow University staff to focus on embedding excellent pedagogy within its courses.
