Enterprise technology and innovative solutions provider Blackboard Inc., US, has announced a free, flexible option for running massive open online courses (MOOCs): a hosted instance of Blackboard Learn, the company's flagship learning management system (LMS). With more institutions looking to offer large, open courses, the offer will give institutions a fully functional, flexible platform option complete with social learning capabilities and a wide range of course management and student engagement features.
The platform will be available soon to all Blackboard clients at no extra cost in a non-exclusive, non-binding manner. The option lets schools retain full control over the form and direction of their MOOC courses. In addition, institutions maintain all current and future revenue associated with MOOCs that are offered for-pay or for-credit.
Several course management features of Blackboard Learn currently support large courses and will scale for MOOCs. These include rule-based learner identifications to find and take various actions on students at scale, last name searches to quickly filter through hundreds of students and automatic group creation to help large courses 'feel smaller' to students.
Mobile applications for Blackboard Learn enable students and instructors to access all MOOC course content from iPhone, iPad, or Android devices.
