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
– Join a community
– Tap these resources for information and experience
– Invest in the group’s knowledge
– Share your own experiences
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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
– 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
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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 jday@blackboard.com
AIM: “Jan Poston Day”
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