The Blackboard Mobile Central application enables on-demand access to vital campus information, enabling users to navigate interactive campus maps, access course catalogs, event calendars and news and use a directory to call or email instructors and classmates directly from the app. The Blackboard Mobile Learn solution allows students and faculty to access and upload course content, check grades and assignments, create threaded discussion posts, email their classmates and instructors, comment on blogs and more.
“We took an in-depth look at the market and no other vendor inspired the same degree of confidence as the team from Blackboard Mobile,” said Jake Gannon, Head of Applications, Systems and Services at the University of Liverpool. “Blackboard offers great value as it provides the resource and capability to offer mobile functionality across a wide range of mobile devices and platforms. It simply wouldn’t be an option to build a team to do this in-house.”
According to the most recent annual student survey, approximately 67 percent of the University of Liverpool’s students arrived on campus with a smartphone or Web-enabled device. In order to meet growing demand from students for mobile access to their virtual learning environment (VLE), Blackboard Learn™, the University of Liverpool partnered with the Blackboard Mobile team to provide instant access to the VLE without undergoing a costly and time-intensive integration process.
The University will deploy its Blackboard Mobile Central app this summer, which will be specially branded for the institution. In addition to the solution’s pre-built features, the institution will also make use of Blackboard Mobile’s Software Development Kit (SDK) to develop its own bespoke modules for the app.
“In our everyday lives we’re all becoming familiar with performing a wide array of tasks directly from our mobiles,” continues Gannon. “Blackboard has given us the ability to respond positively and proactively to our students’ needs, which benefits the diversification of our brand and enhances the quality of our reputation.”
“We’re excited to be working with the University of Liverpool in this initiative, and they’re really leveraging the mobile opportunity with a vision for how to deliver course information and campus services,” said Kayvon Beypour, VP, Blackboard Mobile. “We’re looking forward to seeing how they use our SDK to extend the functionality of Blackboard Mobile Central to address specific needs and requirements.”
Blackboard Mobile Central is available in native applications for Android, BlackBerry, webOS and iOS for the iPhone and iPod touch, and available in a mobile Web version to support a broader range of browser-enabled devices. Blackboard Mobile Learn is available in native applications for Android, BlackBerry, webOS and iOS for the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. After being enabled by an institution, the applications are free and can be downloaded from smartphone app stores.