As an avid online class taker I just couldn't wait another second to get my hands on the free Blackboard Mobile Learn App. Honestly, I wasn't expecting much. Blackboard for the most part seems to be a very hard to use tool and often causes a lot of issues for students and professors. Additionally, I can use almost every tool in blackboard without the app in both my iPhone and iPad just using my internet browser. However, I was hoping some of the issues I had with Blackboard, like how complicated/time consuming it can be to login, would be addressed.
So, this is what my expectations/hopes for the app were:
1: Integrate the features that were unavailable when using a mobile internet browser.
2: Easier logins/ option to stay logged in
3: Ability to submit assignments/post pictures from other apps/sites.
4: Nice looking design with intuitive formatting.
5: Alerts/notifications/badges when new content arrives in a class or something is due.
The first thing I did was check to see which devices I could download this app to. So far you will currently be able to use this on the Android, Blackberry, and iOS mobile platforms. I was surprised to find out that there was not a companion app in the Mac App Store to pull up on my computer. I am sure this is because if you are at a desktop you would have access to the full features of Blackboard online. I don't think that is entirely the right mindset to have because the app does function, in my opinion, better than the site. The desktop app would allow users to have a dock item specifically for their online classes that goes directly into an already logged in Online class course map.
Next, I checked for the features of the app that I was looking for. The layout in the iPad is fine, they made use of the visual real estate and added many more features here than in the mobile phone versions of the app. I was hoping for something a little more sexy; The chalkboard/ corkboard look is a little lame and overused in every school productivity app out there. Because it is "Blackboard" I was willing to overlook the "blackboard" design.
I am pleased to report that the app does maintain a "keep me logged in" feature which was a huge bonus because the process at my school (and most others) is very long and tedious.
I was very curious to see how the assessment features would work in this app, as it typically opens several additional windows when taking a test either in a desktop or mobile browser. When I clicked to take a test it offered to take me to a browser window, which I clicked (as I rolled my eyes) and was pleasantly surprised to find that the app had not closed and opened Safari but rather opened a browser window right on top of the app screen! This feature engages when opening documents or website links as well; You will be taken to a browser window while staying inside the app. Also, app can maintain several open windows and has a multi touch feature which allows you to view and relocate several windows at a time in a very cool way (you can view all this in the video demo at the end of the post.) I did find that I was able to submit assignments and even post pictures from other areas of my iPad which I could not do using the mobile internet browser.
The first snag I really ran into was that there are no notification options for the app. It seems like a very simple and necessary tool and most online students would agree that they would not mind there mobile device reminding them about an assignment or telling them when their teacher posts new information. However, because the app keeps you logged in and the main screen shows the most updated information for your classes, checking on these sorts of things is literally just one tap away, and I am good with that!
I was very impressed to find that all the features I was looking for were there in the app and even some I wasn't expecting.
Now to the negative:
1: Not all schools using Blackboard for their online classes were available (one of mine was not!) There was an option to give an email and be notified if it becomes available. They seem to insinuate on their website and in the app store that this is on the schools' end and not theirs, perhaps permissions need to be given or it is an additional feature the schools need to purchase?
2:If your school is participating and you login, ALL ONLINE classes you have taken appear in the dashboard, not just the ones that you are currently enrolled in. I was very concerned about this until I watched the demo video and saw the "favorites" option which allows you to mark the classes you are currently using, whew!
I am overall extremely pleased with the App and will continue using it. I foresee some good updates in our future as well, based on the professionalism I found both in the final product as well as on the accompanying website.
There are a myriad of features not discussed in this review that can be seen in the demo video I found which you can watch here.
I am interested to know if your school is available, if you are using this app, and what you think of it, in the comments below!
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