Transitioning from Mobile Learn to Blackboard and Blackboard Instructor Apps

Discussion created by eh0054212 on Aug 1, 2017
Latest reply on Jun 13, 2019 by emily.bennett2

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The following message was posted today on Behind the Blackboard. Please feel free to add any comments or questions here.

Transitioning from Mobile Learn to the Blackboard and Blackboard Instructor apps

Effective today (August 1, 2017), Mobile Learn will no longer be available in app stores globally. After August 31, 2017, Blackboard will no longer support Mobile Learn. Clients should now encourage the use of the Blackboard app for students and the Blackboard Instructor app for educators (released on July 20th, 2017). These two applications offer an enhanced, user-centric mobile experience that puts critical teaching and learning tools right in users’ hands. All users can expect increased efficiency with our simplified workflows built to complete on the go. The Blackboard app is currently available on the Apple App, Google Play and Windows Stores and Blackboard Instructor is currently available on the Apple App and Google Play Stores. This initial launch of Blackboard Instructor focuses on key communication tools, as we know that student engagement is critical to success. Grading capabilities are currently being validated by users and will follow in the coming months. In the meantime, the Bb Grader app will continue to be available to give instructors access to mobile grading functionality.

Important Dates:

Now: The Blackboard app and Blackboard Instructor apps are available globally
August 1, 2017: Mobile Learn is scheduled for removal from app stores
August 31, 2017: Support for Mobile Learn is scheduled to end

Impact to Current Mobile Learn Users:

Current Mobile Learn users will continue to have access to Mobile Learn after it has been removed from app stores and after support ends. However, Blackboard cannot guarantee continued usability of the application. Apple has indicated that 32-bit apps, of which Mobile Learn is, will not be supported on future versions of iOS.

Technical Requirements to Enable Access to Blackboard & Blackboard Instructor

Mobile Web Services Building Block 94.9.5+
Blackboard Learn 9.1, October 2014, Blackboard Learn 9.1, Q4 2015, Blackboard Learn 9.1, Q2 2016, Blackboard Learn 9.1, Q4 2016, Blackboard Learn 9.1, Q2 2017 CU2 or Blackboard Learn SaaS (3200.4.0+)
(Note: Mobile Web Services Building Block 94.9.6 is required for versions prior to Q4 2015)
Mobile license or a solution bundle with mobile. Contact your Blackboard account executive to find out if you have this
Any device running on iOS 9+ or Android 4.2+

Resources:

Outcomes

6 Replies

jh0054576 Aug 8, 2017 3:57 AM
Hi Emily,

Thank you for the comprehensive information pertaining to the Instructor App.

I just wanted to raise a concern, the new instructor app lacks support for custom roles, which to me doesn't make a lot of sense given Blackboard Learn supports these roles, you'd think the logical continuum would be that any official apps that leverage the learn platform would then have inbuilt support for these roles.

Is there any chance that this is going to be addressed (we use a number of custom roles, for SIS integration purposes). I've posted this on the ideas exchange forum as I was advised by BTB that it would lend weight to the likelihood of it being 'enhanced', although I think given the materials on the web said that custom roles were supported that it's actually a bug and needs to be fixed.

Thanks
James
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- eh0054212 @ jh0054576 on Aug 8, 2017 9:26 AM
  Hi James - thanks for reaching out. The custom roles in Blackboard Instructor should work the same way that they do in Learn. I did look into this and was made aware of an issue where some custom roles used for educators are causing issues. We're working to resolve this. Thanks for your patience.
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  - jh0054576 @ eh0054212 on Aug 11, 2017 4:45 AM
    Thanks, Emily, appreciate the reply.
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- emily.bennett2 @ jh0054576 on Jun 13, 2019 5:16 AM
  Apps are being updated everyday alongside with bug fixes right inside the apps themselves other than that I believe it is up to us to update and pay attention to upgrading the contents inside of our choice considering the rest is being done for now and as we learn it is our choice on organization and the choice pertaining to the contents we want inside .
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brianirwin Nov 1, 2017 12:14 PM
Hi Emily,

Will the Grader app continue to work after an institution has transitioned from Crocodoc to the new Box View?

Thanks,
Brian
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- brianirwin @ brianirwin on Nov 22, 2017 8:17 AM
  From my testing, it appears the app does not work after moving to Box view.
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