… Blackboard and Ruhr University Bochum in the category Education Management for their project titled ‘RUB mobile  – mobil, vernetzt und “always on” mit der App der Ruhr-Universität Bochum’ (RUB mobile – mobile, connected and always-on with the app of Ruhr University Bochum).

The eLearning Awards were initiated for the first time in 2011 by the eLearning Journal, the largest German-speaking print medium on the topic of learning using digital media. The eLearning Awards acknowledge the best project consortia and the most innovative projects in 26 categories, ranging from Adventure Based Learning and Workplace Learning to Blended Learning and Learning Management Systems. This year’s awards ceremony will take place at “didacta – die Bildungsmesse” – the largest trade fair for teachers from across all education sectors in Europe, which will take place in Cologne, Germany in February of 2013.

The winning projects in 2013 are characterized by cutting edge innovation, sustainability and their viability in meeting future educational challenges. It was therefore important that the project demonstrated how it could meet the latest trends in various educational sectors as well as technology trends. In addition, the successful cooperation of the project partners played a key role in assessing the best eLearning projects 2012.

The total number of downloads of the RUB app, the user feedback, the rapid implementation of upgrades desired by end users and the success of the chosen implementation and marketing strategies underpin the successful progress of the project and allow a positive result. Overall, it showed that an exceptional product, which represents significant added value especially for the target groups but also for both project partners, can be created when a reputable company and a renowned university are dedicated to working together and purposefully follow a common goal.

Click here to download the English version of the report and click here to download the German version of the report.

On 22 June 2012, the Society for Pedagogy and Information (GPI) – a scientific society for multimedia, educational technology and media didactics – awarded the Comenius EduMedia Awards to outstanding products in the field of ICT-supported educational media. Blackboard Mobile Learn was awarded the Comenius EduMedia Seal of Approval and the Comenius EduMedia Medal in the category ‘Educational Management Systems (LMS)’.

The Blackboard Mobile™ Learn application gives students and faculty access to their courses, content, and organizations on a variety of mobile devices including Android™, BlackBerry® and iPhone OS. Students and instructors can access documents in multiple formats, read announcements, create discussion threads, upload media, create content items within the course map, comment on blogs and more—all on the mobile devices they love. This German trailer demonstrates what Blackboard Mobile Learn looks like on the iPad.

The German eLearning Journal put the Blackboard Learn platform to the test for their May edition. The magazine regularly tests various eLearning products in a number of categories, ranging from online solutions and video training to language training, online collaboration and learning management systems. Blackboard Learn 9.1 SP8 was thoroughly reviewed by a team of experts on 26 categories.  The experts awarded the platform great scores and the end verdict “Very Good”. In the report, the eLearning Journal states that: “One must attest that Blackboard Learn quite simply has, in all respects, what a modern LMS must have. The technical features such as scalability and adaptability achieved the same outstanding ratings as the administration did.” On flexibility and openness, the reviewers mention that “Blackboard doesn’t rely solely on its own standards; rather, it is so flexible, that, like a Lego brick, it can be integrated into a number of other systems and existing solutions.” Interested to learn more about this review? Click here to download the English version of the report and click here to download the German version of the report.

With the start of the spring semester on 1 March 2012, the University of Salzburg is going mobile! The University of Salzburg was already using Blackboard Learn™ for more than ten years and now selected Blackboard Mobile Learn to give students and faculty access to their courses, content, and organizations on a variety of mobile devices including Android™, BlackBerry®, iPhone®, iPod touch®, and iPad™. The Vice Rector of Educational Affairs, Univ. Prof. Mag. Dr. Erich Müller, explains: Als innovative und zukunftsorientierte Universität ist es uns ein besonderes Anliegen, am Puls der Zeit zu sein. „Blackboard Mobile Learn“ trägt dazu bei. Nach zehn Jahren erfolgreichen Lernplattformeinsatzes werden ca. 80% aller Lehrveranstaltungen der Universität Salzburg von Blackboard unterstützt. Mit dem Start von „Blackboard Mobile Learn“ haben Studierende und Lehrende nun die Möglichkeit auch via Smartphone oder Tablet überall und jederzeit auf die Lernplattform zuzugreifen. Ich erhoffe mir dadurch eine weitere Steigerung der Flexibilität im Studienalltag. As an innovative and future-oriented university, it is especially important for us to keep our fingers on the pulse of time. “Blackboard Mobile Learn” contributes to this objective. After ten years of successfully using learning platforms at the University of Salzburg, almost 80% of all courses offered by the University of Salzburg are now supported through the Blackboard Learn platform. With the launch of “Blackboard Mobile Learn” both students and teachers can now access the learning platform anywhere and anytime via smartphone or tablet. I thereby expect a further increase in the flexibility of everyday life of both staff and students. The University of Salzburg created a special website for the launch of Mobile Learn, informing students and staff about the possibilities Mobile Learn offers as well as instructions on how to download and install the app on their mobile devices (www.uni-salzburg.at/zfl/mobile ). Students and staff will further be made aware of the newly launched Mobile Learn through a widespread billposting campaign on University of Salzburg campus and an official email sent by the Vice Rector of Educational Affairs, Univ. Prof. Mag. Dr. Erich Müller. In addition, faculty staff will receive an information folder and an announcement will be made on the homepage of the University of Salzburg. Last but not least, the higher education insert of the Salzburger Nachrichten, the most important and biggest newspaper in the Austrian federal state of Salzburg, has highlighted the launch of Blackboard Mobile Learn at the University of Salzburg. So far the launch has been a great success. Within the first 48hrs, the app was installed approximately 500 times. On 2 March 2012, just one day after the launch, the number of unique visitors was 663. Richard Posch from the Central Service for Flexible Learning and New Media commented: “What a great start, we are all very excited!”