Products & Services

Over a year ago, Blackboard acquired UK-based organization txttools and has been hard at work bringing our organizations closer to develop a version of the popular two-way messaging service for North America. We are happy to announce that as a reflection of the progress we have made so far, txttools has officially become Blackboard ConnectTxt. As we continue to integrate, existing clients of both platforms stand to benefit from our combined efforts to improve and invest in enhanced messaging technologies.

For many regions across the country, April signals the start of the traditional tornado season. Just this past weekend, a tornado swept through Wichita, Kan., causing significant damage but luckily little injury. Because tornado systems often form quickly and without warning, they can serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of emergency preparedness and having a solid communications plan in place for your community. Preparation and response plans are vital during urgent situations. But as more people have access to mobile devices, a communication plan for sharing updates and information has become increasingly complex. Many communities rely on Blackboard Connect to help get the word out during severe weather events, we have compiled a quick list of 5 helpful tips for communicating successfully before, during and after the storm.

For students and parents, spring break often provides a momentary pause in the school and class schedule. For administrators and staff of K-12 schools and districts, spring break offers an opportunity to reflect on the first half of the grading period and begin preparations for the end of the year. To take advantage of the week-long hiatus, however, some schools and districts are using Blackboard Connect to send out messages to parents and students to help ensure classes resume quickly and easily.

With nearly 4 in 5 active Internet users visiting social networks and blogs, social media is of growing interest and opportunity for local governments as they work to utilize new platforms for promoting transparency, enhancing engagement and fostering collaboration. As technology continues to evolve and change the way we interact, government organizations cannot rely on only one channel to communicate with citizens.  It is increasingly necessary for local leaders and officials to evaluate communication strategies and utilize tools to help ensure time-sensitive information is quickly disseminated and easily available. Not only are social media users increasing daily, but more and more citizens are turning to their social networks to obtain and share information about their surrounding community, as recent reports have published some interesting statistics:

How do you define success? Companies can measure success by revenue or market share, by developing leading-edge products or by reputation, accolades or awards. At Blackboard Connect, we think all of those things are important – but there’s another metric we think matters equally: delivering a high level of client satisfaction. That’s why we commission an annual survey of client satisfaction . Conducted by the respected education survey firm Gomez Research, the results have shown a consistently high level of satisfaction:  ninety-five percent or more in each of the past three years. We are humbled and encouraged by the feedback we receive from our clients. Their perspective often helps us determine the direction of our product roadmap. In fact, many of the enhancements in Blackboard Connect™ 5 came as a result of the client survey, client focus groups, and even one-on-one conversations with clients. Users asked for an easier interface, so we streamlined the message workflow. Clients were looking for an online message hub, so we created the Connect Access Portal where recipients can review messages, update contact information and subscribe to the content that is relevant to them. With more emphasis on data-driven decision-making, we expanded Blackboard Connect’s survey feature and added real-time message reports and SMS delivery to the mobile handset. Incorporating your input seems to be paying off – Blackboard Connect 5 is serving over 3 million recipients and receiving industry awards in the six months since its release. And we’ll continue to deliver on client feedback as we will be unveiling additional features to Blackboard Connect throughout the year. If you are interested in learning more about Blackboard Connect 5, visit the website or sign up for a demonstrational webinar.