Blackboard Releases New and Improved Version of CourseSites, A Free Online Learning Platform

WASHINGTON, July 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Blackboard today announced the release of an enhanced, cloud-based version of CourseSites, the company's free course delivery option for individual instructors. The new and improved platform will provide both learners and educators with a more modern, intuitive and engaging user interface through Blackboard's Ultra experience. In addition, users will be able to access newer features faster with the platform delivered in the cloud. The announcement was made at BbWorld 2018, Blackboard's annual conference focused on helping institutions meet the needs of learners.

Blackboard's CourseSites is designed to support instructors who may not have access to a learning management system at their institution or school, or who may have access to an older platform system from Blackboard or a different course management provider. There is no license fee, no hosting fee and no additional setup required for instructors to get started.

Blackboard's Ultra experience, which is deployed via software as a service (SaaS), brings important benefits to CourseSites users, such as a more intuitive and responsive user interface. It also includes streamlined workflows, a personalized user experience that brings aggregated and actionable information to a user's view, and a mobile-first design. CourseSites users will also have access to Blackboard's Collaborate virtual classroom tool, Blackboard's Ally content accessibility tool, and Blackboard's mobile apps for students and instructors.

The move of CourseSites to Blackboard Learn with the Ultra experience reflects Blackboard's confidence in the maturity of its updated and fully responsive user experience. Through a regular cadence of monthly releases and increased velocity of feature development, Blackboard has consistently added functionality to Ultra that ensures the experience is robust enough to meet the needs of institutions worldwide.

"With the recent release of core features and functionality, and the momentum we're seeing in interest and adoption, the time was right to move our free offering to Blackboard Learn with the Ultra experience," said Jim Chalex, Blackboard's Vice President of Teaching & Learning. "With these enhancements to CourseSites, we're thrilled to allow even more instructors to take advantage of the latest and greatest technology from Blackboard."

For more information, visit http://new.coursesites.com.

About Blackboard Inc.
Our mission is to partner with the global education community to enable learner and institutional success, leveraging innovative technologies and services. With an unmatched understanding of the world of the learner, the most comprehensive student-success solutions, and the greatest capacity for innovation, Blackboard is education's partner in change.

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SOURCE Blackboard