Blackboard Instructor Mobile App Now Available Connect with students on the go A new Bb Instructor mobile app was released for iOS and Android devices last month, just before the annual Blackboard World conference.

Designed to simplify the teaching experience, the Bb Instructor mobile app is the first phase of several planned development for mobile support. Currently, the app allows faculty to:
  • Create, review, and post announcements
  • View, create, edit, and monitor discussion board threads and replies
  • Preview courses to make sure course materials are mobile-friendly
  • Connect with students using Bb Collaborate Ultra including real-time audio and video support, whiteboard and chat, and recording

Why are there two separate apps?
Blackboard developed two separate apps to support different roles. The student app focuses on content consumption, content creation (e.g., assignments) and updates via the activity stream while the instructor app will be about content creation, engagement, and assessment. If you are teaching a course or supporting a course as a TA or course builder, then Bb Instructor is the right app to use.

What happened to Bb Mobile Learn?
This app was discontinued by Blackboard earlier in 2017 as it would no longer function in the 64-bit environment of some mobile operating systems.

Why don't I see my exact course layout?
The mobile app is not designed to mimic your exact course. Rather, the focus is on specific and essential items such as due dates, announcements, course content, and discussions. There is no control panel or course menu. If you require access to the desktop version of your course, please use a browser.

Why does my content look strange in the mobile app?
It's possible your content is not mobile-friendly. Review Blackboard's best practices for mobile-friendly courses (pdf) and supported file types / course tools.

Why isn't Blackboard more mobile friendly without an app?
Bb does offer a responsive theme, which UMBC will deploy in WT2018. This theme allows faculty and students to access Blackboard on mobile devices such as phones and tablets without using a specific app. The theme is also more accessible for screen readers and increased visual contrast.

Why should I use the app if the mobile theme is coming?
If you'd like to use Bb Collaborate on your mobile device, then Blackboard's mobile app is required. Faculty should use Blackboard (Bb) Instructor to moderate a session while students should use Blackboard App for Students (formerly Bb Student) to participate.

Why can't I view my grade center?
At this time, the Bb Instructor mobile app does not natively support the grade center. However, grading support will be developed in two phases. The first phase will allow faculty to add a point value for grades while the second phase will support rubrics. Additionally, once the mobile-friendly theme is deployed, faculty should be able to view the grade center on tablets.

Where can I get Bb Instructor?
Go to the app store for your device and search for Bb Instructor. Alternatively, use these links:
The app is not available yet for Windows Mobile devices.

How do I use Bb Instructor?
Please review our FAQ collection or check out Blackboard's documentation.

As always, if you have any questions, please consider the following options:


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With the upcoming retirement of the Bb Learn mobile app in August 2017, we encourage UMBC students who wish to access their Blackboard courses via mobile device to download and use the Blackboard App (formerly Bb Student) mobile app. 

The Blackboard App was specifically designed to provide a more user-friendly and modern experience for students. The app offers a "smart" activity stream of prioritized events, content, and actions from courses as well as push notifications to ensure students are updated when tests are coming, assignments are overdue, and grades are posted.

 
Other features include the ability to
  • check grades on individual assignments or an entire course
  • join a Bb Collaborate session for virtual office hours, tutoring, or web meetings without a separate browser or mobile app
  • participate in discussions, create new discussion threads, browse and read posts from others, and craft a response --  from anywhere via mobile device.
  • review course content and materials
  • connect Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive to easily submit cloud content for class assignments
UMBC students can download the Blackboard App from the Apple, Google, and Microsoft app stores for free. Please note: Due to licensing restrictions, access is limited to UMBC's Blackboard site only. Additionally, summer courses will not be available on the mobile app until after spring grades are submitted (around May 25).

Faculty will not be left without a mobile option. The Bb Instructor mobile app will be released in July 2017 for faculty. It will be optimized for phones and tablets, allowing faculty to:
  • preview course content, tests, and assignments;
  • participate in discussions and post announcements;
  • join Bb Collab sessions with the ability to view/draw on the virtual whiteboard, chat with students, share audio and video, and record sessions.
Grading functionality should be available in the Bb Instructor mobile app in late 2017. 

As always, if you have any questions, please consider the following options:
UPDATE: July 1, 2017
Based on global client feedback, Blackboard will change the name of its student app from Bb Student to simply “Blackboard” to better reflect how users refer to the mobile applications and what they are searching for in app stores.
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