Introducing..... Blackboard's Michael Chasen

For those who have heard "MLC" (Bb's CEO) speak before, well, you probably didn't miss much as you'll have heard something fairly similar... Still, he is the main man at Bb and it is his party, so he can spout stuff out if he wants to. Actually - it really wasn't so bad. His presentation was broken up with some of the videos on the Bb site - you know, the ones that have ripped off the Apple/PC adverts, showing Bb Classic and Bb NG. Chasen also introduced his new bff, Ray Henderson, former CEO of Angel and now another big boss at Bb. His shorter presentation, which I felt was more engaging and "human", was a nice piece on how the users can help Bb to make the world a better place. Gah - I can't help the cliches - I'm in America, goddammit.

My notes are below:

· Blackboard is really trying to work on its communication channels – usingTwitter, Fb, blogs, Email, Press Release, etc to keep in touch with clients.

· 1600 clients represented at BbWorld09, coming from 17 countries and 45 states

· Next phase of Project NG: the influence of tribes –> the BIE (Bb Ideas Exchange), Bb clients

· Long term strategy – universal access to education is a key priority at Bb; sharing of content - entire courses as well as files; single code-base of the system; ability to measure educational results – investigating pay-off of learning tech investment; from the students – better use of mobile and social tech e.g. iPhones compatability.

· Next steps of NG – a good first step was made but more improvements with customisation and interactive content is being developed; K-12 T&L focus - teacher efficiency and flexibility

· Demo addressed these things. The login page is more customiseable. New tools:

o Course materials selection expanded

o Searches made in other APIs within Bb framework e.g. searching You Tube

o NBC partnership to search for and embed their videos (US only??? Unclear)

o Echo360 tool - only available in US

o Google Docs integration

o Building block for Kindle to forward content to Kindle device

o Wimba – IM tool populated by participants on a course

o Wiki – developed with courses, linked to gradebook

o Parent dashboard developed for K-12; lesson plans; aligment to US State standards

o Reading list gadget to add textbooks that students should purchase with ISBNs – can be used to calculate costs of courses

o Acxiom Identity-X Form – identity-checker to validate that a student is who they say they are. US only??

Ray Henderson's 50 days at Bb

· Background – student, teacher, publisher, educational technologist

· Priorities – client support, openness, transparency and innovation

· Opening up the database in NG.

· Taking the first step to NG – most open, scalable, strongest platform. Moving to NG will help Bb make things better