Latest Posts

From Feedback to Forward Motion: What Comes Next for the Idea Exchange

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Five constructive steps for Blackboard and the community As a recap of our three-part series on the Idea Exchange for Blackboard Ultra, there are 6,711 posted ideas to improve the new interface, totaling 92,000+ votes

I Left My Travel Budget in San Francisco: First Thoughts on Building Blackboard Together 2027

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Blackboard has announced that Building Blackboard Together (BbT, or BbWorld for those of us who have been around long enough to still call it that) will head to San Francisco in 2027. The venue has

Stuck in Limbo: The Idea Exchange’s “Future Consideration” Problem

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When community feedback sits, and sits, and sits In Part 1 of this series, I made a point of giving credit where it is due. The Blackboard Idea Exchange is a genuine community resource. The

Blackboard Finally Sets an End Date for LTI 1.0/1.1

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Every Tuesday I show up to Blackboard LMS Office Hours mostly out of habit at this point, the way you check a weather app you don't fully trust. Most weeks it's routine maintenance notes and

Check Out The Topics…

Roadmaps & Announcements

Blackboard’s roadmaps & announcements can be overwhelming. Someone has to make sense of it so you don’t have to wade through the noise alone. Get my honest take on what’s coming, what matters, and what to actually prepare for.

System Admins

From step-by-step how-tos to “wait, why does it work like THAT?” moments, plus ideas, tips, and everything you need to be the best Blackboard System Admin on the planet.

Integrations

Tired of finding out about integration issues the hard way? I surface the new features, enhancements, and gotchas you need to know, before they become your problem. Because smoother integrations start with better information.

Opinion

Two decades in EdTech gives you a perspective you can’t fake. I’ve seen the trends come and go, the announcements that delivered, and the ones that didn’t. When I weigh in on issues and events, it’s experience talking, not guesswork.

Issues & Experiences

No one can predict every problem that comes your way, but you can walk in better prepared. I’ve troubleshot issues most admins have never even seen, and I’m sharing every lesson learned along the way. There’s a reason people call me the Blackboard Guru, and it didn’t happen overnight.

Archives

American philosopher George Santayana said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” In EdTech, that couldn’t be more true — yesterday’s issues have a way of showing up again tomorrow. This archive exists so the lessons are never more than a search away.