Blackboard and Pearson Team up to Simplify the Teacher Experience

WASHINGTON, May 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Blackboard Inc. today announced the availability of an improved integration between Blackboard's teaching and learning solutions and Pearson's PowerSchool student information system (SIS) that will take the burden of data management off the thousands of teachers that leverage both systems.

Designed to simplify the grading and data input experience, the improved integration eliminates the need for teachers to double enter assignments and grades into the two systems. The elimination of this extra step allows teachers to place more time and emphasis on teaching and less on data management. Today's announcement marks the latest step in Blackboard's revamped strategy focused on creating the best possible experience for end users.

"Anything that makes our jobs as digital teachers and administrators easier is of the utmost value," said Sam Brooks, personal learning coordinator for Putnam County Schools. "Minimizing the time teachers spend on integration, assignment input, grades, and setup, will allow them to focus on what's most important: teaching and learning. We want to maximize their resources and time so they can focus on making students successful. This integration will go a long way in helping us do just that."

"In the K-12 space, student data is essential in determining how to advance teachers and learners and better position them for success," said Mark Strassman, senior vice president of product management for Blackboard. "But teachers shouldn't be IT administrators. Our continued partnership with Pearson and deep integration with PowerSchool across our solutions will help teachers focus on what they need to be focusing on – teaching and creating successful students."

PowerSchool, the most widely used web-based SIS, supports more than 13 million students globally. PowerSchool enables today's educators to make timely decisions that impact student performance while creating a collaborative environment for parents, teachers and students to work together in preparing 21^st century learners for the future.

"This an easy-to-use interface that brings together two great products," said Oliver Wreford, vice president of product and marketing, school systems, for PowerSchool. "This integration is a definite win-win for PowerSchool and Blackboard users."

For more information about Blackboard, please visit www.blackboard.com or follow @Blackboard on Twitter.

About Blackboard Inc.
Blackboard is the world's leading education technology company. We challenge conventional thinking and advance new models of learning in order to reimagine education and make it more accessible, engaging and relevant to the modern day learner and the institutions that serve them. In partnership with our customers and partners in higher education and K-12 as well as corporations and government agencies around the world, our mission is to help every learner achieve their full potential by inspiring a passion for lifelong learning. For more information about Blackboard, follow us on Twitter @Blackboard.

About Pearson
Pearson is the world's leading learning company, with 40,000 employees in more than 80 countries working to help people of all ages to make measurable progress in their lives through learning. For more information about Pearson, visit http://www.pearson.com.

Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for Blackboard represent the Company's views as of the date of this press release. Actual results may differ materially as a result of various important factors. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause the Company's views to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so.

CONTACT
Lauren Dyke, Blackboard Inc.
(202) 463-4860 ext. 2860 or [email protected]

SOURCE Blackboard Inc.

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