Blackboard and Pearson Launch Integration for MyLab / Mastering and Blackboard Learn

WASHINGTON, July 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Blackboard Inc. and Pearson today announced a new integration for using Pearson's leading learning solution – MyLab / Mastering – within Blackboard's flagship learning management system (LMS).

The systems integration includes single sign-on, gradebook, improved workflows and state of the art Web services that enable instructors to find and access MyLab / Mastering – including personalized study paths, customizable content, responsive learning tools and real-time evaluation and diagnostics – directly in Blackboard Learn™.

The solution gives faculty quick access to Pearson's tools, assignments and learning analytics, including the ability to transfer grade information to the Blackboard Learn gradebook and create direct links from MyLab / Mastering programs. Instructors are able to customize their courses by choosing their content and rearranging the items in the content area and course navigation bar.

"With over 850 MyLab / Mastering solutions included in this integration, this is a real value-add for Blackboard Learn customers and an important part of our overall digital content strategy," said Matthew Small, chief business officer at Blackboard. "We're excited to offer users a combined solution that helps educators find and use high-quality learning tools from Pearson directly within the LMS."

"Now that our customers can access MyLab / Mastering directly within Blackboard Learn 9.1, together we've created a more convenient way for instructors and students to benefit from the powerful teaching and learning support these programs offer," said Jerome Grant, Chief Learning Officer at Pearson Higher Education North America.

This latest collaboration provides a new level of convenience for users and is part of the companies' ongoing efforts to make it easier for teachers and students to find, use and share digital content and tools. Both companies are working closely to ensure that instructors and students who access Pearson's learning solutions within Blackboard Learn are well supported through Web services.

Nearly 2,000 institutions have adopted Blackboard Learn, Release 9.1, Blackboard's flagship learning management platform, to take advantage of its improved stability, greater workflow efficiencies for instructors and administrators and social learning tools. Through open APIs and standards-based interoperability, the Blackboard Learn platform supports a wide range of integrations for content and tools.  

Pearson's MyLab / Mastering has changed the way millions of students learn and has supported many successful faculty and programs in the redesign of college courses to effectively use technology to improve achievement and manage costs.  Students receive a personalized learning experience, with online tutorials, homework, quizzes and tests that are automatically graded for instant feedback—freeing instructors to spend less time grading and more time working with their students.  Demand for the MyLab and Mastering programs continues to soar, with nearly 10 million student registrations in 2011.

For more information about Blackboard Learn, please visit http://www.blackboard.com/learn. For more information about Pearson, please visit www.pearsonhighered.com.

About Blackboard Inc.
Blackboard Inc. is a global leader in enterprise technology and innovative solutions that improve the experience of millions of students and learners around the world every day. Blackboard's solutions allow thousands of higher education, K-12, professional, corporate, and government organizations to extend teaching and learning online, facilitate campus commerce and security, and communicate more effectively with their communities. Founded in 1997, Blackboard is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

About Pearson
Pearson, the world's leading learning company, has global reach and market-leading businesses in education, business information and consumer publishing (NYSE: PSO).  The company provides innovative print and digital education materials, including personalized learning programs such as MyLab and Mastering; educational services including custom publishing; and content-independent platforms including EQUELLA digital repository and Pearson LearningStudio for online learning programs.

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.

SOURCE Blackboard Inc.; Pearson