OUR DIGITAL BACKBONE Student and teacher opinions on the effectiveness of Blackbaud Kyle Berlage
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very school day, Bishopians are she explained. “When a school uses two da Rose explained that she personally greeted with that same, familiar different platforms for enrollment and finds Blackbaud very limiting. “When I beige and maroon website, con- learning, the transfer of information is was working at different universities, I taining their assignments, schedule, cumbersome and often time-consuming.” liked the systems I worked with more,” grades, groups, and more. Blackbaud, However, because of Blackbaud’s she said. World Languages teacher Mr. also known as WhippleHill, is an Ian Hayden furthered on this essential part of the Bishop’s experspective. , “In my opinion, perience, and an even more essenit’s not so much what Blackbaud tial one of the distance learning does wrong as much as it is a program. Blackbaud coordinates problem with expecting a single homework, grades, information, platform to be able to do everyfundraising, attendance, and more. thing well, from course schedulBut with the increased use of Blacking, to school communications, baud, opinions have formed on its to assignments and grading,” effectiveness and usefulness at The Blackbaud landing page is the place where Bishopians get he said. “I think this is likeBishop’s. Learning management ly an unrealistic expectation.” information on homework, grades, conduct, and more. systems (LMS) are more crucial Because of the issues than ever for student learning. with the Blackbaud platform, How well does Blackbaud do the job? nature as an LMS integrated with other some teachers have taken to using oth The Bishop’s IT department services, there are some limitations to er platforms in conjunction with Blacktouts Blackbaud’s ability to mesh togeth- its abilities. “There are always trade-offs baud to coordinate teaching. Dr. Rose, er many of the services Bishop’s admin- with any system,” Mr. Trumbo said. “Of- for example, has transitioned over to istration and faculty need. “Blackbaud ten integrated systems like Blackbaud Google Classroom this year., “There provides the school with an integrated have to serve the needs of many groups are some features I really like,” she exsystem that encompasses learning man- and are not able to focus on just adding plained, “but I do have to post the same agement, student information system features to the LMS, they have to make information in multiple locations, which (i.e. grades, transcripts, attendance, sure these fit within the confines of the is time-consuming.” Mr. Hayden said etc.), enrollment management, fund- integrated system.” Academic Technol- that while he does continue to use Blackraising, and business office functions,” ogy Coordinator Ms. Sara White add- baud, the assignments he posts usually said Senior Director of Educational ed to the notion of these limitations., just direct people to his class informaTechnology and Information Systems “Some faculty wish that [Blackbaud] tion hub on Google Classroom. “[GooMr. Anthony Trumbo. “So having this could do more, which I understand,” she gle Classroom] is where I organize the integrated data helps with data consis- explained. “It’s hard to find the perfect course, post assignment details, and link tency issues across the school.” Learn- tool that everyone will be happy with. out to all of the other tools I use, like Eding Resource Specialist Ms. Stephanie Teachers would like more assessment puzzle, Quizlet, and Memrise,” he said. Ramos added to this: “Blackbaud is a options and more options with grading.” “Google Classroom is better organized, robust option for schools because it’s And some teachers have cer- more flexible, and simply better suitan expansive company with a number tainly picked up on these deficits. ed to this task than Blackbaud, which of coordinating programs and allows Though she acknowledged the benefits feels lethargic, clunky, and frustrating.” for a smooth integration of systems,” of the system, Spanish teacher Dr. Mar-
10 CAMPUS | Issue 04
