Remediation | News

Blackboard Launches Blended Learning Program for Developmental Education

• By Joshua Bolkan
• 02/22/12

Blackboard has launched Blackboard Developmental Education (Blackboard DevEd), a new program designed to help students "move from developmental courses to credit-granting courses sooner," according to information released by the company.

Piloted by several institutions last fall, the new program uses a blended approach with remedial online courses and instructors who work with on-campus mentors. Blackboard DevEd currently offers courses in Integrated Math, Basic Algebra, and Intermediate Algebra, with Developmental Language Arts to come in the fall.

Developed with K12, the new program uses that company's A+dvancer College Readiness tool to assess students and help deliver individually targeted coursework.

Other features of Blackboard DevEd include:

• One-on-one online sessions;
• Phone support with live instructors;
• Collaboration tools;
• The ability to integrate with Blackboard Learn or implement the tool as a stand-alone option; and
• The ability to integrate career building and planning tools through a partnership with Internships.com.

"While many of our students excel academically in certain areas of study, some still need developmental instruction in other areas," said Kara Monroe, assistant vice provost of Ivy Tech Community College's Center for Instructional Technology. "Blackboard Developmental Education is an effective tool for our students with its flexible and engaging delivery method. Because it provides real time data on student progress, we are better able to make any necessary changes in instruction to improve student success than previously through traditional remediation courses."

More information about Blackboard DevEd is available at blackboard.com. Visit advancerlearning.com for more information about K12's A+dvancer College Readiness tool.