ConnectYard, Inc. has introduced Blackboard (News - Alert) Building Block, which provides seamless connectivity from the Blackboard system to the ConnectYard communications platform.
ConnectYard allows faculty, staff and administrators to easily communicate with students across a variety of popular social and mobile media, including Facebook, Twitter and text messaging.
The company provides educational institutions with an efficient centralized social media communications platform that opens a dynamic two-way messaging channel for engaging with today's media and social networking-savvy students.
'Integrating ConnectYard into courses offers students the ability to experience different ways to share information, connect with classmates and use technology in their education,' said Jill Labuda, a graduating senior at Saint Xavier University in Chicago, in a statement.
Labuda said that incorporating new ways for students to learn allows their technology skills to flourish as they get older and prepares them for the workplace.
Officials with ConnectYard said that faculty and staff have the option to post new messages or respond to student queries directly from within the Blackboard Learn platform, or using email, without having to join a social networking site.
Company officials said that likewise, students can receive and respond to messages from social media spaces such as Facebook (News - Alert) and Twitter, or via any text-capable mobile device.
'Our students and faculty are excited about the opportunities that ConnectYard gives us. Now we can interact with students using technology they know and love instead of making them come to us,' said Pamela Gutman, instructional designer at Loyola University Maryland.
Daniel Robertson, a graduate student at Howard University said that allowing instructors to interact with students on Facebook and Twitter by simply using email without any friending or following is a real game changer.
'ConnectYard has definitely increased discussion between instructors, TAs, and students in my calculus section and the great thing is that everyone was able to continue using the technologies they were already familiar with,' said Robertson.
According to company officials, notifications for all communication channels are opt-in, can be customized by the student for each individual course and are conveniently stored in the Blackboard course.
ConnectYard also features the ability to trend discussion topics at a course level based on frequently asked questions, providing instructors with the ability to readily identify key concepts students may be struggling with.
Other popular features include the capability for students to create their own team or study groups directly from within a Blackboard course and a matching engine that recommends potential study partners and mentors based on academic and social profiles.
Anil Sharma is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Anil's articles, please visit his columnist page.Edited by Alice Straight