Feasible Blackboard Implementations, Challenging Blended Learning Through Agile Academic Learning Management Systems In Transnational Higher Education

Abstract

Blended learning is an adaptive (and necessary) response adopted by most universities to face the challenges posed by the COVID-19 ongoing pandemic. Academic Learning Management Systems (ALMSs) played a strategic and pivotal role under high pressure. Online learning can occur by implementing integrated solutions embedded in the Academic portals or subscriptions to other videoconferencing solutions. Blending online and face-to-face teaching proved challenging from different perspectives. This approach has been considered essential to ensure an adequate level of service and avoid outflows of students, but it led to increased teaching workload, improved infrastructure, flexible pedagogic approach, enhanced technologies, specific training, and IT solutions development. The authors perform a SWOT analysis of blended learning, in a transnational Higher Education Context, to match the findings with the most relevant and critical challenges. The results, therefore, support the Information System analysis, focusing on one of the most widespread ALMSs. The case of Blackboard is finally considered, and some implementations are suggested. © 2022 Association for Computing Machinery. All rights reserved.