Blackboard recently launched a new Facebook application in order to bring additional safety into the world of social networking. Blackboard Sync™ is a safe and secure student engagement tool that promotes social learning opportunities by keeping students continually connected to their academic studies and their classmates through Facebook.

Blackboard Sync delivers Blackboard course information and updates through a Facebook interface to keep students up to date and engaged with their academic studies. Students can find out if they have a new assignment, grade, discussion board posting or forum post without leaving Facebook. With Blackboard Sync, students can also easily find classmates from their Blackboard course sites who are on Facebook, access their profiles to learn more about them and even join networks or form groups online or offline for collaboration and study.

Safe Sync

We understand that K-12 schools and districts have unique needs and that’s why we’re providing an easy way for you to opt out of Blackboard Sync. In fact, Blackboard Sync offers multiple options for participation to give your school or district as much control and security as you need.

1. Opt Out (action required)—This option enables you to block access to the application for your students. Find out more about Opting Out.
     
2. Open Access (no action required)—Students use their Blackboard login and password and they are securely stored in the Blackboard Sync Central Service to enable future syncing. Find out more about Open Access.
     
3. Blackboard Sync Building Block—Once installed, this option ensures that all student authentication and content syncing occurs without Blackboard Sync storing the user credentials. You control the access and authentication for your school or district. Find out more about the benefits of the Blackboard Sync Building Block.

To learn more, we encourage you to review the information on the Blackboard Sync Wiki. Please let us know if you have any further questions or concerns at bbsync-feedback@blackboard.com.