Blackboard Learn

Discover how to integrate your SIS with Blackboard Learn through School Passport.

In this article

General information

Onboarding process 

Blackboard Learn setup in School Passport

Step 1. Activation Blackboard Learn app in School Passport

Step 2. Sync mode

Step 3. Delivery Config

Step 4. Schools Mapping

Step 5. Completing configuration

Gradebook

Master Fields

Preview and Sync modes

Registering REST Integration in Blackboard Learn

Obtaining DSK in Blackboard Learn

General information

Application name	Blackboard Learn
View in Application Gallery	Link
Vendor company name	Anthology
Vendor`s website	anthology.com
Integration type	Import, 2-Way Sync
Supported Data Schema	REST API
Help	Contact Anthology Support Team

Onboarding process

The GG4L Onboarding Process for the Blackboard Learn Integration consists of the following steps: 

1. Onboarding initiation

Firstly, you need to fill in and submit the form. Once the form is submitted, GG4L will offer you an Introductory meeting to talk about all the integration details and help you with onboarding.

2. Roster Data integration

Upon submission of the form, you will receive SIS Data Integration instructions within 24 hours. These instructions guide you on how to set up the data sharing integration between your Student Information System (SIS) and the School Passport. Prior to initiating data sharing, please review the Data Requirements carefully.

Once the data is synced, we will validate and check the data quality before its sharing. If any details need clarification, a GG4L Customer Support Representative will contact you.

3. Activation and configuration of the Blackboard Learn app

Once the data is successfully imported to School Passport, you will receive activation and configuration instructions for the Blackboard Learn app.

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Blackboard Learn setup in School Passport 

Step 1. Activation Blackboard Learn app in School Passport

1. Log in to School Passport as District Admin and click Connect.
2. Navigate to the Application Gallery and find the Blackboard Learn app. Alternatively, use a direct link.
3. Click Activate.

Step 2. Sync mode

When configuring a Blackboard Learn app, the initial step is to choose the Sync Mode. It is recommended to review the available sync modes and select the appropriate one.

Step 3. Delivery Config

In the Delivery Config, enter API credentials accurately to establish a connection between your Blackboard instance and the School Passport. Once completed, click Next.

• Service Base URL: Enter the URL of the district's Blackboard instance. It serves as the connection point between the district's Blackboard instance and the Application you are currently configuring in School Passport. For example, https://blackboard.exampledomain.com.
• Application ID: Upon the application creation, the unique  Application ID is generated. Copy the Application ID and use it to register a REST Integration in Blackboard Learn.
• Data Source Key (DSK): Retrieve a DSK from your Blackboard instance and enter it in this field. A DSK serves as a unique identifier used to connect external data sources with Blackboard. If you begin to use a new data source, update this value accordingly. Changing the DSK will lead to associating current data with a new DSK. 
• Test Connection: Click to verify that the remote connection is configured correctly and established a connection to the server.

Step 4. Schools Mapping

The Schools Mapping, provides a comprehensive overview of Blackboard's organizational hierarchy, making it easy for District Admins to map out the entire structure.

1. On the Map GG4L schools to, choose the schools mapping mode you wish to use. This mode will determine how your data will be associated:
   
   
   • Blackboard root: Associate schools, users, and course data directly to the main Blackboard structure, providing centralized management and navigation.
   • Blackboard node: Associate users, and course data with specific nodes or schools within the Blackboard structure, allowing distributed management and configuration flexibility.
2. Configure the schools mapping itself.
   
3. Click Next >.

Step 5. Completing configuration

Leave the remaining settings at their default values and click Finish Configuration.

Please, contact onboarding@gg4l.com as soon as you complete the above steps or if you need any assistance.

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Gradebook

Supporting Grade Sync to Blackboard offers flexible grading options that cater to diverse grading methodologies used by educators. 

To activate Grade Sync for Blackboard Learn, please reach out to support@gg4l.com and submit a request.

To prevent data duplication when synchronizing data from Blackboard Learn and the SIS to School Passport, it is required to establish the merging rules (master fields) for gradebook entities.

When Grade Sync is successfully activated for PowerSchool, there are gradebook entities appear in Blackboard`s Attribute Mappings and Master Fields:

After data syncing, the Gradebook data displays at the Data Browsing > Gradebook.

Also, there are External IDs will be generated for gradebook entities in Metadata Extension pane:

The naming convention for External IDs is as follows:

• For Categories, the External ID is XXX_YYYY, where XXX - Blackboard`s course ID, and YYY - сategory`s title (in lowercase).
• For Line Items, the External ID format is XXX_ZZZ, where XXX - Blackboard`s course ID, and ZZZ - line item`s title (in lowercase).
• For Results, the External Id format is XXX_ZZZ_QQQ, where XXX - Blackboard`s course ID, ZZZ - line item`s title (in lowercase), and QQQ - UserExternal ID (if blank, uses SIS ID).

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Master Fields

To prevent data duplication when synchronizing data from Blackboard Learn and an SIS to School Passport, it is necessary to set up the Master Fields for various data entities.

Once all apps are configured, do the following:

1. Click Data Quality > Duplicates > Master Fields.
   
2. In the Master Fields, carefully review the existing merging rules.
3. Remove the listed attributes for the following entities, if they are present: 
   • Student: Classes, Other Enrollments, Student Contacts
   • Contact: Contact Relationship, Contact Type, Other School IDs, Relationships, School Id, Student Id
   • Teacher: Classes, Other Assignments
   • Course: Classes, Other School Ids, School Id
   • Class: Calendars, Other Teachers, Students
   • Calendar: Children, Classes, Other School Ids, School Id
4. Ensure that the "Master" modifier is applied to the merging rules for rostering entities (Student, Contact, Teacher, Class, Calendar) in the SIS application. If this modifier is already present, remove or edit it. 
   
5. To create new merging rules, click Generate Master Fields.
6. Select a property and add merging rule details:
   
   

   Type	Entity	Property	Application	Mode
   Roster	Student, Contact, Teacher, Class, Calendar	All properties, except of outlined earlier	SIS app	Master
   Gradebook	Line Item, Result, Category, Assessment Line Items, Assessment Results, Score Scales	All available properties	Blackboard	Master

7. Click Generate.

For more information on the merging rules for gradebook, refer to the Manage Master Fields for Grade Exchange.

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Preview and Sync modes

After setting up a Blackboard Learn 2-way sync, the District Admin can run the data processing in one of the following modes:

• Sync mode: Imports and exports updates to Blackboard Learn to ensure seamless data synchronization between systems.
• Preview mode: Imports data from Blackboard Learn and shows a preview of users who will be exported or updated during full synchronization. This process also identifies any potential issues that may need attention.