Integrating Blackboard with social networking sites like “Facebook”.

Advent of Web 2.0 has seen the introduction of social networking, beginning of 21st century have seen the rise of users in these networking sites. One of the most popular one being the “facebook” where almost 9 out of 10 college students in United States have an account. Its not only the students but the instructors who started using facebook as a medium to circulate information. Its almost like a small virtual world like "Second Life" to share opinions. There has been a thought between the students and instructors to have a common interface to connect LMS with social networking sites like “Facebook”.

LMS delivering software like Blackboard and virtual training software like Centra are catering to the needs of the students and teachers. Based on a recent announcement, “Blackboard” is planning to provide some integration with Facebook, since social networking can provide some very powerful capabilities for enhancing connection, communication, and collaboration.

Classtop’s CourseFeed Facebook application was FIRST to hit the market, and there are many more to come in the future. CourseFeed does an excellent job of providing updates, announcements, what’s new, email notices, and even a course wall for classmates to exchange information with each other.

I think the integration of the LMS with Web2.0 applications like social networking sites will have positive impact and change the way education will be delivered in the coming years.