Student number planning is a complex task. Historically, student number data has been completed in spreadsheets and compiled from data from lots of different departments and systems – from finance departments, academic administrators through to admissions. More...
When is an unconditional offer not an unconditional offer – and other points missed
The autonomy of universities over whom to admit is enshrined in primary legislation. This was confirmed in the most recent higher education act, which was passed just over a year ago. This means the room for action on restricting unconditional offers is strictly limited without a change to the law. More...
Is it time for a gentlefolks’ agreement among Vice-Chancellors to abandon unconditional offers?
Today’s report from UCAS highlights the stratospheric rise of unconditional (U) offers on the university admissions scene. Since 2013, when the University of Birmingham made the first controversial move, the practice of confirming places for students before they get their exam results has grown exponentially. More...
Free speech on campus: new HEPI research shows universities can do more to protect it
The Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) has today published a new report on free speech with a Foreword by human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell. The report serves as a practical guide to help higher education institutions secure freedom of speech on campus. More...
Blackboard’s Defense of its Finances is not Persuasive
By Michael Feldstein. When we were at BbWorld the week before last, Blackboard's executive management pushed back vehemently on our analysis of how their high levels of debt could impact their business decisions. More...
Moodle and Blackboard Cut Ties
By Michael Feldstein. Sometimes breaking news overturns your blogging schedule. We have had e-Literate staff at four LMS conferences in the past few weeks and have a raft of news and analysis to publish. However, there's some big news today out of Moodle that needs at least a timely mention while we write our other posts and chase down the details for more analysis of this event. More...
What’s Important about the Blackboard Market Share News
By Michael Feldstein. My last post on Canvas' US market share surpassing Blackboard's predictably got a fair bit of attention, including some follow-up press elsewhere on the internet. There were a few comments to the press made by Blackboard executives and industry experts that merit some further examination. More...
Canvas Surpasses Blackboard Learn in US Market Share
By Michael Feldstein. As of July 6th, our data partner LISTedTECH informs us that Canvas is now the primary LMS in more US colleges and universities than Blackboard Learn. By a margin of two; Canvas has 1,218 installations, while Blackboard Learn has 1,216. Statistically speaking, the two companies are tied for US market share. More...
Terminology is Key to Understanding Blackboard Learn Prospects
By Phil Hill. There are three observations from Blackboard’s users conference that we feel are important to share before we pull together our thoughts for more comprehensive posts, and all three issues build off of Blackboard’s strong focus at the conference on Learn Ultra as the future of their LMS product line. More...
Canadian Teachers Offer a Refugee-Education Handbook
A new handbook on refugee education offers teachers practical suggestions for working with children who have experienced war, displacement and trauma. More...