Summary
The Blackboard Connector lets you link your Blackboard LMS to KnowledgeCity so the two platforms can exchange users and course data. Once connected, you can import learners from Blackboard into KnowledgeCity and keep course and completion data aligned between the systems. This guide walks you through connecting Blackboard from the Integrations area and configuring how data is synchronized.
Introduction
The Blackboard Connector is part of the KnowledgeCity Integrations product, which centralizes connections to third-party LMS and HR platforms. Administrators use it to treat Blackboard as an external system of record: rather than re-entering users and courses by hand, you connect the two platforms once and let them share data on an ongoing basis.
This feature is intended for KnowledgeCity administrators who manage user access and reporting and who already run Blackboard as an LMS in their organization. It solves the problem of duplicate, drifting data across two learning systems by exchanging user and course information automatically, so training records stay consistent without manual data entry.
Key Concepts
- Integration platform: Blackboard appears as a selectable platform within the KnowledgeCity Integrations area, alongside other connectors, that you activate to begin exchanging data.
- Connection parameters: the credentials and account details that authorize KnowledgeCity to communicate with your Blackboard environment; the connection is not established until valid values are provided.
- User exchange: the movement of learner records between Blackboard and KnowledgeCity, so people who exist in Blackboard can be represented and kept current in KnowledgeCity.
- Course data exchange: the synchronization of course-related information between the two platforms so course and progress records remain aligned.
- Import settings: the options that control how data flows from Blackboard into KnowledgeCity, including whether the sync is enabled.
- Export settings: the options that control how data flows from KnowledgeCity back out to Blackboard.
- Scheduler: the configuration that determines how often the synchronization runs and when it begins, so data exchange happens automatically on a recurring basis.
- Administrator: the KnowledgeCity role that configures, enables, and manages the Blackboard Connector.
Steps to Follow
Open the Integrations area
You begin in KnowledgeCity as an administrator. Navigate to the Integrations area, which lists the third-party platforms you can connect to. From this list you can review the available connectors and choose the one you want to set up.
Select the Blackboard platform
Locate Blackboard in the list of available integration platforms and open it to begin setup. This opens the configuration view where you provide connection details and choose how data is exchanged.
Provide connection parameters
Enter the connection details that authorize KnowledgeCity to communicate with your Blackboard environment. These credentials come from your Blackboard account, and the connection cannot be established until valid values are supplied. If you do not have these details, request them from your Blackboard administrator.
Configure how users are exchanged
Use the Import settings to control how learner records move from Blackboard into KnowledgeCity. Enable the sync so that users maintained in Blackboard are reflected in KnowledgeCity, keeping your learner list current without manual entry.
Configure how course data is exchanged
Use the Export settings to control the course data that KnowledgeCity shares back to Blackboard. This keeps course and completion information aligned between the two platforms.
Set the synchronization schedule
Configure the Scheduler so the data exchange runs automatically. Define how frequently the sync should run and when it should start, so users and course data stay in sync on an ongoing basis rather than requiring a manual trigger.
Enable and confirm the integration
Save your configuration to activate the Blackboard Connector. Once enabled, the integration begins exchanging data according to the settings and schedule you defined. You can return to the Blackboard platform in the Integrations area at any time to adjust the settings, temporarily deactivate the connection, or re-enable it.
Conclusion
With the Blackboard Connector configured, KnowledgeCity and Blackboard exchange users and course data automatically, keeping your learner and training records consistent across both platforms. You can revisit the Blackboard integration at any time from the Integrations area to update its settings, pause the connection, or turn it back on as your needs change.