Blackboard is moving towards a new integration model using REST APIs to improve the user experience. This includes launching a new developer platform, API gateway, and developer forum. The presentation discussed the various integration options available now such as LTI, building blocks, web services, and frameworks. It provided guidance on choosing the right integration path based on factors like the user experience, target platform, and architectural goals. Resources were shared to help developers get started with the REST APIs.

1. Michael Garner
Senior Solutions Engineer, APAC
Integration Strategies in Blackboard Learn

2. Philosophy of Integration Evolution
2
Strong comittment to supporting the development community that dates back to 2003
With our commitment to deliver Learn on SaaS and with the Ultra experience, we are
significantly improving the user experience
To support that experience, we’re delivering a new integration model – Representational
State Transfer (REST)
To do that, we’ve launched a new Bb Developer Platform, an API gateway, and a developer
forum on Bb Community.

3. 3
The Integration Landscape
Learn now has a number of approaches to
integration capabilities available now
They each have their pros and cons which
impact your decision to use one over the other

4. IMS LTI Integration
Strategic partnership with
publishers / Content Market
Wide variety of Integration
options through APIs
(Building Blocks)
REST / SOAP Web Services
Admin Integration Frameworks (SIS,
Grades Journey)
Integration
Framework
The Integration Landscape

5. The Integration Landscape
IMS Global Consortium standard
Vendor agnostic remote, out-of-process tool communication
Consumer/Provider model – Blackboard Learn is a consumer
Tool links can be registered system-wide or at the course level
LTI – Learning Tools Interoperability

6. Built around Blackboard’s proprietary Java API – requires Java
Apps installed into the application via a customer GUI in the Admin panel
Run in-process as part of Blackboard Learn
Deployment points and tag libraries allow Building Blocks to create pages that render in
Learn
The Integration Landscape
Building Block APIs

7. Building Block APIs
http://www.blackboard.com/partnerships/extensions.aspx
http://projects.oscelot.org/gf/project/

8. Course Catalog B2
• Creates a catalog of browsable
courses
• Course tool configuration
Building Block APIs

9. https://community.blackboard.com/docs/DOC-1115
Building Block APIs

10. • Development in Java
• Installed into Learn
Building Block APIs

11. The Integration Landscape
11
SOAP Web Services
XML-encoded method calls sent over HTTP
UDDI for service discover, WSDL for service description
Consumer/Provider model – Blackboard Learn can be either
Provide a limited set of APIs compared to Building Blocks

12. SOAP Web Services

13. The Integration Landscape
REST
An architectural style of building web services
REST APIs are integration interfaces built using REST principles
Blackboard REST APIs are not just for Learn – other cloud products
Runs out-of-process – nothing is installed in the Learn instance
Programing language agnostic

14. REST - /learn/api/public/v1/users

15. REST - /learn/api/public/v1/users/userName:mgarner

16. Grades Journey – supporting assessment & grades management
HR/ERP
Library
Timetable
SIS
Grades
Column
Provisioning
Grades
Exchange
Flat File, SOAP or REST
web services
Blackboard Confidential
• Grades approval,
release
• Optional read-only
after post

17. Tools to manage your REST Integration
https://developer.blackboard.com/portal/displayApi
Open API
Examples of data structures
- oAuth
- Users
- Courses
- Content and Assignments
- Enrolments
- Groups
- Grades
- Data sources

18. Tools to manage your REST Integration

19. The full range of options
19

20. Choosing the Right Path
20
User Experience: Original or Ultra
Target Platform: 9.1 or SaaS
Architectural Goals: In or Out of
Process
• You have a full range of options for
how you integrate with Learn –
some older, some newer
• Each option has pros and cons that
will impact your decision as to
which to use
• The approach to take depends on
three major factors

21. Choosing the Right Path: Target Platform
21

22. For integrations to work in SaaS – Original Experience
22

23. For integrations to work in SaaS + Ultra Experience
23

24. REST API Roadmap
Available now
 Developer Platform
 API Gateway
 Learn APIs
 Content (3000.1)
 Courses (3000.1)
 Data Sources (3000.1)
 Gradebook (3000.11)
 Memberships (3000.1)
 Terms (3000.1)
 Users (3000.1)
In Research
 Learn APIs
 Accessibility
 Announcements
 Assessments
 Assignments
 Attempts
 Calendar
 Collaborate and Transact APIs
 Discussions
 Events
 Groups
 Hierarchy
 Localization

25. Resources
25
Developer Portal: https://developer.blackboard.com
Latest APIs: https://developer.blackboard.com/portal/displayApi
Sample Code: https://github.com/search?q=blackboard+REST+BBDN-
&type=Repositories&ref=searchresults
REST Community Site: https://community.blackboard.com/community/developers/rest
The REST API Architecture: https://community.blackboard.com/docs/DOC-1733
Setting up Learn to use your REST Integration: https://community.blackboard.com/docs/DOC-
1580
DVM Object Gen: https://github.com/blackboard/BBDN-LearnObjectGen_Python
Contact Us: developers@blackboard.com

26. Open Discussion
26
What are some of your integration challenges?
How could Blackboard provide a better integration experience?

27. Open Discussion
27
How could Blackboard provide a better integration experience?

28. 28
Questions?

29. For more information please contact me:
Michael.Garner@blackboard.com
@mikegarnr