Add a BPI Block to Blackboard Learn
BPI can integrate with Blackboard Learn using either LTI blocks or Building blocks.
(UPDATED MAY 10, 2024) End of support - Blackboard building blocks
This bulletin is provided to inform users of Explorance Blue, that one of the features utilized by blue connector, and BPI will no longer be available in Blackboard Learn, because Anthology is halting the feature.
What is happening?
The support for Blackboard Learn Building Blocks end December 31, 2023 but was extended until June 30, 2024. After this date, the BPI building blocks will no longer function. However, the building blocks used by Blue Connector will continue to function past June 30, 2024.
What does it mean?
Customers will need to migrate any existing BPI building blocks to LTI (Learning Tools Interoperability) tools before the June 30, 2024 deadline. After the removal of BPI building blocks, the following functionality will have changed:
- BPI (Blue Portal Integrator) blocks installed as building blocks will no longer be available. BPI blocks installed as LTI tools will continue to function.
Anthology also recommends customers switch from Blackboard Learn to Blackboard Ultra. Customers who do so should contact Explorance Customer Support to assist them with reconfiguring Blue Connector to work with Blackboard Ultra, and will notice the following:
- The homepage popup will display links to Blue tasks, instead of links to course pages.
- Course blocking will no longer be available.
- Customers can enable a popup that will be displayed when a user browses to a course page.
Why is this happening?
Anthology is deprecating the building block feature from Blackboard Learn, replacing them with REST APIs, 1ETech LTI standards, and the Ultra Extension Framework.
What do I need to do?
Current building block customers will need to change their implementation. This may involve setting up LTI for BPI (instructions here)
Current building block users will need to change their implementation This may involve setting up LTI Tools for Blackboard Learn (instructions here) or Blackboard Ultra (instructions here), or setting up LTI for BPI (instructions here)
Blue Connector features in Blackboard
| Blue Connector Feature | Blackboard Learn before June 30, 2024 | Blackboard Learn after June 30, 2024 | Blackboard Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|
| LTI Tool with links to Blue tasks | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Homepage popup with links to courses | ✓ Uses Building Blocks ✓ Uses Building Blocks | ✓ Uses Building Blocks ✓ Uses Building Blocks | - |
| Homepage popup with links to Blue tasks | - | - | ✓ |
| Course popup with links to Blue tasks | - | - | ✓ |
| Course Blocking with links to Blue tasks | ✓ Uses Building Blocks ✓ Uses Building Blocks | ✓ Uses Building Blocks ✓ Uses Building Blocks | - |
BPI features in Blackboard
| BPI Feature | Blackboard Learn before June 30, 2024 | Blackboard Learn after June 30, 2024 | Blackboard Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|
| BPI block installed as LTI Tool | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| BPI block installed as building block | ✓ Uses Building Blocks ✓ Uses Building Blocks | - | - |
Where can I learn more?
For more details on this issue, please refer to the official Anthology Blackboard Learn communication available here: Behind the Blackboard! (salesforce-sites.com).
InLMS integration guide
InConnect BPI blocks to an LMS