The Mesquite Online News - Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Keeping track in class: there’s an app for that

UPDATED:  9:58 p.m., March 3

By Crystal Valentin

Criminology sophomore Maurice Young checks Blackboard when he gets a notification on his watch or smartphone. He paid $4.99 for the app two years ago and said it was worth it and he’d be lost without it, especially when a professor posts notifications of a pop quiz or test.

“If something gets put on Blackboard it will tell me,” Young said. “If nothing is put on there, then I’m not going to look at it.”

The Blackboard app offers support by helping students and professors stay up-to-date with important information. Students can benefit from getting notifications of their grades and staying on track with all their classes.

“This is good because you can have real-time information,” said Sherita Love, manager of Academic Technologies said. “If the professor posts something, you can get the information right now, right then.”

In three years, more than 4,700 Texas A&M University-San Antonio students utilized Blackboard Mobile.

The Blackboard app is currently $1.99 for a one-year pass and $4.99 for an unlimited pass.

Love said A&M-San Antonio will consider participating in a program where students can receive the app for no charge.

“So, we’re still investing and hoping that at the earliest to have that in by the fall,” Love added.

English sophomore Makayla Mortensen recently heard about the Blackboard app in class but has not used it herself, however, she logs in multiple times daily.

“If it was free, I would probably download the app,” Mortensen said, “Because it’s convenient, rather than having to go login every time.”

There is a problem viewing videos. If the Blackboard app has a video in Adobe’s Flash software it will not play on iPhones but might play on Androids that have Flash.

“Blackboard heard all the feedback they were getting and they are going through the process of editing or improving the app,” Love said.

About the Author

Crystal Valentin
Crystal Valentin is a reporter for the Mesquite and a senior at Texas A&M San Antonio where she studies communications and journalism with a minor in business. Crystal previously worked at the Alamo City Golf Trails as the Events Coordinator and Public Relations Support. She enjoys event planning and her interests include sports and recreation. Crystal graduates Spring 2016.

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