Hmm. One of my startups Classleaf (http://classleaf.com/) is a semi-Blackboard competitor, which is based on the idea of a lighter learning management system. Since those that read this article might be familiar with the learning management scene, what could schools want to give them the push to use Classleaf's product? I'm going to side with the fact that many schools have existing grade management systems, and perhaps a monolithic "all-in-one" app isn't the best idea.
I just clicked on your profile and took a look at your work. I would have put you in 35-55 age bracket, considering what you have done and the image you have successfully projected. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw you were 16.
Take this from me; you're destined to great things my friend. The sky is the limit. But don't let this get into your head; someone like you is obviously driven and very competent, try to keep yourself grounded on the side. Discover spirituality or philosophy just to keep your sanity. On behalf of the rest of humanity, let me say that "We" want you to do Good, since whatever you do you will do it to perfection. You have the golden-touch, and with great power .. comes great responsibility.
All I have to base my opinion on is some familiarity with Blackboard/CourseInfo and a few friendships with schoolteachers, but I think you would need to approach marketing to high schools and colleges differently. Most high schools, even fairly good ones, are going to have a dearth of technical knowledge present in the administrative staff, so lightweight is good. They need software that is as easy to set up as possible, and they need be assured that it's reliable--schoolteachers and administrators are deathly afraid of parents and lawsuits, and something that loses grades is anathema.
(And I second what mahmud said above; the accomplishments in your profile make my head spin)
Just remember: It's one thing to get school faculty and students to want you to use your product. It's another thing entirely to make administrators want to buy it.
From what I remember of Blackboard, the biggest (usability) improvements would be things that let you integrate with existing university infrastructure: things like LDAP integration, e-mail integration (submit assignments through e-mail, post messages, etc), possibly pubcookie. Blackboard may well have improved since then.
Comments
Hmm. One of my startups Classleaf (http://classleaf.com/) is a semi-Blackboard competitor, which is based on the idea of a lighter learning management system. Since those that read this article might be familiar with the learning management scene, what could schools want to give them the push to use Classleaf's product? I'm going to side with the fact that many schools have existing grade management systems, and perhaps a monolithic "all-in-one" app isn't the best idea.
Mark,
I just clicked on your profile and took a look at your work. I would have put you in 35-55 age bracket, considering what you have done and the image you have successfully projected. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw you were 16.
Take this from me; you're destined to great things my friend. The sky is the limit. But don't let this get into your head; someone like you is obviously driven and very competent, try to keep yourself grounded on the side. Discover spirituality or philosophy just to keep your sanity. On behalf of the rest of humanity, let me say that "We" want you to do Good, since whatever you do you will do it to perfection. You have the golden-touch, and with great power .. comes great responsibility.
Regards.
Thank you, Obi-Wan.
All I have to base my opinion on is some familiarity with Blackboard/CourseInfo and a few friendships with schoolteachers, but I think you would need to approach marketing to high schools and colleges differently. Most high schools, even fairly good ones, are going to have a dearth of technical knowledge present in the administrative staff, so lightweight is good. They need software that is as easy to set up as possible, and they need be assured that it's reliable--schoolteachers and administrators are deathly afraid of parents and lawsuits, and something that loses grades is anathema.
(And I second what mahmud said above; the accomplishments in your profile make my head spin)
Just remember: It's one thing to get school faculty and students to want you to use your product. It's another thing entirely to make administrators want to buy it.
From what I remember of Blackboard, the biggest (usability) improvements would be things that let you integrate with existing university infrastructure: things like LDAP integration, e-mail integration (submit assignments through e-mail, post messages, etc), possibly pubcookie. Blackboard may well have improved since then.
You'll never get them to switch with something small. You need something that's uniquely better than the competition.