Blackboard Acquires Moodlerooms, NetSpot To Offer Open Source Learning Technology

Leena Rao

Leena Rao is currently a Senior Editor for TechCrunch. She recently finished graduate school at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, where she studied business journalism and videography. From 2004 to 2007, she helped lead Congresswoman Carloyn Maloney’s community outreach and relations efforts in New York City. She graduated from Columbia University in 2003, where she was... → Learn More

Monday, March 26th, 2012
blackboard

Blackboard, the maker of learning and education software for enterprises and schools, has acquired Moodlerooms and NetSpot, two providers of open source online learning technology. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Both companies provide learning management hosting, support, and consulting services and products to clients using open source systems. NetSpot is also a reseller and service provider for Blackboard Collaborate. Moodlerooms primarily serves clients in North America, while NetSpot serves a client base in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia Pacific region.

Blackboard says each team will also become part of Blackboard’s new Education Open Source Services group, which will focus on the development of open source learning technologies globally.

Last year, Blackboard was acquired by Providence Equity Partners for $1.6 billion. As we’ve written in the past, Blackboard has not always had the best reputation among students, especially in terms of user experience, but the company has thousands of colleges and universities using its platform.

The company faces competition from CourseKit, Instructure, Nixty, and others.


Company: Blackboard
Website: blackboard.com
Launch Date: 1997

Blackboard designs learning and education software for enterprise/ school groups. Blackboard is a global leader in enterprise technology and innovative solutions that improve the experience of millions of students and learners around the world every day. Blackboard’s solutions allow higher education, K-12, professional, corporate, and government organizations to extend teaching and learning online, facilitate campus commerce and security, and communicate more effectively with their communities. Founded in 1997, Blackboard is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in North America,...

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