Blackboard Learn Platform Integrates Industry-Leading Acxiom Technology
WASHINGTON, July 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Blackboard Inc. (Nasdaq: BBBB), a global leader in education technology, today announced the general availability of an integrated solution for enhanced student identity verification, powered by technology from Acxiom((R)) Corporation, a global leader in interactive marketing and risk mitigation services.
The Acxiom Identify-X((TM)) service allows colleges and universities to deploy an enhanced verification program that integrates seamlessly with the Blackboard Learn((TM)) platform and does not interrupt the learning process. Instructors can control when, where and how frequently they verify student identity while maintaining the integrity and privacy of student information. The service does not require institutions to purchase any additional hardware or software.
"While we have researched and evaluated other alternatives, we have found this solution to exceed expectations in our identity verification initiative for our continually growing population of distance learning students," said Steve Clark, Distance Learning Technology Coordinator for Athens State University. "This technology more than meets the requirements set by the Higher Education Opportunity Act in authenticating student identities, and its feasibility and ease of use would vastly increase our faculty's confidence in conducting assessments online."
Institutions will receive a limited number of free verifications based on their total student enrollment and Blackboard license. Most institutions choose not to verify every student for every assessment; instead, random verification of test takers ensures that the process does not become predictable, burdensome or cost prohibitive. The process does not require the release of student information, thereby avoiding any potential issues with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
"We are excited to include a range of industry-leading technologies - from student identity verification to instant messaging and plagiarism prevention - to offer institutions a more powerful e-learning platform," said Matthew Small, Blackboard's Chief Business Officer. "And while the Blackboard platform already offers security protection through end user authentication, this solution allows institutions to further strengthen their identity verification efforts."
After students login to the Blackboard((R)) platform and access a course assessment, Acxiom's technology, which has been used widely to authenticate online banking transactions, will periodically and randomly present real-time challenge questions that only the enrolled student will know how to answer.
