Blackboard Learn and Google Classroom are both academic learning management systems. However, each product serves very different academic segments, with little overlap.
Blackboard Learn is very focused on serving higher education institutions, with many advanced features targeting these users. In contrast, Google Classroom is much more common in primary or secondary education classrooms instead of higher education. Blackboard Learn is also a paid platform, while Google Classroom is free for schools to use.
Features
Blackboard Learn and Google Classroom both have distinct advantages that schools and universities can utilize.
Blackboard Learn stands out as the powerhouse LMS for higher education. It has among the widest ranges of features and capabilities out of all academic LMS’s, including a robust assessment tool. It also offers excellent document management and can be highly customized to meet each institutions’ preferences and needs.
Google Classroom excels at offering a more accessible and user-friendly platform for primary and secondary education. It is highly integrated with the rest of the G suite, with the compatibility benefits that come with the Google ecosystem. It’s also much more user-friendly than more advanced LMSs, especially for younger or less technically savvy users. It’s also free for schools, which can be highly appealing for budget-pinched schools.
Limitations
There are also drawbacks to Blackboard Learn and Google Classroom that buyers should keep in mind.
For instance, Blackboard Learn is less user-friendly across the board. While it’s more customizable, Blackboard is also much more of a lift to implement and manage over the long term. It’s also a more expensive option in the academic LMS market.
In contrast, Google Classroom’s reliance on the rest of the G Suite, particularly Docs and Slides, limits the capabilities of Classroom on its own. This helps explain why Classroom’s native document management has been criticized by some reviewers. It has fewer advanced management capabilities that higher ed instructors rely on, as well as limitated assessment capabilities. Classroom is also less configurability.
Pricing
Blackboard Learn is priced uniquely for each institution and is available by quote from the vendor.
Google Classroom is free for schools to use, and is included in the G Suite for Education package as well.
