Blackboard wants you to hack its learning management system

Blackboard wants to create more “unique, user-friendly and impactful” apps to be integrated with its Learning Management System software. And so the edtech giant has opened up the call — inviting developers and U.S. college students to submit their ideas for a chance to win prizes.

This week Blackboard launched its first “Hackboard” hackathon, a virtual contest for developers and students. Submissions of an app that aims to “improve the teaching and learning experience” are due by June 19. All submissions will be judged on innovation, user experience, quality, impact on the teaching and learning experience, technical difficulty and presentation. There will be one student winner and one developer winner.

“We look forward to seeing the innovative applications that participants will integrate with our platform,” Blackboard chief product officer Tim Tomlinson said in a statement. “We encourage any developer or student to enter who wants to test their skills, expand their knowledge, and have the opportunity make a difference in online learning.”

Enter the hackathon

Winners get $2,000 and the chance to attend and present at both DevCon, Blackboard’s annual developers conference, and BbWorld, Blackboard’s annual user conference.