Thirty-one institutions are evaluating a new integration for using digital learning content from John Wiley & Sons, Inc. with Blackboard Inc.'s learning management system (LMS). The field trial gives students and faculty access to Wiley's rich collection of learning content and tools directly within their online course environment.

The field trial involves students, faculty and campus administrators across 42 courses at two and four-year higher education institutions in the U.S. and Canada. More than 50 instructors and 2,900 students have been providing ongoing feedback on their experience with the integration that significantly enhances the use of Wiley's content within the Blackboard Learn™ platform.

Instructors have expressed satisfaction with the integration, which lets them easily add digital content to their courses and synchronize grades and other data from Wiley's research-based, online teaching-and-learning-environment.

"I can set up my Blackboard class and integrate WileyPLUS assignment links with Blackboard tools, like discussion boards," said Julie Porterfield, an Anatomy and Physiology instructor at Tulsa Community College. "Students can easily tell in what order they need to complete certain tasks and assignments. I have been using WileyPLUS for four years and so far, this semester is even more successful in terms of student use and tracking data." 

Students using the solution have indicated they can now spend their time more effectively by having one place to do their studying and testing. "Blackboard Learn is a hub for coursework, and if you're taking a lot of different classes, it's nice to sign in to Blackboard Learn and be able to access everything you need," said John Andren, a student at George Mason University.