BB thought that the level of use at Back to School time would be the same as Live classrooms all going at the same time!?

Basic logic fail.

they had no indication they would have any problems?????

whoever that woman was should be fired for incompetence.

Anonymous wrote:So 50% of the teachers could have used the last 3-4 weeks to set up Google classroom sites. They had time. But, I guess they thought BB would work, so they didn't move down the path of using Google classrooms.

My kids schools (elementary and secondary) used Google Classroom the last 3-4 weeks. Just like they did during school time.

Not every teacher, not every school did though.

Anonymous wrote:Why can we just do Online Classes like colleges do????

Lots of teachers are ready to do this but FCPS insist on these "live" classes

They aren't easier for teachers, as college teachers will tell you.

And my elementary school kids aren't in college or ready for that. Maybe yours are but mine aren't.

Why can we just do Online Classes like colleges do????

Lots of teachers are ready to do this but FCPS insist on these "live" classes

This is all for show folks. Don't feel vindicated yet.

They probably rehearsed this blame game off camera to make the Board members look relatable ("parents are frustrated just like me"), Brabrand to be "surprised" ("well, I tried"), and Blackboard to be the scapegoat ("yeah, our software guys were laughing the whole time when you stupid cheap-os declined to pay for upgraded security features, but hey, we just raked in $X million from your ill-wriiten contract which is great considering we at least still have jobs").

So 50% of the teachers could have used the last 3-4 weeks to set up Google classroom sites. They had time. But, I guess they thought BB would work, so they didn't move down the path of using Google classrooms.

Anonymous wrote:FCPS has been using Blackboard for over 20 YEARS....

Not a very friendly program to use. Teachers, hate it, parents hate it, students hate it. Time to move to a new program!

I stopped using Blackboard the moment our school said that we no longer needed to. The only reason we still use it is because Google Classroom isn't scaled to allow parent access and Google doesn't have the ability to link to SIS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now the BB dude is saying FCPS didn't set it up correctly.

Sure, vendor. Blame the client. That'll go over well.

Blackboard is the worst. The contract comes to an end next year because it doesn't work. But it's what FCPS has at the moment unless the School Board wants to throw them some money.

Ridiculous that they have a crap learning platform but spend money on name changes, free tampons, and unneeded addition at West Potomac.

Some of that might be school based spending. Each school is treated as a program and gets a small percentage of a budget that supports school-based needs. I'm fine with building upgrades. A lot of the schools need it. But I have a problem with School Board and Leadership not being transparent here. This isn't all FCPS leadership fault, and that's coming from someone who thinks they suck. They don't want to approve the spending of more money, but they want live classes. You want 180k kids online be willing to spend on a program or upgrades that can do that.

FCPS has been using Blackboard for over 20 YEARS....

Not a very friendly program to use. Teachers, hate it, parents hate it, students hate it. Time to move to a new program!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now the BB dude is saying FCPS didn't set it up correctly.

Blackboard guy is probably being honest

Shouldn't the vendor -- who created the product -- be training the user on the important aspects of using the product?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now the BB dude is saying FCPS didn't set it up correctly.

Sure, vendor. Blame the client. That'll go over well.

Blackboard is the worst. The contract comes to an end next year because it doesn't work. But it's what FCPS has at the moment unless the School Board wants to throw them some money.

Ridiculous that they have a crap learning platform but spend money on name changes, free tampons, and unneeded addition at West Potomac.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now the BB dude is saying FCPS didn't set it up correctly.

Sure, vendor. Blame the client. That'll go over well.

Blackboard is the worst. The contract comes to an end next year because it doesn't work. But it's what FCPS has at the moment unless the School Board wants to throw them some money.

From the Superintendent's mouth: Central Office staff takes full responsibility for the inconsistency and failing to set up Distance Learning correctly.

Anonymous wrote:Now the BB dude is saying FCPS didn't set it up correctly.

Blackboard guy is probably being honest