📚 UTHSC — Blackboard LMS Survey Dashboard

Core Experience · Teaching & Engagement · Technical Features

📊 Overview — Blackboard LMS Survey

131 Respondents · 55 Users · 9 Rated Metrics · 3 Groups
ℹ️ Survey Context: 131 respondents answered whether they use Blackboard. Only 55 (42.0%) indicated yes — all rated metrics are from those 55 active users. Response counts per metric range from 37–55 due to optional/not-applicable skips.
Blackboard Usage — 131 Total Respondents
Yes — 55 (42.0%)
No — 76 (58.0%)

Above Average vs Below Average — All Metrics

✅ Key Insights — What ITS Is Doing Well

  • Blackboard support is valued: Several comments directly praised the ability to receive help with Blackboard issues. Users described support as good and appreciated knowing that assistance is available when needed.
  • Training resources are viewed as useful: Respondents highlighted resources and training as a positive aspect. Blackboard was described as a useful campus tool and a robust system for training, and online Blackboard videos were singled out as especially helpful for resolving small issues.
  • Some users find Blackboard easy to use and appreciate centralized access: Users described Blackboard as easy to use and easy to access. They like that coursework, grades, and trainings are housed together, suggesting that Blackboard's consolidated structure is beneficial.
  • Update communication and training sessions are appreciated: One of the strongest specific positive comments praised a training session organized by Jen to explain upcoming Blackboard updates. Users appeared to value structured communication around new features.
  • Minor improvement opportunities remain: Even within generally positive comments, users noted a desire for more training on basic functions, scheduling that better fits user availability, delayed email notifications, and an easier way to upload PowerPoint presentations directly to Blackboard.

⚠️ Areas of Concern — What ITS Can Do Better

  • Users repeatedly prefer Canvas or another LMS over Blackboard: Multiple comments directly recommended switching to Canvas, with Canvas described as more intuitive, modern, and easier for both students and instructors. Blackboard was characterized as older and less capable than newer LMS options.
  • Blackboard is seen as overly complex and not user-friendly: Respondents said Blackboard requires too much technological knowledge, includes too many unnecessary features, and presents confusing workflows, especially in Ultra and certain testing tools — a significant usability burden.
  • Training could still be improved, even if Blackboard is the primary issue: There were requests for easier-to-find trainings, introductory overviews for new users, certificates of completion, more notice about sessions, and after-hours offerings.
  • Training quality feedback was mixed: One commenter noted that Ultra trainers were amiable, which is a positive reflection on staff demeanor, but also said they were not entirely knowledgeable — an opportunity to strengthen trainer depth and confidence.
  • Some users need more Blackboard functionality aligned to academic workflows: A request for curriculum mapping and comments about confusing test options suggest that some users have specialized instructional or administrative needs that are not being met well in the current Blackboard environment.

🎯 Group 1 — Core Experience

Ease of Use · Content Management · Training
Group 1 — Core Experience covers Ease of Use, Content Management, and Training & Resources. These three metrics assess how intuitive the platform feels, how well content workflows perform, and whether training support meets user needs.
⚠️ Ease of Use has the lowest average in this group (3.49) with 25.5% of users rating it below 3 — the highest dissatisfaction rate among core metrics.
3.72
Group 1 Average
Across 3 metrics
4.04
Highest Avg
Content Management
3.49
Lowest Avg
Ease of Use

Above Average vs Below Average

Average Score by Metric

👥 Group 2 — Teaching & Engagement

Collaboration · Grading · Student Engagement
Group 2 — Teaching & Engagement covers Collaboration Tools, Grading & Assessment, and Student Engagement. These metrics reflect how well Blackboard supports interactive teaching, evaluation workflows, and learner participation.
⚠️ Student Engagement has the lowest average in this group (3.54) with 24.3% of users rating it below 3.
3.68
Group 2 Average
Across 3 metrics
3.87
Highest Avg
Grading & Assessment
3.54
Lowest Avg
Student Engagement

Above Average vs Below Average

Average Score by Metric

🔧 Group 3 — Technical Features

Mobile · System Availability · User Interface
Group 3 — Technical Features covers Mobile Experience, System Availability & Speed, and User Interface. These metrics evaluate the platform's technical reliability, responsiveness, and design quality.
✅ System Availability & Speed leads this group with the highest average score (4.19) and only 5.9% below-average ratings — the strongest metric across the entire survey.
⚠️ User Interface has the lowest average in this group (3.55) with 23.5% of users rating it below 3.
3.79
Group 3 Average
Across 3 metrics
4.19
Highest Avg
System Availability
3.55
Lowest Avg
User Interface

Above Average vs Below Average

Average Score by Metric

🏆 Overall Rankings — All 9 Metrics

Ordered by Group, then by Average Score
ℹ️ Rankings Summary: All 9 rated metrics are organized across the three survey groups. Each group card below shows metric scores, satisfaction distribution, and a data-driven conclusion.
🎯 Core Experience  ·  Group Avg: 3.72
3 metrics · n = 43–55 respondents
Content Management
4.04
Training & Resources
3.63
Ease of Use
3.49
Conclusion: Content Management is the clear strength in this group, with nearly 9 in 10 users rating it positively (avg 4.04). However, Ease of Use lags significantly at 3.49 — the lowest-ranked core metric — with 1 in 4 users dissatisfied. Training & Resources falls in the middle, suggesting that while content workflows function well, the platform's usability and onboarding experience remain friction points that directly limit adoption and confidence.
👥 Teaching & Engagement  ·  Group Avg: 3.68
3 metrics · n = 37–46 respondents
Grading & Assessment
3.87
Collaboration Tools
3.64
Student Engagement
3.54
Conclusion: Grading & Assessment performs best in this group (3.87, 84.8% satisfied), indicating users find Blackboard's evaluation tools reasonably effective. Student Engagement scores lowest at 3.54, with nearly 1 in 4 users dissatisfied — pointing to a fundamental gap between what the platform offers and what instructors need to actively engage learners. Collaboration Tools also lag, suggesting that Blackboard's interactive and communication features require improvement to meet modern pedagogical expectations.
🔧 Technical Features  ·  Group Avg: 3.79
3 metrics · n = 38–51 respondents
System Availability & Speed
4.19
Mobile Experience
3.63
User Interface
3.55
Conclusion: System Availability & Speed is the highest-rated metric across the entire survey (4.19), with 94.1% of users satisfied — a clear institutional strength. The platform reliably stays up and responds quickly. However, both the User Interface (3.55) and Mobile Experience (3.63) show notable dissatisfaction (~21–24%), indicating that while the backend infrastructure is solid, the front-end design and mobile accessibility fall short — areas where Blackboard's competitors (e.g., Canvas) are widely viewed as superior.
UTHSC — Information Technology Services · Blackboard LMS Survey Dashboard · Generated June 2026
Jul 21, 2026