What happens if a student can’t get to a computer, the power is out, or WiFi is on the fritz and he or she is desperate to check an assignment, grade, or post a discussion comment? For UALR students whose classes use Blackboard Learn 9.1, “there’s an app for that.”

UALR is the first campus in Arkansas to offer students the ability to access vital course content via their smart phones.

UALR recently launched Blackboard Mobile Learn, a free app that allows students to access their courses directly from their smartphones.

“This means that students will be getting access to course content virtually anytime, anywhere,” said Mark Burris, director of Scholarly Technology and Resources, a department that supports faculty and students with online courses.

“The app will give students the ability to check grades and assignments, view documents, create discussion posts, comment on blogs and journals, upload content, view course rosters, and more – all through their mobile devices.”

The app was launched for courses taught in Blackboard Learn 9.1. Of the 1,480 courses at UALR that use the Blackboard system, 222 currently have access to the Mobile Learn app. More courses will be added to Blackboard Learn 9.1 as the year progresses, giving more students the ability to use the new app.

“Starting in the summer 2012 semester, all UALR faculty and students will be on the latest version of Blackboard, and so, will be able to take advantage of this new avenue of online learning,” Burris said.

The new app is available to be downloaded on:

• Android devices

• BlackBerry smart phone devices

• HP web OS devices

• iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad

Blackboard Mobile Learn is not available on Kindle devices such as the Kindle Fire at this time. Only courses taught in the Blackboard 9.1 system will have a Blackboard Mobile Learn option. Blackboard CE8 courses will not be available in Blackboard Mobile Learn.