Q: What are Anthology and Class Technologies, Inc. announcing?
A: Anthology and Class Technologies, Inc. announced that they have signed a definitive agreement for Class Technologies to acquire Anthology’s Blackboard Collaborate virtual classroom tool.
Q: When does the deal close?
A: The final closing of the deal is pending standard U.S. government approval, which is expected to occur in the first half of 2022. Until then, both businesses will continue to operate as usual and as separate entities.
Q: Can you tell me more about Class?
A: Class is software developed by Class Technologies Inc., a company founded by education software pioneer Michael Chasen - a co-founder and former CEO of Blackboard. Class adds teaching and learning tools to Zoom. It helps instructors take attendance, hand out assignments, give a quiz or test, grade work, proctor exams, talk one-on-one with a student, track student progress, and more all within the Zoom platform. Class Technologies is headquartered in Washington, D.C. with +300 staff around the world.
Q: Why did Anthology enter into this agreement?
A: The sale will enable Anthology to focus resources on accelerating innovation within our flagship learning management system, Blackboard Learn Ultra, and in other areas of the business where we can uniquely support the education community.
Q: How does this impact my school/institution?
A: There will be no immediate impact to how your school/institution uses Collaborate on a day-to-day basis. After the transaction closes, you will have the opportunity to continue using Collaborate under your existing terms and conditions to support a seamless client experience and minimize disruptions to the way you rely on virtual classroom technology today.
Class Technologies plans to continue full support for both Class for Zoom as well as Blackboard Collaborate. Once the transaction is complete, the companies will also partner to build a tight integration between Blackboard Learn and Class to promote student success. The future combination will bring the best of both products together.
Q: Will there be any changes to my institution’s existing contract?
A: There will be no changes to your existing contract.
Q: My institution uses Blackboard Learn and Blackboard Collaborate. Does the Class tool integrate with Blackboard Learn? If we choose to use a virtual classroom tool going forward other than Class, will we still have the same seamless integrations that we’ve come to expect?
A: As part of the agreement, Class Technologies will work with Anthology to ensure that the same tight integration that exists today between Blackboard Learn and Collaborate will continue and become even stronger. Anthology also remains deeply committed to open standards. We understand that our clients want flexibility to use the tools of their choice, and we will continue to support that choice by integrating with other EdTech providers’ tools.
Q: Will this transaction have any data privacy implications for Collaborate clients?
A: Class Technologies shares Anthology’s commitment to high privacy and security standards. Personal information in Collaborate will continue to be protected by the existing contractual commitments on privacy and security.
Q: Will customers of Blackboard Collaborate be forced to switch to use Class?
A: No, it’s business as usual for Blackboard Collaborate customers. Class Technologies plans to continue full support for both Blackboard Collaborate as well as Class. Class Technologies is deeply committed to continuing to support Blackboard Collaborate.
Q: Does Class Technologies plan to phase out Blackboard Collaborate’s current system/software?
A: Class Technologies plans to fully support Blackboard Collaborate and the existing connections between Blackboard Collaborate and Blackboard Learn. In addition, Class Technologies plans to build new and improved connections between Class and Blackboard Learn.
Q: Will Class Technologies continue to provide customer support and software updates to Blackboard Collaborate?
A: Yes. Current Blackboard Collaborate Client Agreements will be assigned to Class Technologies, who shall assume responsibility for all obligations under the Agreement.
Blackboard Collaborate will be known as Class Collaborate, and an experienced Collaborate team from Blackboard are expected to join Class.
Q: If Class Technologies plans to replace Blackboard Collaborate video capabilities with the Zoom platform, what happens to customers that do not wish to switch to Zoom?
A: Blackboard Collaborate customers can continue on with business as usual. Class Technologies plans to continue full support for both Class for Zoom as well as Blackboard Collaborate. Class Technologies will communicate with customers after the deal closes about their requirements, concerns, and ideas.
Q: Class Technologies already partners with other learning management systems. What’s the difference with Anthology’s partnership with Class Technologies?
A: As part of the agreement, Class Technologies will work with Anthology to ensure that the same tight integration that exists today between Learn and Collaborate will continue and be even stronger between Blackboard Learn and the Class virtual classroom tool. This will enable Anthology to deliver integrated and streamlined workflows for instructors, like launching a virtual classroom session, accessing recordings from the course, and taking attendance automatically. The tight integration will also provide data-driven insights that will enable faculty and administrators to make adjustments that will ultimately improve student success.
Q: Can customers expect a few bumps as the technology integrates?
A: There will be no immediate software changes and we don’t expect the transition to be noticeable to users. Behind the scenes, our team is working tirelessly to ensure a smooth transition and to put the resources of our two teams together to improve synchronous virtual learning.
Q: How does this impact Anthology’s partnerships?
A: There will be no immediate impact to partner integrations or the way clients of our Collaborate channel partners use the product on a day-to-day basis. Class Technologies will work with Anthology to build a seamless integration with Blackboard Learn, and we will continue to focus on open standards and supporting client choice by integrating with solutions from other education technology providers. Partners will have the opportunity to build a relationship with Class Technologies moving forward to help promote student success through its virtual classroom products.
Q: Does this impact Anthology’s mission or strategy?
A: Our mission remains unchanged -- to provide the education community with dynamic, data-driven experiences so that learners and educators achieve their goals. And we are continuing our work to bring those experiences to life across the entire education ecosystem.
Q: How, specifically, does Anthology plan to shift resources to Learn as a result of selling Collaborate? Can you provide examples of how this will impact innovation?
A: We are continuing to make significant investments in Blackboard Learn, involving clients and incorporating user feedback at every step of the process. By taking a holistic approach – from development to deployment – we’re meeting clients where they are and creating an easier transition path to Ultra. As a result of focusing more resources on Learn, Anthology can make improvements to support more robust assessment and grading functionality, richer course and content design, deeper integrations and embedded analytics, among numerous other enhancements. We’ve tripled the size of our Learn development team just in the last year and the results are tangible in the significance of our April and May releases.