Blackboard acquisition boosts its predictive analytics capability
Blackboard has acquired Blue Canary, a predictive analytics company that helps higher education institutions access data-driven insights to address student outcomes. The acquisition is the second this year for Blackboard, which acquired X-Ray Analytics in July. The latest acquisition bulks up Blackboard’s growing analytics division as the company works to “help colleges and universities take greater advantage of big data in the name of student success”. Institutions are being forced to pay more attention to student outcomes because of scrutiny by government officials. Funding is often tied to outcomes, meaning colleges and universities have to figure out what leads to student success. Early warning systems (such as Blue Canary’s offering) are becoming common on campuses, giving universities ways to alert students and on-campus supports about academically dangerous habits before it’s too late to recover.

Industry News

Blackboard Acquires Predictive Analytics Company Blue Canary

Blackboard today announced the acquisition of Blue Canary, a higher education predictive analytics company focused on retention.

The move marks Blackboard's latest investment in learning analytics and student success. Earlier this year, the company acquired X-Ray Analytics, data analytics technology that is being integrated into its product lineup.

"We recognize the importance that educators and institutional leaders place on understanding the data that exists around their learners" said Jay Bhatt, CEO of Blackboard, in a press release. "That's why we've assembled a robust analytics portfolio and why we continue to invest in the technology and the talent that will advance our leadership in this area. Predictive analytics is the key to helping institutions support more students effectively, whether that support is in the form of a high-touch engagement from an advisor, or in the form of an integrated, student-facing dashboard."

Blue Canary president and founder Mike Sharkey will head the analytics business line for Blackboard. "We look forward to joining the Blackboard family and advancing a strategy that has an extremely rich analytics offering. Blackboard has the breadth and depth of skills, resources and intellectual horsepower to make an enormous impact on learner retention and to enable the institutions that serve them," said Sharkey in a prepared statement. "We're excited to join a team that shares our vision for data-powered decision making in education, as well as our keen focus on innovation and fostering success for learners."