Fairfax Schools Distance Learning Resumes Amid Blackboard Issues

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Superintendent Scott Brabrand announced Monday Fairfax County Public Schools will no longer use Blackboard Learn 24/7 for virtual teacher instruction, but it will be utilized for instructional resources and supports. FCPS resumed its distance learning for its 189,000 students Monday despite lingering issues with the Blackboard 24/7 online learning system.

The school district had canceled teacher-led online learning for much of last week due to technical and security issues with Blackboard. The cancellation was intended to give time for Blackboard to make upgrades and for FCPS staff to be trained on the system upgrades. The school district said Monday the updates made by Blackboard over the weekend did not fix system delays. Some students were able to access the system, but increasing volume caused access to be "intermittent or slow," FCPS stated.

FCPS teachers are moving forward with instruction through other means like Google Classroom, pre-recorded videos, learning packets, eBooks, other digital resources, and instructional programming on cable channels. Schools are preparing to provide virtual instruction through a secure Blackboard Collaborate Ultra link or an alternative system.

Brabrand said Monday he created a Superintendent's Technology Advisory Council to offer guidance on distance learning challenges and provide ongoing support. In addition, a law firm with information technology and cybersecurity knowledge will conduct an outside review of the school district's distance learning rollout.

School officials and Blackboard representatives discussed the problematic start to distance learning at an April 16 online school board meeting. Aside from technical issues, there were some cases of users encountering anonymous profanity, racism and inappropriate photos in virtual classrooms, according to the Washington Post. Officials say teachers and schools had been instructed to restrict class access to specific student emails, but that extra step didn't happen. The district's IT department linked some of the inappropriate content to IP addresses belonging to students.

SEE ALSO:

• Fairfax Schools Distance Learning Was A Disaster, Board Says
• VA Governor Orders Schools Closed For Rest Of Year: Coronavirus