Alexa Education Skill Integration
Just ask Alexa
Blackboard Alexa Skill is available in the U.S. only.
With Blackboard Alexa Skill, students can use an Alexa device to find out what is going on in their courses. Students must be age 13 and older to link their Blackboard account to their Alexa device.
After a student links their account, they can ask Alexa what homework and assignments are due.
- Alexa, what do I have due tomorrow?
- Alexa, do I have anything due this week?
- Alexa, do I have anything due next week?
- Alexa, do I have any homework?
- Alexa, what do I have due on [day]?
- Alexa, what do I have due on Friday?
- Alexa, do I have any homework in [course name]?
- Alexa, do I have any homework in Economics?
Alexa can give students basic information that includes assignment name, type, due date, and course name. Only assignments and homework created by instructors are included in Alexa's response.
This skill is only available for students enrolled in a Blackboard Learn course. Parents can't access information about their children. For example "Alexa, what assignments do the kids have?" is not supported.
Requirements
The Blackboard Alexa Skill is available for a limited set of Blackboard Learn users. Your institution needs to meet these requirements to use the Blackboard Alexa Skill:
- Blackboard Learn version 3400.9.0 and newer for SaaS deployments
- Blackboard Learn 3500.0 (Q4 2018) and newer for Self-Hosted and Managed Hosted deployments
- Blackboard Mobile Web Services is enabled and properly configured
- Blackboard Alexa Skill REST API integration must be set to “available”
This integration has been made available on all U.S. Learn production environments, regardless of version. System administrators may disable the integration by following the institution opt-out instructions.
- Blackboard Alexa Skill REST API integration must have a user assigned. Any user can be assigned. To learn more, jump to Assign Users in Blackboard Learn.
- Located in the U.S.
Students must be age 13 and older to link their Blackboard account to their Alexa device. Students must have an Amazon Alexa account and be enrolled in a Blackboard Learn course.
Add the Blackboard Alexa Skill REST API integration
The integration can only be added to Learn sites pointing to production servers.
- Go to the Administrator Panel and select REST API Integrations.
- Select Create Integration.
- Add the following application ID: 7e53379f-2955-41b3-aeaa-265d56ce135f
- Under Learn User type in any username associated with your Learn instance. You can assign any user.
Create a user named “AlexaSkill” with no rights and assign it to the API •
- Set End User Access to Yes.
- Set Authorized to act as User to Default.
- Select Submit.
The integration is included in the list of REST API integrations and is automatically made available.
Assign users in Blackboard Learn
Assign a user to the Blackboard Alexa Skill REST API integration.
- Go to the Administrator Panel and select REST API Integrations.
- Find the Blackboard Alexa Skill REST API and select Edit in the menu.
- Under Learn User type in any username associated with your Learn instance. You can assign any user.
Create a user named “AlexaSkill” with no rights and assign it to the API.
- Set Available to Yes.
- Set End User Access to Yes.
- Set Authorized to act as User to Default.
Link accounts
To use the Blackboard Alexa Skill, students link their Amazon Alexa account with their Blackboard Learn user account.
Institution opt-out
You may decide to opt-out of the Blackboard Alexa Skill integration. This turns off the ability for your students to access their assignment data through the Blackboard Alexa Skill.
More on how to turn the Blackboard Alexa Skill integration off
Data Privacy information
Want to know more about what personal information is used, where it comes from, where it is hosted, and other data privacy information?
