Well, I’m back at work this morning after spending a week in Dallas, Texas, for #BbT26.

For the last 26 years, this conference has been my personal “Digital Education Mecca.” It’s been the place to:

  • Connect with peers and colleagues across the field
  • Gather ideas from the collective wisdom (and cognitive surplus) of the Blackboard Community
  • Hear from thought leaders in education, business, and beyond
  • Engage directly with the Blackboard team on product feedback, suggestions, and roadmap discussions
  • Gain a clearer understanding of where the platform is headed

That last point has felt a little out of focus over the past few years as Blackboard became part of the broader Anthology ecosystem. Thankfully, this year felt different—but I’m getting ahead of myself.

My experience at #BbT26 felt like a renaissance. In many ways, it felt like Blackboard’s rebirth.

Reason #1 – Quality Time with Blackboard Employees

This year, Blackboard went out of its way to connect with the people who make up the community.

I had multiple opportunities to engage with developers, teaching and learning innovators, and support personnel. It reminded me of the early days, when Blackboard employees seemed genuinely interested in hearing about your institution, understanding your use cases, and discussing how you leveraged the platform.

To be fair, I know this has always happened at a macro level. But the more personal, one-on-one conversations this year really brought that commitment home.

Reason #2 – Making the Main Thing the Main Thing

Having the product name back in the conference title says a lot.

Because the conference was more focused, there were more opportunities to attend sessions that directly aligned with my interests and responsibilities. During several session blocks, I found myself choosing between three different presentations I wanted to attend.

That’s a good problem to have.

The focused agenda made the conference easier to navigate and, for me, significantly more valuable.

Reason #3 – The Road Ahead

For me, this was probably the most important takeaway.

We had the opportunity to participate in a fireside chat with Blackboard co-founder and incoming CEO, Matthew Pittinsky. While his tenure as CEO doesn’t officially begin until November, hearing him discuss the LMS landscape and the future of educational technology was invigorating.

One statement especially stood out:

“Why is it that after 30 years, the LMS has changed so little?”

Hearing one of the original architects of the system ask that question made me feel like we were back on the journey of discovery many of us embarked on in the late 1990s.

His discussion around moving beyond the traditional LMS model and focusing on the “Three Ls” particularly resonated with me:

  • Learner – Designing systems around the learner rather than the course
  • Learning – Building capabilities that directly support learning experiences
  • Learned – Providing a comprehensive system of record for what has been learned

There was much more in the conversation than I can adequately cover here, including:

  • The anthropomorphism of AI and how it can sometimes alienate rather than connect. Treating AI as software and technology—not as a person—can lead to more productive conversations.
  • The idea of the LMS enabling an intelligent academic planner.
  • Why assessment, rather than content generation, may ultimately prove to be AI’s true “painkiller application.”

For me, the fireside chat was foundational, vision-focused, and energizing.

Was it perfect? No. Pittinsky intentionally kept the conversation focused and didn’t spend much time discussing the global perspective. However, when the topic was raised during the Q&A session, he acknowledged it directly and provided a thoughtful response.

Reason #4 – The Community

This is, and always will be, one of the primary reasons I attend Blackboard conferences.

Connecting with the people who are the “you” at other institutions, reconnecting with longtime friends and colleagues, and learning from one another is what keeps me coming back year after year.

Technology evolves. Products evolve. But communities like this are what make those changes meaningful.

Final Thoughts

I genuinely believe we may be on the cusp of a renaissance for Blackboard—one that reminds me why I love working in this industry.

When the conference name was first introduced, I’ll admit I wasn’t entirely sold on it. After this year’s event, though, I understand it a little differently.

Building Blackboard Together isn’t just a conference title. It’s a reminder that meaningful innovation happens when there is a shared vision and when the community and the Blackboard team work together to build something truly special.