Interesting announcement from Blackboard a few weeks about a test program in which they are teaming with McGraw-Hill in delivering online education to twenty campuses.

http://blackboard.com/About-Bb/Media-Center/Press-Releases.aspx?releaseid=1520881

The approach incorporates Blackboard Learn and McGraw-Hill Connect and Create in an integrated fashion, including single-sign on capabilities and synchronization of automated grading systems, and more.

In the interests of full disclosure, I should add that I author books for McGraw-Hill on a freelance basis. But I don't think anyone would disagree that McGraw-Hill is a clear leader in the textbook industry.

The Blackboard / McGraw-Hill combination of a force to be reckoned with, and this move toward integrating and combining efforts is, I believe, a sign of things to come.

Does anyone agree? Disagree?