To address recent changes in Oracle’s Java support model, Blackboard Learn is transitioning to adopt a more recent version of Java, Java 11 Corretto JDK.  To find details regarding the targeted versions and release dates please review the latest announcement details. 

To ensure 3rd Party Building Blocks along with partner Building Blocks built with Blackboard are ready, Blackboard has also been proactively reviewing and reaching out to Blackboard partners.  Below you will find a summary of the status of key Learn Building Blocks and the current status with JDK 11 support.   

It is important to be aware that if Building Blocks are not updated for Java 11, issues may occur: 

• A Building Block that is not compatible with Java 11 or over time becomes incompatible with the Blackboard Learn version can fail to start, can cause performance issues and in some cases can cause an outage. 

• Should a Building Block become incompatible and cause issues for a SaaS or Managed Hosted sites, Blackboard Support may ask you to turn off the Building Block. In more extreme cases, Blackboard Support may change the status of the Building Block to inactive to get the system back to an appropriate operational condition. 

• The Building Block will remain off until a properly working Building Block is provided and tested on the client’s test system. 

Please take time to review this Building Blocks status list carefully:   

• If any Building Blocks are critical to your Learn site and not yet in a status of VERIFIED, Blackboard encourages you to reach out to the vendor/owner and request an update be provided to Blackboard support for review.  

• If any Building Blocks are critical to your Learn site and not listed in the review below, Blackboard requests you to engage with us in the Community Preview Program. 

* AT RISK = The 3rd party has not provided an updated Building Block, IN PROCESS = an updated Building Block has been provided to Blackboard and verification is in process, VERIFIED = an updated Building Block has been provided to Blackboard and verification is complete. 

To maintain a clean Blackboard Learn environment, Blackboard recommends best practices that keep your Blackboard Learn environment focused on only relevant Building Blocks.  System administrators should review their system for all 3rd party Building Blocks and clean up (remove) Building Blocks to help improve stability and performance, potentially shorten system upgrades, and reduce the risks associated with the Coretto 11 JDK Updates: 

1. Review all inactive Building Blocks and if not needed/desired, open a Support ticket to have the Building Block(s) removed.  NOTE: For any self-hosted or managed hosted sites, the system administrator can remove the Building Block(s). 

2. Review all active, available and unavailable Building Blocks. 

• If a Building Blocks is not being used but still desired to have on the system, make the Building Block inactive.  This improves stability, application start up times, and potentially performance. 

• If a Building Blocks is not being used and not needed on the system, open a Support ticket to have the Building Block(s) removed. NOTE: For any self-hosted or managed hosted sites, the system administrator can remove the Building Block(s). 

TIP: How can you tell if a Building Block may be a 3rd party Building Block? The easiest way to do that is to go into the Admin Panel > Building Blocks > Installed Tools and sort the list by VERSION.  Blackboard core Building Blocks will have the same version that will match the Blackboard Learn release version posted at the top of the System Admin panel; those can be ignored.  All other Building Blocks should be looked at. 

This list will be updated weekly to keep you informed ahead of the Learn release supporting JDK11.  For additional questions around the JDK11 update, Blackboard requests you to engage with us in the Community Preview Program.