This page covers a list of common issues you may encounter when working in Blackboard Ultra.
đ Contact Digital Services if you need support with the technical infrastructure for online learning, passwords and email.
đ Contact the Blackboard helpdesk if you are having issues with setting up or accessing assignments or learning materials etc. within the Blackboard learning environment.
đ I canât log in to Blackboard
Account conflicts - using other Microsoft accounts
Please note that we recommend signing out of any personal, or workplace Office/Office 365 accounts before signing in to Blackboard Learn.
Ulster University uses Microsoft Office 365 for Single Sign-on (SSO). If you are logged in/ or have recently logged into a non-UU Office 365 account, your browser may pick up this account and prevent you from logging into Blackboard.
If you have another office account this may be detected automatically, make sure you are using your ulster account:
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If another account is detected choose âUse another accountâ and enter your ulster email and address.
A simple way of seeing which account you are logged into is to visit Microsoft Office and select your initials at the top right of the screen. This will display the name of the account you are currently logged in with (see image below).
If you are using a personal/workplace/non-Ulster University Office.com/Office 365 account you should first Sign out of that account (and close your browser) before attempting to login to Blackboard Learn using your Ulster University account details.
Expired sessions
If you are logged into Blackboard Learn and leave the session open within your browser, the system will timeout after a set period of time (typically 8 hours) resulting in an error message. To resolve this issue we suggest going to Microsoft Office (logging in if you are not aready logged in), selecting your initials at the top right of the screen and choosing the Sign Out link (highlighted in red below):
Please note that we also recommend signing out of email if you are using the web version of Outlook
You should then close and open your browser and try to login again.
I donât have a university account
The majority of staff need a University email for access to Blackboard Learn.
New full time member of staff (with an e-code e123456) are automatically assigned an email and password. You will find these details in the personal email used on your application and or contract (check your spam if you canât see it in your inbox). Contact HR hr@ulster.ac.uk or servicedesk@ulster.ac.uk if you havenât received your new login details.
Associate members of staff e.g. those with part-time, short-term or temporary contracts (with an a-code a12345) will receive their welcome email and password reset in their personal email account used in their application (check your spam if you canât see it in your inbox). In addition, Associate members need their A-Code/email to set up their account. Contact the member of staff who sponsored your application, they will have received a notification email with your A-Code.
I donât know how to log in to Blackboard
You need a staff code, a university email address and a network password.
Full-time / permanent members of staff automatically receive a staff code e1234567, email and password.
Temporary or part-time staff members (e-tutors, external examiners etc.) will need an associate account set up by a staff sponsor.
Follow the instructions for logging in to Blackboard (online)
Or follow these instructions for logging in to Blackboard (app)
Iâve forgotten my login details.
Use the same credentials that you use for the MyDay Portal or University e-mail i.e. your Ulster University e-mail address and network password.
Iâve forgotten my network password
You can reset your account on the Microsoft website at https://passwordreset.microsoftonline.com/ or by following the instructions at Self-Service Password Reset.
I canât use my Multi-factor Authentification.
Ensure that you have Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) is enabled.
Log in to Microsoft 365, click on your initials or photograph in the top right hand corner
and click on View account
Click on Security info
Make sure the Default sign-in method is set to âMicrosoft Authenticator- notificationâ. If it is not click Change and select âMicrosoft Authenticator- notificationâ from the drop down menu.
If you do not have Multi-factor authentication (MFA) set-up, follow the the guide to setting-up MFA or follow this Digital Services guide for MFA.
Oops! Something went Wrong
If you see the error screen above, donât panic, itâs probably just a permissions issue.
Check you are assigned to the module you expected to see, if you are then contact the Blackboard Helpdesk with the module code, problem description and your details.
đ§ I canât see any of my modules in Blackboard
Make sure you are in Courses view in Blackboard.
Once you are logged into Blackboard you are automatically taken to Activity stream, click on Courses in the left hand menu.
If no courses appear in Courses view, check your course filters at the top of the page
Check your Course filters
If no courses appear in Courses view, check your filter settings at the top of the page, Terms filter should be set to All terms and Filters all courses.
Getting assigned to a module
If you still can not see your course in Blackboard course view, you may need to be assigned to the module. while students enrol on a course and are automatically assigned to a course, staff need manually assigned to their course. You can use module manager to get access to a module.
Remember modules may share the same name with courses that run on different campuses or different semesters, make sure you select the right one. Each module has a unique CRN, Course Reference number, use this to select the right course.
Follow these instructions to get access to your course using Module manager.
If you are still having problems contact the module coordinator.
Setting up your module in Module Manager
Every academic year, a new version of your course must be created for a new cohort of students. If you are the named Module co-ordinator for a course, you can set up your course in Module Manager for the new academic year.
As Blackboard is being upgraded to Blackboard Ultra, academic year 24/25 modules will be automatically assigned a Blackboard Ultra Module template
As Blackboard is being upgraded to Blackboard Ultra, you can only migrate content from other Ultra modules, otherwise your course will be assigned a blank Ultra module template.
If your course is blank, you can easily copy content from your Blackboard Original modules or add new content.
đŹ I canât migrate my content from last year!
In academic year 24/25, all modules will be automatically assigned a Blackboard Ultra Module template.
Important
You can only migrate content from other Ultra modules, otherwise your course will be assigned a blank Ultra module template.
See My Module is empty for guidanceđ
đ© My Module is empty
As Blackboard is being upgraded to Blackboard Ultra, all academic year 24/25 modules feature the new Blackboard Ultra module template. However, you can only migrate content from other Ultra modules, otherwise your course will be assigned a blank Ultra module template.
Donât panic! You can âŠ
Copy content from a previous module
To copy into the course content area; in your Ultra module, you can either âŠ
at the top of the course content area, click the ellipsis (three dots)
Or mouse over where you want to add an item, click on the plus icon.
the select Copy Content from the drop-down menu.
This will bring up the Copy Items dialogue box. Enter the module code you wish to copy from, in the Course name or ID search box.
For more detailed instructions on
or add new learning content from scratch
Add new content to the Course Content area
Mouse over where you want to add an item, click on the plus icon.
This brings up the add content context menu, select Create
This brings up the Create Item context menu. Select the type of item you wish to add (NB use Context Market for Turnitin)
Follow the links to more detailed instructions on
Adding Learning Modules and Folders
Adding a Blackboard dropbox
Adding a Blackboard test
Adding a Turnitin assignment dropbox
Navigate to the folder / section you want to place the drop box in. Click on the + icon
Then click on âContent Marketâ
Content Market shows all the tools integrated with Blackboard, select and click on Turnitin to add a Turnitin dropbox and then adjust your settings.
For more detailed instructions on how to add a Turnitin assignment dropbox
Changing the name of an item in Ultra
To change the name of an item in Ultra, click on the three dots (ellipsis) and select edit.
Then mouse over the title and click when you see the title underlined and the pencil icon appears
when you see the flashing cursor you can edit
No need to save, just use the X to close.
đ Getting support
Getting support from Digital Services
Digital Services support the technical infrastructure for online learning and provides technical support and training.
Digital services provide support for email, password, Staff portal, Eduroam wifi, hardware, software, and printing.
Check out the Digital Services website.
Or contact the Digital Services Service desk
Online Servicedesk
Phone: 028 9536 7776
Email: servicedesk@ulster.ac.uk
When contacting Digital Services, remember to state
your B-number (e.g. B00123456),
personal and [if available] ulster email addresses (e.g. jjsmith2011@gmail.com and smith-j3@ulster.ac.uk),
description of the problem
screenshots (on a PC use PrintScreen and on a Mac Cmd + Shift + 5)
Contacting the Blackboard helpdesk
Contact the Blackboard helpdesk if you are having issues with setting up or accessing assignments or learning materials etc. within the Blackboard learning environment.
NB For technical problems such as logging in and password issues, please contact Digital Services.
For issues within Blackboard, you can
or call: +44 28 9536 7188
When contacting Blackboard helpdesk, to speed up our support, please state
your name, a-code or e-code
module code & CRN e.g. BMS859 & 64404
ulster email address e.g. j.smith@ulster.ac.uk (contact Digital Services if you donât know your ulster email)
type of issue e.g. Turnitin dropbox -Coursework 1 Scientific paper - not working
description of problem
and screenshots (on a PC use PrintScreen and on a Mac Cmd + Shift + 5)
Example email to Blackboard helpdesk
