Blackboard Ultra course interface
- ellen bell
The new Blackboard course interface makes it easier for students to navigate course materials. The Blackboard course view structure and navigation have been simplified to enable students and staff to access their learning and assessment materials more efficiently on desktop and mobile devices.
The new Ultra interface is accessible for students as it is designed to comply with accessibility standards defined in WCAG 2.1 Level AA and Section 508
BB Ultra course on desktop
Guide to the new Ultra Interface
The new interface consists of two key areas: the Course toolbar at the top and the corresponding Course area in the main body of the page.
The course tools along the top of the page allow you to navigate between different areas of your course.
Course Tools
Content
Content is the default course view for staff and students. On the left hand side, course instructors are listed under Course Staff. The Details and Actions pane contains the Class Collaborate tool, a register of enrolled students, and access to Qwickly via Books & Tools.
The Course Content area is where you add your course content such as the module overview, module handbook, learning and or lecture materials and assessment information and drop boxes etc. For improved student access, the new interface only allows a depth of two folders.
You use the plus icon to add items to the Course Content area
To add or copy 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, Upload or Copy Content
Course content will have an icon to help you to identify the type of item:
The new Blackboard Ultra interface allows you to drag and drop content between and within content areas including folders and learning areas. You can drag and drop items using the mouse or keyboard.
Find out more about the module template, creating course content, copying course content and adding assessment drop-boxes.
Gradebook
Like the Grade Centre in the original Blackboard, the Blackboard Ultra Gradebook allows you to mark coursework, view submissions, and post and view grades from two views: Items list and Student grid. The item list view is your default view of the Gradebook, which allows you to filter the list by Markable Items (assignments) or Students.
Find out more about Gradebook.
Course tools prioritises communication with your students. In addition to the two key areas of the course, Content and Gradebook, the Calendar, Announcements and Messages tools ensure that students are kept up-to-date with the latest course information such as assignment due dates.
Calendar
The course Calendar can be used to communicate time-sensitive course information such as assignment due-dates, the course schedule, office hours, and Collaborate Live session times. When you create assignments with a due date, they will appear automatically in the calendar.
Find out more about the Calendar tool
Announcements
The Announcements tool allows you to post important and/or time-sensitive messages for students such as due-dates for assignments and projects, changes to the syllabus, and exam dates. On the Announcements page, you can add, edit, and delete and schedule announcements. On the scheduled date, the announcement will display as a pop-up when students log in to the course.
Find out more about Announcements.
Messages
Course messages is a private and secure text-based messaging tool that allows you to quickly send messages to all course members (students and staff). The Messages tool allows you to contain communication within the course environment instead of requiring students to check their emails on a separate platform.
Find out more about course Messages.
Discussions
The Discussions tool allows you to create forums that encourage students to exchange of ideas online through posts and replies. Within the Discussions area, you can create and organise discussions and add forums to the main course content area. Discussion Analytics allow you track student participation in each forum.
Find out more about the Discussions tool
Analytics
The Analytics tool provides the course activity report which records student participation in the course. The course activity report can be viewed as a graph or list and allows you to track students' performance based on their grade and hours spent in the course. Overall mark and hours in course update every 24 hours.
Find out more about Analytics*
Groups
The Groups tool allows you to create course groups which associate students with tutors or group activities. The group tools have been simplified to allow you create group sets more effectively.
Find out more about Groups
Student Preview
The Student preview allows you to view your course from the perspective of the student. Use this functionality to ensure your course structure is intuitive and that the assignments are accessible to students.
Find out more about Student Preview
Related Articles
Getting started with the new Blackboard Ultra template (Panopto video)
Useful Links
Centre for Digital Learning Enhancement
ulster.ac.uk/learningengancement/cdle