Setting up (Rolling over) your module for teaching 25/26

To set up your module for teaching in the new academic year 25/26 you’ll need to:

1 1. Access your module in Module Manager
2 2. Adding learning materials
- 2.1 Copying items from other modules
- 2.2 Copy whole module
3 3. Setting up assignment dropboxes

All 25/26 modules initially contain a blank Blackboard Ultra template, you need to copy content from AY24-25 or upload your module content to refresh your module for AY25-26.

1. Access your module in Module Manager

Staff need to use Module Manager to request access as an Instructor to a module before it becomes available in Blackboard.

See our guide on how to enrol on your Blackboard module

After a few minutes you’ll see your module listed in Blackboard Courses list

Click on the course name to open your module. You’ll see there is a template with links, empty folders and learning modules:

The Assessment folder contains the Student declaration, marks and feedback disclaimer as well as a link to student guidance.

You’ll need to add your learning materials and assessments to your module.

2. Adding learning materials

You three choices for populating your module

You can create new content see building a new module
Copy items from other modules
Copying across a whole module

Copying

You must be enrolled as Instructor on the source and destination modules, to be able to copy items across to your new module.

Copying items from other modules

You can copy a number of items from other modules such as folders, learning modules, documents, discussions and announcements.

Select either inside or outside a Learning Module or folder, click on the circle with the plus to reveal the drop-down menu. Select Copy Content.

This will take you to the Copy Items screen

Enter the module code or CRN of the source module in the ‘Search by course name or ID’ text box. A list of matching live modules appear. Check the CRNs and select the module that will act as source of the content (you’ll need Instructor access to the source and destination modules).

Navigate the folders and select the items you wish to copy by selecting the check box beside each item, the list of items to be copied over appears on the right. When you have selected all your items, click Start Copy to copy the items.

Just remember to make items visible using the drop down beneath the title (a line through the icon means it’s hidden)

… and to add the topic to the parent Learning module and add a image by clicking the ellipsis (three dots) and selecting Edit.

Find out more about editing Learning Modules*

Student view of learning module

NB if the source module is in Blackboard Original you might get Blackboard Ultra exception notices

Copy whole module

First, you’ll need to delete the items in your 2025/26 module you don’t need, to save time you can use Batch Edit.

Select the ellipsis (three dots), at the top of the Course Content area and select Batch Edit.

Select the checkboxes beside the Learning modules and folders you don’t need and select Delete items.

Keep the link to Blackboard support and the Assessment and feedback folder as it contains the Student declaration and disclaimer.

Now you can copy the module content across. Select the ellipsis (three dots) at the top of the Course Content area and choose Copy items from the context menu.

Enter the module code of the source module in the ‘Search by course name or ID’ text box. A list of matching live modules appear. Check the CRNs and select the check-box beside the module that will be the source of the content (you’ll need Instructor access to that module too); select Start Copy.

When you’ve copied over a whole module, remember to delete copied assessment dropboxes in your 2025/26 module by clicking on the ellipsis (three dots) and selecting Delete.

You can move copied items into new folders by clicking on the six dots and dragging.

NB if the source module is in Blackboard Original you might get Blackboard Ultra exception notices

3. Setting up assignment dropboxes

Remember don’t copy over assignment dropboxes, it’s best practice to set up new assignment dropboxes in the Assessment and Feedback folder

Use our guide to choosing an assessment to select the most appropriate form of assessment for your module.

Adding a Blackboard Assignment dropbox

In your Module’s Course Content, click the + sign where you want the assignment to display. In the drop-down menu, select Create

This opens the Create Item panel, select Assignment.

The New Assignment page opens.

Click on the top left-hand corner to give your assignment a name, it is recommended that you preface the name with Coursework 1 or 2.

Add assignment instructions by typing in the text edit box and click Save.

Find out more about setting up a Blackboard assignment dropbox

Adding a Turnitin dropbox

Select the plus in your Assessment and Feedback folder

Select Content Market from the Drop down menu.

Select Turnitin to set up the dropbox.

This will open up the Turnitin assignment dropbox settings window.

Here you can either …

… set up a new Turnitin drop box as before, by entering a title, instructions and start, due and feedback dates

… or copy Turnitin dropboxes from previous modules by selecting Copy assignments from previously created assignments

Find out more about setting up a Turnitin dropbox.