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Blackboard Learn Ultra Comparison

This reference will help you compare Blackboard Learn Original to Blackboard Learn Ultra. You can easily identify the familiar Original menus and the updated Ultra features.

Standard Menus: Quick access to course communications and Details & Actions.
Streamlined Content: Easy to create, copy, and upload course content.
Simplified Navigation: Consistent icons to add, edit, expand, and close course layers.

Blackboard Original Menu

Table of Contents

Course Menu
Course Tools
Evaluation
Grade Center
New Terminology
Users and Groups
Customization
Packages and Utilities
Help

Blackboard Learn Ultra

Course Menu

Original	Ultra	Location	Navigation	Features
Syllabus	⚠	Course Content	Create > Folder or Document	Drag/drop, upload, or create a folder or improved Ultra Document
Learning Modules	✅	Course Content	Create > Learning Module	Organize content sequentially with the ability for forced sequence
Discussions	✅	Top navigation	Discussions	Improved analytics
Groups	✅	Moving from Details & Actions to Top navigation	Course Groups - View sets & groups	Create group discussions, assignments, and tests
Exam/Quizzes	✅	Course Content	Create > Test	Most Original question types are supported: Learn more about test creation and question types
Assignments	✅	Course Content	Create > Assignment	Create items, copy from existing courses, and reuse questions
My Grades	✅	Top navigation	Gradebook	New and Overall Grade
Tools (Show/Hide)	✅	Hidden until added		Content Market tools available from Course Content and Books & Course Tools.
Online Bookstore	✅	Left menu	Books & Tools
Hoheimer Library	✅	Base navigation	Assist	New Assist menu provides access to campus resources.
SmartEvals	✅	Left Menu	Books & Tools
Content Collection	✅	Course Content menu

Course Tools

Original	Ultra	Location	Navigation	Features
Achievements	⚠			Badgr Spaces
Announcements	✅	Top navigation (moved from Details & Actions)	Announcements > Create Announcement	Appear as pop-up window with dismiss button and in Activity Stream.
Attendance	✅	Left menu Details & Actions	Attendance > Mark Attendance	Easily track attendance and add it to the gradebook.
Blogs	⚠	PENDING	Not yet developed, but planned	Use Discussions, Journals
Cengage Learning MindLinks	✅	Course Content menu	Content Market
Contacts	❌	DISCONTINUED	Use the Profile feature to add a photo and update your information.	Add your course schedule to the left menu and office hours on the Calendar.
Content Market Tools	✅	Course Content menu	Also Books & Tools	Browse all course tools
Course Calendar	✅	Top navigation	Calendar	Add Event, edit Course Schedule, and Office Hours
Course Messages	✅	Top navigation	Messages	Access throughout the course
Date Management	✅	Batch Edit	Course Content ...more menu	Batch edit dates, visibility, and delete
Discussion Board	✅	Top navigation	Also available through Course Content.	Improved metrics
Glossary	❌	DISCONTINUED		Use an Ultra document
Goals	✅	Base Navigation and Course Content	Align with Files, Assessments, Rubrics, Discussions, Links, Documents, Tools, and questions	Administrator must first populate
Goal Performance	✅	Base Navigation	Search by name, email, or ID	Search for students and view their performance against goals across courses
ILP Integration	✅	Course Content	Create >Teaching tools with LTI connection	Also Books & Tools
Journals	✅	Course Content	Create > Journals
McGraw Hill Higher Ed	✅	Course Content	Content Market	Also Books & Tools
Microsoft Teams	✅	Course Content	Books & Tools	Live or record meetings
Rubrics	✅	Course Content	Settings (gear icon)	Also Assignment > Additional Tools - Rubrics
SafeAssign	✅	Course Content	Assignment Settings (gear icon) Additional Tools - Originality Report Enable SafeAssign.	Originality Report
Self and Peer Assessment	⚠	Course Content	Assignment Settings > Evaluation Options	Peer Review
Send Email	✅	Top navigation	Messages	Recipient email and replies optional
Tasks	⚠	PENDING	Use Progress Tracking and Activity Stream notifications	Under review for further improvement
Tests, Surveys, and Pools	⚠	Course Content Details & Actions	Create > Test or Question Banks > Manage banks	Assessments or Question Banks (Surveys not yet developed, but planned)
Wikis	❌	DISCONTINUED Use OneNote Class Notebook	Books & Tools or Content Market	Also OneDrive or Google Docs

Evaluation

Original	Ultra	Location	Navigation	Features
Course Reports	✅	Analytics	Student Activity	Opened, started, and submitted assignments
Performance Dashboard	⚠	Gradebook Analytics	Gradebook > Course activity related to Grades Analytics > Course Activity	Student Performance (Days of inactivity, 5 grades fall below, activity alert, auto zero, overall grade
Retention Center	❌	DISCONTINUED	Activity Stream	Receive alerts for students falling behind, absent, and failing
SCORM Report	⚠	Top navigation	Analytics > SCORM Reports

Grade Center

Original	Ultra	Location	Navigation	Features
Grade Center	✅	GradeBook	Gradable Items, Students	Set up the overall grade
Needs Grading		GradeBook	Gradable Items	Grading Status
Full Grade Center		GradeBook	Gradable Items	Grid View
Assignments		GradeBook	Gradable Items	Automatic Zeros
Tests		GradeBook	Gradebook and Analytics > Question Analysis	Option to update and regrade submissions

New Terminology

Original	Ultra
Course Activity Related to Grades	Course Activity report
External Grade	Overall Grade
Copy a question	Reuse questions
Random block and question set	Question pool
Question pool	Question bank
Item analysis	Question analysis
Points box	Grade Pill

Users and Groups

Original	Ultra	Location	Navigation	Features
Users	✅	Left menu	Roster	On/off for students, Accommodations
Groups	✅	Left menu	Course Groups	Create and Reuse Groups

Customization

Original	Ultra	Location	Navigation	Features
Enrollment Options	❌	Pending	Email, Self Enroll, and Access codes	Release for 2023
Guests and Observer Access	⚠	Pending		Release for 2023
Properties	✅	Left menu	Course is private	Students can’t access this course/Open to Students.
Teaching Style	✅	Left menu	Course Image	No Entry Pointed needed
Tool Availability	✅	Hidden until added	Course Content Books & Tools	Also Base Navigation for SmartEvals

Packages and Utilities

Original	Ultra	Location	Navigation	Features
Bulk Delete	⚠	Course Content more….ellipsis	Batch Edit	Also Batch Delete
Check Course Links	❌	Original only		not planned
Course Copy	✅	Course Content	Copy all or some course materials	Also Course Content more…ellipsis
Export/Archive Course	✅	Course Content more…ellipsis	Export Course Package
Import Course Cartridge	✅	Course Content more…ellipsis	Import Content
Import Package/View Logs	✅	Course Content more…ellipsis	Import Content, Course Tasks and Logs
Manage LTI Links	✅	Course Content	Create > Teaching tools with LTI connection	Also Books & Tools

Help

Original	Ultra	Location	Navigation	Features
Help		Question mark, bottom right	Blackboard Support	Goes directly to content based on area selected
Blackboard Help for Instructors	✅	Self-Service	Blackboard Help Knowledge Base
Contact Support	✅	Technical Support	Call Client Support	Submit a new support case (BtBb account required) Session Debug
Video Tutorials	✅			Help Center

✅Blackboard Learn Ultra Checklist