🧭

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.
image

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
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
External Grade
Copy a question
Random block and question set
Question pool
Item analysis
Points box
Grade Pill
image
image

Users and Groups

Original
Ultra
Location
Navigation
Features
Users
Left menu
Roster
On/off for students, Accommodations
Groups
Left menu
Course 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
Blackboard Learn Ultra Checklist