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
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 | ⚠ | |||
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 |
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