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Blackboard Student Quick Start

With Blackboard Learn, you have access to your courses anytime, anywhere.

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Blackboard is Virginia Wesleyan University's learning management system (LMS) where students and faculty interact and access course resources. Blackboard is available at https://virginiawesleyan.blackboard.com

Table of Contents

Base Navigation
Course Navigation
Course View
Course Communication
Course Content
Course Assignments
Types of Course Content

Base Navigation

Additional Resources

🆕Editing your Profile & Notifications 🆕Using the Blackboard Learn App🧠Accessing Online Tutoring Tools

Checking your browser

Blackboard Learn Original Help for Students

Video playlist: Original Course View

Blackboard Learn Ultra Help for Students

Video playlist: Ultra Course View

From the moment you log in, you have access to core features in the base navigation menu where your name appears.

When you select any link from the base navigation menu, you see a overall view across all of your courses—you don't have to navigate to each course.

Institution Page: Find important announcements and resources.
Profile: Make changes to your profile and notifications.
Activity Stream: See up-to-the-minute activity for your courses.
Courses: Navigate to current, past, and upcoming courses.
Calendar: Access course events and due dates.
Messages: View and send messages in your courses.
Grades: Check your grades for all of your courses.
Assist: Connect with campus resources to help you succeed.
Tools: Link to tools such as tutoring and course evaluations.

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You can choose which notifications you’ll receive about activity in your courses through your Profile and Activity Stream settings.

The base navigation menu remains in view even when you're in a course. As you click course links, pages open as layers—simply close the layer to return to a previous page or the list.

You can easily return to the base navigation menu from wherever you are—you'll see the menu icon from behind the layer you have open. Click the X to close the layer.

Course Navigation

You can view the Courses page as a list or a grid. Select or move between past, current, and upcoming courses. Each course card lists the course ID, course title, and instructor.

If you frequently access a course, select the star icon to add it to your favorites so it appears at the top of your course list.

Course View

Blackboard organizes your course content to provide easy access for learning and interaction. Courses may vary in design based on the course view. Your instructor determines the tools you will use in each course.

🚩Learn Original Course View

The original course menu appears on the left of your screen. Select an item to open it. Content appears in the main window to the right of the course menu.

🏴Learn Ultra Course View

Learn Ultra allows you to access frequently used tools from the top navigation bar. Select each tab to access course content and communication tools. The Details & Actions menu may vary by course.

In Learn Ultra, progress tracking visually shows your activity with course content. Your progress with content can also be viewed by your instructor.

🚀 Assist is always available from the base navigation menu to connect you with campus resources including the Hofheimer Library and Online Bookstore.

Course Communication

Your instructor may communicate directly with you or send announcements and messages to the entire class.

Announcements: Instructors use announcements to communicate time-sensitive information and course updates.
Messages: You can view messages for each of your courses. If available, you can create and reply to course messages.
Discussions: You can participate in course discussions to share your thoughts and ideas. Take time to consider your responses, your instructor may specify requirements and choose to grade your contributions.

Conversations: You can also contribute through conversations. If enabled you can quickly ask/answer questions and share resources related to course content.

Course Content

You may find a variety of content, such as learning modules, folders, discussions, assignments, and tests. You can also add files, images, and videos to your course.

🚩Learn Original Course View

Adding files, images, video, & audio

Uploading files from cloud storage

🏴Learn Ultra Course View

Adding files, images, video, & audio in Ultra

Uploading files from cloud storage in Ultra

Course Assignments

As you progress through your course, you may complete different types of assignments and assessments. Your instructors use assignments to further your knowledge and tests to assess your understanding of course content.

Assignments: You can submit assignments to receive feedback and grades:
Tests: You can take your test for assessment and grading:
Grades: You can view coursework and grades for your course or for all of your courses from base navigation. Your instructor may leave feedback about your work including a video or audio recording for additional information about your grade.
Attendance: Your instructor can track your attendance and use your attendance as part of your overall course grade. If your instructor has assigned attendance as a grade, you can view your overall attendance grade and detailed records.

🚩Original Course View

Types of Course Content

This table describes the types of content that your instructors can add to courses.

Files	Content Type	Description
	Learning module	Learning Modules let you navigate from one content item to the next without distractions or extra clicks. A learning module keeps you focused on the lesson or concept.
	Folder	A folder is a content container. Instructors can use folders and sub-folders to group related material, such as a "Week 1 Case Studies" folder inside the "Week 1 Assignments" folder. Folders make materials easier to find and reduces scrolling.
	Document	Instructors can create a page or "handout" and add text, audio, video, files, and images. Based on the settings or what the browser allows, audio, video, and image files can appear inline.
	Image	Images appear inline or open in new windows or tabs.
	Audio	Audio files appear inline or open in new windows or tabs. You have controls to pause, play, and adjust the volume.
	Video	Video files appear in inline or open in new windows or tabs. You have controls to pause, play, and adjust the volume.
	Link	Select the link to go to a website or resource.
	Assignment	Instructors use assignments to assess your knowledge of course content and objectives. Your instructors often assign grades to assignments. Instructors can also create assignments for groups of students.
	Test	Instructors use tests to assess your knowledge. Instructors can also create tests for groups of students.
	File	Select a file title to download it.
	Link to discussions	Instructors can provide a link to a discussion near related content. For example, you might be asked to read a file and then respond in discussions.
	Journal	Instructors can use journals to communicate privately with you and can grade your contributions.
	Embedded Cloud Document	Instructors can link a Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file to your course. The content also appears in your course outline.
	Google Document	If your institution uses this feature, instructors can link a Google Doc, Sheet, or Slide to your course. The content also appears in your course outline.
	SCORM	Instructors can add web-based content packages from academic publishers or instructional designers. SCORM packages open in a new window and may count for a grade.