This reference will help you compare Blackboard Original to Blackboard Ultra Course View. You can easily identify the familiar Original menus and the updated Ultra features.
- Standard Navigation: Easy to use icons to add, edit, expand, and close course layers
- Streamlined Content: Simply create, copy, and upload course content
- Simplified Menus: Quick access to course communications (top) and Details & Actions (left) menus
Blackboard Original Menu
Table of Contents:
Blackboard Ultra Course View
Course Menu
Original | Ultra | Location | Navigation | Features |
Syllabus | ⚠ | Course Content | Create > Folder or Document | Drag/drop, upload or Create an improved Document or Folder. |
Learning Modules | ✅ | Course Content | Create > Learning Module | Container like a Folder but more sequential, with ability for Forced Sequence. |
Discussions | ✅ | Top menu | Discussions | Improved analytics. |
Groups | ✅ | Left menu Details & Actions | 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 menu | Gradebook | New Automatic Zeros 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 | ✅ | Left menu 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 or Journals. |
Cengage Learning MindLinks | ✅ | Course Content menu | Content Market | |
Contacts | ❌ | DISCONTINUTED | 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 menu | Calendar | Add Event, Edit Course Schedule, and Office Hours |
Course Messages | ✅ | Top menu | Messages | |
Date Management | ✅ | Batch Edit | Course Content ...more menu. | Batch edit dates, visibility, and delete. Additional capabilities are planned. |
Discussion Board | ✅ | Top menu | Discussions | Also available through Course Content. |
Glossary | ❌ | DISCONTINUED | Use an Ultra document. | |
Goals | ✅ | Base Navigation | Tools > Goals | Administrator can populate. |
Goal Performance | ✅ | Course Content | Align goals to multiple items in your course | Through Assignments, Discussions, Documents, Files, Links, Rubrics, Tools, and Tests (including individual questions). |
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 | |
Rubrics | ✅ | Base Navigation | Tools | Also: Assignment Settings (gear icon) > Additional Tools - Rubrics. |
SafeAssign | ✅ | Assignment (Edit) | Originality Report | Originality Report Also: Assignment Setting (gear icon) Additional Tools - Originality Report Enable SafeAssign. |
Self and Peer Assessment | ⚠ | Assignment (Edit) | Peer Review | Assignment Setting (gear icon) > Evaluation Options - Peer Review |
Send Email | ✅ | Top menu | Messages | Recipients receive email, 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
Question Banks > Manage banks | Pools are now called Question Banks available from Details & Actions. Surveys not yet developed, but planned. |
Wikis | ❌ | DISCONTINUTED | Use Microsoft OneDrive or OneNote. | Also: Google Sites or Weebly. |
Evaluation
Original | Ultra | Location | Navigation | Features |
Course Reports | ✅ | Analytics | Student Activity | View opened, started, and submitted assignments. |
Performance Dashboard | ⚠ | Gradebook
Analytics | Gradebook > Course activity related to Grades
Analytics > Course Activity | View Student Performance (Days of inactivity, 5 grades fall below, activity alert, auto zero, overall grade. |
Retention Center | ❌ | DISCONTINUTED | Activity Stream | Receive alerts for students falling behind, absent, and failing. |
SCORM Report | ⚠ | Top Menu | Analytics > SCORM Reports |
Grade Center
Original | Ultra | Location | Navigation | Features |
Grade Center | ✅ | GradeBook | Gradable Items, Students | Set up the overall grade (always on). |
Needs Grading | GradeBook | Grading Status | ||
Full Grade Center | GradeBook | Gradable Items | Grid View | |
Assignments | GradeBook | Gradable Items | ||
Tests | GradeBook | Gradebook and Analytics > Question Analysis | Option to update and regrade submissions. |
Coming in August: Flexible grading (grade by question or student), per question feedback, pop-out rubrics, and audio, video, and file upload.
Users and Groups
Original | Ultra | Location | Navigation | Features |
Users | ✅ | Left menu | Roster | On/off for students. New
Accommodations. |
Groups | ✅ | Left menu | Course Groups |
Customization
Original | Ultra | Location | Navigation | Features |
Enrollment Options | ❌ | Pending | Email, Self Enroll, and Access codes. | 2023 |
Guests and Observer Access | ⚠ | Pending | 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 |
Packages and Utilities
Original | Ultra | Location | Navigation | Features |
Bulk Delete | ⚠ | Course Content ellipsis | Batch Edit | Also: Batch Delete |
Check Course Links | ⚠ | Original only | TBD | |
Course Copy | ✅ | Course Content + | Copy all or some course materials. f | Also Course Content …ellipsis |
Export/Archive Course | ✅ | Course Content + | Export Course Package | |
Import Course Cartridge | ✅ | Course Content …ellipsis | Import Content | |
Import Package/View Logs | ✅ | Course Content …ellipsis | Import Content, Course Tasks and Logs | |
Manage LTI Links | ✅ | Course Content | Create > Teaching tools with LTI connection | Also: Books & Tools. |
Move Files to Course Files | ⚠ | Original only? |
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 | ✅ |
Things to consider
Course Name | ⚠ | Edit Course Name | Manage Privileges Instructor/Leader > Name | On/off 2023 |
Course Banner | ⚠ | Course Image | Optimize size | Scheduled |
Student Roster | ⚠ | Roster | Student view | On/off 2023 |
Blackboard Ultra Course View Checklist