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Basics of Course Creation

Blackboard Ultra courses have a single course content page where all course materials are organized using modules,  folders, and multimedia documents.  Click and expand to view content within modules and folders . Please visit Ultra Course - Navigation  if you are not familiar with the navigation in Blackboard Ultra. This page is designed to assist instructors in getting started with designing your course. We have put recommendations throughout this guide to reduce additional work after course setup. 

Tip

As you create your course, we recommend using your syllabus as a guide to assist you in the setup process.

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titleStep 1

 Course Organization

In ultra courses, modules and folders can be used to organize your course content on the content page. The first step in building your course is deciding to use modules or folders for your top level organization in your course. 

Our course structure gallery has examples of courses designed with different structures. 

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titleClick here to learn about Modules vs Folders
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Comparison of features between Modules and Folders

ModulesFolder
Can only exist as a "Top Level" itemCan exist as a "Top Level" item or can exist within another folder or module.
Ability to force the sequence of items within the module. (Not required. Items can exist without forced sequence, as well.)N/A
Ability to add a banner image.N/A
Progress tracking ability: Students are alerted to which items are still in need of viewing/completing; Instructors can view students' progress with course items.Progress tracking ability: Students are alerted to which items are still in need of viewing/completing; Instructors can view students' progress with course items.

Advanced module navigation will be available (coming soon.)

Image of advanced module navigation in Blackboard Ultra


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  1. Decide top level organization: see table to left for comparison
  2. Click on the plus sign (plus) 
  3. Click module or folder from the slide out menu
  4. Add title and adjust additional settings if necessary.




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titleStep 2

Create Content

Content can be created anywhere the  (plus)  is found. Chose Choose "Create" to access course content items, and items for assessment and participation and engagement.  For more ideas and information about course content, visit our  creating content and /wiki/spaces/blackboard01/pages/154388661 pages. 

Warning

If you plan to utilize weighted categories for grading purposes, it is important to properly categorize your content items. This may require creating custom categories in the Gradebook. See Gradebook setup for more information.


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titleCreate Items
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(replace with excerpt) +add forms (if using discussions link to answers page for more information 

Select the plus sign wherever you want to add content. You can also create a folder or learning module and add content to them.  Create new content by selecting an option from the slide out menu.




Create a learning module to allow students to navigate from one content item to the next without distractions or extra clicks. A learning module can help keep students focused on the lesson or concept. Instructors now have the option to customize the module. Choose to upload an image of your own, or select from Stock images from Unsplash. Additionally, you can auto generate images using the AI Design assistant.

Folders

You can create three levels of folders to organize your content. You cannot add modules to folders.

Documents

Create a scrolling document with text, audio, video and/or images. Combining a variety of materials to view together in one document allows you to present your content on one page for your students. Take advantage of Blackboard’s built in accessibility checker, powered by Ally, to ensure that your content is accessible for diverse learners.

Links

Create a web link or create course links within your course.  







Create tests. Instructors can also create tests for groups of students.



Forms 








Use journals to communicate privately with students. Instructors can grade student contributions.

SCORM Package

Add web-based content packages from academic publishers or instructional designers.  SCORM packages open in a new window and can count for a grade.

Teaching Tools with LTI connection

Instructors and course builders can enter a web link to ready-made material from textbook publishers to enhance their curriculum and provide students with supplementary materials that aid in learning.

Info

Discussions function slightly different than previously in Blackboard Original. Forums are absennt in Ultra but you can organize discussions into folders in the discussions area.

Note

If you plan to create Group Assignments or Discussions, we recommend creating these group sets prior to creating the associated content. Please read more about Groups here.

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titleQuick start: Groups

Utilize groups to establish collaborative spaces for students. Employ groups for both assignments and discussions, and also to apply release conditions to a specific set of students.

Creating groups:

  1. To add  a group set, Press the (plus) icon on the upper right side to add a new custom group set. A new group set panel will appear.
  2. Enter the  title at the top left of the panel. Group sets can be set to visible by students by clicking on "hidden from students" in the upper right of the panel then by selecting "visible to students"  from the drop down menu. This is necessary to be able to use the "self-enrollment" option. If the group is hidden to student,  then selecting "self-enrollment will not be possible and it will appear in a light grey color.

The dropdown menu next to "group student" has three options:

  • Custom:  Create specific groups needed for that particular project or discussion

  • Randomly assigned:  Blackboard's system will assign students at random based on set number of group members

  • Self-enrollment:  Allow students the option to join a group of their choosing, with a limit on the number of students that can enroll in each group.




"Content Market" is the Blackboard location where non-Blackboard tools can be embedded into a course. The content market includes link embedding for SU-licensed tools which are supported by ITS and available campus-wide, including Kaltura, PlayPosit, Turnitin, and Zoom, as well as links for major e-textbook publishers that are frequently licensed by individual departments/programs such as McGraw Hill or Pearson.
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titleContent market


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To embed a link to an external tool into your Blackboard course, open the course content area and click the Add Content (plus)  icon, then select "Content Market" from the menu. 














The full Content Market list will open in a pop out panel. The list is alphabetical; scroll down until you find the tool you wish to link in your Blackboard course. 

Note that some tiles in the list have a an Add Content (plus) icon in the lower right corner. Click this icon to create a new link in your Blackboard course. Doing so will close the content market menu and return you to the course content area. Click the newly-created link to open the tool and configure the link settings for your students (such as directing the link to a specific chapter in an e-textbook or a specific file or video in a shared cloud drive)

If there is no plus icon in the corner of the content market tile, simply click the name of the tool itself to create and configure the Blackboard link in one step. 


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Screenshot of the full Content Market tools list



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titleStep 3

Gradebook Setup

While gradebook setup is flexible and can be performed at any point in your course, it is advisable to work on it during course setup. This approach guarantees minimal effort when calculating final grades at the semester's end.

Tip

In the gradebook settings, instructors can establish custom grading categories, aligning them with their syllabus. This also simplifies the process of configuring the overall course grade.

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titleGrade categories

Grading categories should match your syllabus to be able to easily set your overall grade. Custom categories can be added by clicking "Add New Category." There are default categories already created in the grade categories section.

List of default grading categories included in the gradebook settings

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titleOverall Grade
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 Manual columns can be utilized for items included in your overall grade such as participation or presentations and can be added by hovering in between two columns and clicking (plus) → "Add Item." You can access the overall grade from the pop up that prompts you to set up your overall grade "set it up" or from inside of the gradebook settings and going to "manage overall grade".  Points, weighted, or an advanced calculation can be used for the overall grade. For more information please visit: Overall Grade. 

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 Overall Grade calculation type selection - options are Points, Weighted, and Advanced


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titleRubrics
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To create a rubric in your Ultra course:

  1. Navigate to the Gradebook and open the gradebook settings by clicking the settings iconsettingsin the upper right. The settings menu will appear on the right hand side of your screen.
  2. Scroll down to the "Course Rubrics" section.
  3. Click on the black "Create" button. (For more information on the "Generate" button,   see our Answers page on Blackboard's AI Design Assistant.)
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Screenshot of a list of rubrics in the Gradebook settings. A pink box is highlighting a black button that says Create at the top of the section and a pink arrow points to the button.


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titleCustom Grade Schema
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In your Blackboard course, open the Gradebook tab in the course navigation menu.

Find and click the gear icon in the upper right to access the Gradebook settings. 

The first section of the Gradebook Settings is Grade Schemas. Click "Manage Grade Schemas" to open the settings.

Once the settings are open, you can see the SU Letter schema which is included by default in all course or a custom schema can be created. If a custom grading schema is desired, please use follow the steps provided here Ultra Course - Grade Schemas

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Image showing the location of the link to Manage Grade Schema Settings 

 For information about how to apply accommodations for students, exceptions, and exceptions, please visit Accommodations, Exceptions, and Exemptions. 

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titleStep 4

Course Communication 

Blackboard Ultra has multiple ways to communicate with your students. Utilize announcements and messages for communication with students. View due dates and events like office hours conveniently on the course calendar.

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titleAnnouncements

Announcements can be used to communicate information with your entire class. Ultra announcements, accessible in the Activity Stream, allow direct access by clicking within the stream. Upon entering the course with a new announcement, a pop-up banner prompts students attention. Some faculty opt to create a document in the Content area, serving as a dynamic course information hub akin to the old announcements page, requiring students to check it frequently for updates. 

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titleMessages

 Messages are useful to communicate with individual students or groups of students. These messages can also email the student if desired. (excerpt?)

Screenshot of a pink arrow pointing to the Messages tab in the course navigation. The page is opened to the Messages page and another purple arrow is pointing to a button to create a New Message, located on the right hand side of the screen.

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titleCourse Calendar

 Due dates can be easily viewed on the calendar. Adding office hours, important events, and the course schedule to the calendar helps students stay organized.  (excerpt for adding items to calendar?)



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titleStep 5

 Item visibility 

By default most items in an Ultra course are "hidden from students". Items can be made visible to students or release conditions can be added by clicking the dropdown menu anywhere the item has "hidden from students." Release conditions can determine the visibility of items at a scheduled date and time. They can also be employed to make items visible to specific group(s) or student(s).

Tip

Release conditions can be applied to folders and modules if a set of items all need to be available simultaneously.

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titleStep 6

Opening Your Course

Once everything is configured, you’re ready to open your course for students to view it. You can do so from the “Details and Actions” menu of the Content area or by clicking the menu button on the Courses Page that’s visible right after you login to Blackboard.