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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. 

Before creating/coping course materials, determine your course structure and create the folders or modules based on your chosen organizational structure. Our course structure gallery has examples of courses designed with different structures. 

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titleClick here to see comparison of features and how to add folders/modules to your course.
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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

Once you have your modules or folders created, click on them to expand and see the plus sign  (plus)  where content can be created or copied. Content can be created anywhere the  (plus)  is found.  For more ideas and information about course content, visit our  creating content and /wiki/spaces/blackboard01/pages/154388661 pages. 

Expand
titleClick here for a visual of how to add content in a folder/module.

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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  • Select the plus sign (plus) wherever you want to add content.
  • Choose the "Create" option to add items such as content items, links, and assessment items . Create new content by selecting an option from the slide out menu.
  • Choose the "Content market" for items such as 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. /wiki/spaces/blackboard01/pages/154390821


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.


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titleCopy content

Content is copied in reverse fashion from Original courses. Be sure to precisely follow the instructions below.  

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To Copy Content:

  1. Enter the new course where you want the content to appear
  2. Access the "Copy Content" option (either within the "Add Content" options or the options menu via the ellipse icon).
  3. Search for course where content will be copied from.
  4. Check the box to select content that will be copied. Entire courses or individual items can be copied into your course.
  5. Search for additional courses if copying content from multiple courses at the same time.


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For additional information about copying content, /wiki/spaces/blackboard01/pages/154384915. 


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titleStep 3

Gradebook Setup

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


Note

The following settings can be adjusted by clicking the gear icon within the Gradebook section of your course.

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titleGrade categories
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Grading categories should match your syllabus to in order to easily calculate your overall grade. Custom categories should be added before graded items are created. Create custom categories by clicking "Add New Category." Reference the image to the right for default categories that already exist in Blackboard courses.

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List of default grading categories included in the gradebook settings. Categories are assignment, test, discussion, journal, exam, homework, presentation, quiz, attendance, and form


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titleOverall Grade
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  • Configure your overall grade by selecting the "Set it up" prompt or from inside the Gradebook settings. 
  • Points, weighted, or an advanced calculation can be used for the overall grade. 
  • Manual columns can be utilized for items included in your overall grade such as participation or offline submissions
    • Add manual items by hovering in between two columns and clicking (plus)→ "Add Item."

For more information please visit: Overall Grade.  

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titleRubrics
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Once inside the Gradebook settings...

  1. Locate the "Course Rubrics" section.
  2. View previously made rubrics or create new rubrics.
  3. Click on the black "Create" button to create a new rubric. (For more information on the "Generate" button,   see our Answers page on Blackboard's AI Design Assistant.)
  4. Edit the table according to your custom rubric criteria.

For more detailed instructions, visit our Answers page: Ultra Course - Grading Rubrics. 

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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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Once inside the Gradebook settings...

  1. Locate and select "Manage Grade Schemas" within the Gradebook settings.
  2. Click the "(plus) Add" button located in the upper left.
  3. When the pop up menu appears, type your preferred title.
  4. Click "Add"  to save and create a table for the new grade schema. 
  5. Edit the Grade Name and Grade Ranges according to your custom schema

For more detailed instructions, visit our Answers page: 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 our answers page 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
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Announcements can be used to communicate information with your entire class. Ultra announcements are delivered by pop-up banners upon entering the course or via the Activity Stream. 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.

  • To add an announcement click the plus sign (plus).
  • Assign a date and time if you wish to schedule the announcement into the future.
  • Select the indicated checkbox if you wish to additionally send the announcement via email.
  • Once the announcement is saved, be sure to select "Post" on the announcement draft.
 
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Within the Announcements tab, a plus icon is shown to the right of the screen, highlighted by a red circle.


Expand
titleMessages

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

 Select the "New Message" button to compose and send a message.

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.

Expand
titleCourse Calendar

 Due dates can be easily viewed on the calendar. Click the Plus sign (plus) to add office hours, important events, and the course schedule to the calendar helps students stay organized.  


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titleStep 5

 Item visibility 

 
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By default, items in an Ultra course are set as "Hidden from students."  Prior to opening your course to students, you will need to change this setting to "Visible to students" for any items you wish for student to access. 

These visibility settings can be change on an individual item basis or by "Batch Edit" in the Content options menu.

Release conditions can set the visibility of items for a scheduled date and time. These conditions 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 group of items need to be available simultaneously.


For more information about content visibility and release conditions, visit our Answers page: Ultra Course - Content Visibility and Release Conditions.

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titleStep 6

Opening Your Course

You’re ready to open your course for students to view it once your course is configured.

To open your course:

  • If already inside of your course, navigate to the  “Details and Actions” menu of the Content area
  • Locate "Course is private to students"
  • Click "students can't access this course" 
  • Select "open course to students".

or

  • If outside of your course, navigate to your "Courses " page 
  • Select the ellipse icon on your course
  • Select "Open course"