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titleStep 1

Course Organization

Blackboard Ultra courses have a single course content page where all course materials are organized using modules, folders, and multimedia documents that users click to expand. Please visit Ultra Course - Navigation for more details. 

Modules and Folders are the two main ways instructors can group course material.  It's helpful to determine your course structure and create the folders or modules you need for the content before you begin creating/copying course materials.  Our course structure gallery has examples of approaches you can take. If you are using modules, you can take advantage of the AI module generator to help create them quickly.

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


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Modules and Folders Comparison

ModulesFolder
Exists only as a "Top Level" itemExist 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. Modules 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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Steps:

  1. Make a decision about your top-level organization. See the table for a comparison of modules and folders.
  2. Click on the plus sign (plus) 
  3. Click module or folder from the slide out menu
  4. Title the module or folder and adjust additional settings if necessary.



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titleStep 4

Course Communication 

Blackboard Ultra has multiple ways to communicate with your students including announcements and messages . Due dates post automatically to the course calendar and you can add additional events, like office hours.

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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 where they can post updated course information akin to the old announcements page. 

  • 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 also 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.


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titleMessages

Select the "New Message" button to compose and send a message within the Messages tab of your course .

Messages can be sent to individual students or groups that have been created in the course.

Copies of the message can also be sent via email if the indicated checkbox is selected.

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 on graded items automatically appear on the calendar. Click the Plus sign (plus) and "Add Event" to add office hours and other important events. Calendar events will also appear in the user's activity stream if they elect to receive them there.

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