Ultra Course - Create a discussion board


  • Discussions in the Ultra Course View don't use forums and threads.  Instead, instructors can use folders to organize conversations in whatever way they like.

  • Students can delete discussions they've created.  There is no option to prevent students from deleting discussions they've created.  When students delete a discussion, other users see a message about the deletion. 

  • Discussion analytics allows you to view the entire discussion along with all responses and replies. Discussion analytics include average word count and responses, as well as top responses and participants.

Create Discussion on the Course Content Page

You can create a discussion directly on the Course Content page so students can view it in context with other materials by clicking on the plus sign, select create and select Discussion.  Discussion forums have been removed from ultra courses, but instructors can use folders to organize conversations in whatever way they like.


Create Discussion in the Discussion area using the navigation bar

Go to the Discussions tab on the navigation bar to open the course discussions page. From here, you can select the plus sign in the upper-right corner and select Add Discussion from the menu, or add a folder to organize conversations in whatever way you like.  Discussion forums have been removed from ultra courses.


Name the discussion

If you don't add a name, the default title will become "New Discussion" plus the date the discussion was created.


Add instructions and items to discussion

Use the text editor to include items such as instructions, expectations, videos and readings. Learn more about the text editor <a href="https://answers.syr.edu/x/5IAzCg" target="_blank"> here. </a>


Make Discussion Available to Students

Students can't see a discussion until you choose to show it (default).  You can create all of your content ahead of time and select what you want students to see based on your schedule.  You also have the option of setting<a href="https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Instructor/Ultra/Course_Content/Release_Content#ultra_release_rules" target="_blank"> availability conditions </a> based on date, time and performance on other items in the course gradebook.


Students can't see a discussion until you choose to show it (default).  You can create all of your content ahead of time and select what you want students to see based on your schedule.  You also have the option of setting availability conditions based on date, time and performance on other items in the course gradebook.


Select Discussion Settings

Select the Discussion Settings icon (gear) to open a panel with options for the discussion.



Select Display on the course content page (default) to include the discussion on the course content page with other content items.  If unselected, students MUST access the discussion through the discussion tab on the top navigation bar.


Select to hide discussion activity from students until they respond to the discussion.  This will help encourage original ideas as the student must respond to a discussion before they can read other responses and replies.  When you want to use Post first with groups, be sure to select Post first before you assign the groups.


You have the option to make the discussion count for a grade.  When you choose to grade a discussion, more options appear such as the due date and maximum points.  The maximum points apply to one or more posts made by a student.  When you enable grading for a discussion, a column is automatically created in the gradebook.


Select align with goals to search for available goals.  After you make the discussion visible, students can view the goals.



Assign students to a discussion group. You have the ability to <a href="https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Instructor/Ultra/Interact/Discussions/Group_Discussions#ultra_grade_from_disc" target="_blank"> grade from the discussion </a> or the gradebook.



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NOTE: When you convert/copy your course from the Original Course View to the Ultra Course View, some discussions are flattened and some settings are removed.

<a href="https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Instructor/Ultra/Courses/Ultra_Course_Preview#ultra_will" target="_blank"> Learn more about the conversion process. </a>