Accessibility
1. How does Blackboard Ultra support accessibility?
The built-in Ally for Blackboard tool scans course materials for accessibility and provides alternative formats, ensuring inclusivity for all students.
2. How do I set up accommodation for students who require extra time on all assignments?
Ultra courses allow instructors to set accommodation for students directly in the roster. These accommodations apply universally to all assessments in the course, eliminating the need to set individual exceptions for each test or assignment. Additionally, instructors can still apply individual exceptions for students on the submissions page for specific assignments or tests.
For any questions or additional support with accommodations, please reach out to your institution’s Disability Services
Course Design and Development
1. How does Blackboard Ultra help organize course content?
Blackboard Ultra provides Learning Modules and Folders that allow you to organize content into structured, sequential learning experiences, making it easier for students to navigate the course.
2. Can I integrate third-party tools and publisher content?
Blackboard Ultra integrates third-party tools via the Content Market, allowing instructors to easily discover and add external tools, such as interactive simulations or assessment tools, directly into their courses.
3. Can I control when students access content?
Yes, using Conditional Availability, you can release content based on dates, student performance, or completion of prior materials. Learning Modules allow students to progress through content in a set sequence, and you can enforce this sequence to ensure proper completion.
4. What multimedia options are available for course content?
Using the Content Editor, Blackboard Ultra supports videos, images, audio files, and documents. You can embed media from external sources like YouTube or YuJa and upload files such as PDFs, Word documents, and PowerPoint presentations directly into your course.
5. How is grading streamlined in Blackboard Ultra?
In Blackboard Ultra, grading is streamlined by automatically creating a gradebook item whenever you create a gradable item in your course. The Gradebook is more visual and user-friendly, offering features like auto-saving feedback, automatic zeros, and inline grading. You can easily mark assignments by student or by question, simplifying the grading process.
6. How does Batch Edit help faculty manage visibility and due dates for multiple items?
Batch Edit allows faculty to quickly update visibility and due dates for multiple items at once, saving time and ensuring consistency across assignments.
Engagement
1. Can I facilitate group work in Blackboard Ultra?
Yes, instructors can facilitate group work in Blackboard Ultra. They can create and manage groups, assign group projects, and track progress. Group members can collaborate through discussion boards, group assignments, and file sharing. Instructors can monitor participation and provide feedback to individual groups.
2. Does Blackboard Ultra support virtual class meetings?
Absolutely! Webex and Teams provide live virtual classrooms, breakout rooms, and session recordings, all integrated into the course.
Communication
1. What communication tools are available?
Instructors can send Announcements and Messages/Email to keep students informed and engaged.
2. How is the calendar used in Blackboard Ultra?
The calendar in Blackboard Ultra helps manage course deadlines and events by displaying due dates for assignments, tests, and activities. Instructors add deadlines, and students can view all events in one place, filter by course, and set reminders.
Analytics
1. Can students track their progress in Blackboard Ultra?
Progress Tracking allows students to see what they’ve completed and what’s pending. Instructors can also monitor student engagement.
2. How does Blackboard Ultra provide insights into student engagement?
The Learning Analytics & Insights feature provides data on student activity, helping instructors identify at-risk students and intervene early.