What tools are available in an Ultra course?

Tools may appear in Ultra under another name or form and with different functionality and customization. These will be noted under “Details”.

Visit the Blackboard Help page for more information: https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Instructor/Ultra/Getting_Started/Blackboard_Learn_Terminology

Changed Tools/Features

Original

Ultra

Status

Details

Original

Ultra

Status

Details

Achievements

Achievements

deployed

Available.

Adaptive Release

Release Conditions

deployed

Date/time, performance-based, and group/member release available now. 
Batch edit visibility. 

Not available: Marked reviewed.

Anonymous Grading

Anonymous Grading

deployed

Available.

Announcements

Course Announcements

deployed

Available. Announcements in Ultra can also be sent to students via email.

Attendance

Attendance

deployed

Access Attendance by clicking Attendance under  Details and Actions in your Ultra course. Functions and features identical to Original Course View.

Blogs

Journals

In Development

Coming to Ultra - No timeline.

Alternatives - Use Discussion Board in Blackboard or an external blogging platform.

Calendar

Calendar

deployed

Click the Calendar tab at the top of an Ultra course to access. Additional capabilities are planned.

Contacts

--

DISCONTINUED IN ULTRA

Content Collection

Content Collection

deployed

To access the Content Collection, click Tools in the left-hand menu on the Blackboard landing page. Additional capabilities are planned.

Content Editor

Content Editor

deployed

The following are not yet available in the ultra content editor:

  • Emoticons

  • Find/Replace

Course Analytics / Reports

Course Reports / Student Activity 

deployed

Available now. Some analytics are embedded.  Might not be visible until student data is generated.
Exact details of reports vary between Original & Ultra courses.

Course Banner

Course Image

deployed

When a Course Image is set, it is displayed as the Course Tile on the Courses page in the base navigation. It can also be toggled on to be displayed as a course banner.

Course Menu

--

DISCONTINUED IN ULTRA In the Ultra Course View, there is no course menu. All of the content is listed on a single page, to make it easier for students to navigate, and links to course tools are organized in the Details and Actions area or along the top right of the page. Content can be organized using folders and learning modules, which open and close.

Course Link

Course Link

deployed

Available.

Course Messages

Messages

deployed

In ultra course messages there is no subject line and there are no folders to organize course messages.

Date Management

Batch Edit

deployed

Available now: Edit due dates & visibility. Enhancements expected.

Delegated Grading

Delegated Grading

deployed

Available now. Additional capabilities are planned for Ultra Courses.

Discussions

Discussions

deployed

Available now. Additional capabilities are planned for Ultra Courses.

Files

Files

deployed

Available now. Upload files from your desktop.

Folders

Folders

deployed

Ultra courses are limited to a nested folder depth of two. You can create a subfolder inside of a folder, but cannot add additional folders within a subfolder.

Grade Center

Gradebook

deployed

Supports weighted & points-based schemas, filters (smart-views), running total, download submissions and assessment results.  
In development: Send reminder.

Groups

Course Groups

deployed

Fully supported with import and export via CSV for group creation and membership enrollment.

Item and Blank Page

Document

deployed

The term "Document" refers to a page in Ultra that resembles a web page. Documents can include images, text, uploaded files, and HTML content. If you only need to add a file without accompanying text, use the Upload option instead.

Item Analysis

Question Analysis

deployed

Run Question Analysis for a single test by clicking the ... button next to it in the Course Content view, or by clicking the pie chart icon in the upper right. Additional capabilities are planned.

Journal

Journal

deployed

Journals can be created by using the + menu to create content, then selecting Journal under Participation and Engagement.

Learning Module

Learning Module

deployed

Learning Modules can contain multiple files, Documents, Assignments, Tests, or Discussions. You can force students to view the content in a Learning Module sequentially by using Release Conditions and selecting the Sequence checkbox. This also allows students to track what they have completed in the module. Additional capabilities are planned.

Performance Dashboard

--

discontinued in Ultra Embedded analytics and progress tracking reports provide extensive data about learner performance.

Publisher Integrations

Content Market

deployed

Most publisher integrations are available in Ultra Course View; you should contact your publisher representative for more information.

Current Blackboard Integrations & Technical Support

Retention Center

Progress Tracker

deployed

Information repurposed through Activity Stream.
Additional information available via Student List View in Ultra gradebook.

Roster

Roster

deployed

Available in the Details & Actions area within an Ultra course. You can view the full student roster, enroll a TA or another Instructor, or add an accommodation for a student (such as extended timers) that apply to all assessments in the course.

Rubrics

Rubrics

deployed

Available now.

SCORM

SCORM

deployed

To add a SCORM package in your Ultra course, click the plus sign to add content, click Create, select SCORM package, and select Upload SCORM package or Browse Content Collection.

Self & Peer Assessments

Assignments with Peer Evaluation enabled

deployed

Available now.

Send Email

Messages

deployed

When creating messages and announcements, instructors can send a copy by email to the recipients. Instructors can change messages settings through the Course Settings.

Student Preview

Student Preview

deployed

Access via the Enter student preview mode button in the Details & Actions area within an Ultra course. Click the ... menu in the upper-right corner to exit student preview.

Tests and Pools

Tests, Reuse Questions, Question Banks

deployed

Ultra does not yet support the full array question types that original courses do. Review Question types in Ultra

Web Link

Web Link

deployed

To create a link to web content, you can create a link directly in your course by clicking the +, Create, and then Link.

Wikis

--

discontinued in Ultra